LADIES'GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 44

LADIES' GOSSIP.

• . * Probably the Empress of Austria spends tnore than any other woman in Europe on horses for her own riding. A really first-class hunter commands almost anypricethe owner likes to ask for it ; but let it oncehesitate at a fence, or chow signs of temper, and it is never ridden again by her Majesty. When the Empress is hunting, and the meet i happens to be far from her residence, she generally drives to within a short distance of ft in a brougham, wearing ordinary carriage attire. With her Majesty are two ladies-in-waiting, whose duty it is to see that everything required for the Empress's wear on horseback is brought by the dressers, who follow in another carriage. The coachman has orders to drive up to any gentleman's house which happens to be in the neighbourhood of the meet, when the footman alights and requests that a room may be placed at her Majesty's disposal to dress in. Naturally a good many people have been somewhat taken aback at thus being suddenly asked to Accommodate an Imperial guest, and thi3 was especially the case in Ireland when the Empress was hunting there a few years ago. .-* There is a curious custom among the daughters of the Austrian Houie of Hapsbnrg, whose bridal trains are bestowed after the ceremony on the church whose eacred floor they have swept. • , • At a wedding which took place recently In New York, a trained party of whistlers performed the wedding march as the bridal party left the church. • . •_ Qaeen ( Victoria has never loßt her love lorgardeuing'i-.the hobby of her' childhood. , Bhe has been known to spend some happy half hours watching the gardeners at work, ■ and many a- valuable. suggestion or criticism has' she given'them. "There is one flower bed at Balmoral -which especially receives her attention, and this is filled every year vriih pinks and carnations. As , a rule, Bhe prefers not only the old-fashioned plants, but also the old-fashioned varieties of these ; but she is always ready to greet florists' novelties, providing that the sweet scent or graceful growth of the flowers be not sacrificed to size of bloom. ■ . * The shadow-pictures of the hands of the Duke and Duchess of York which were recently taken have been examined with much interest by the Queen, who has asked for particulars as to the method employed. Bo also the Queen has become interested in the new developments of animated photography, and permitted a cinematographic film to be taken of herself and her guests when they were on a visit to the Dake and Duchesß of Fife. The Queen takes an unflagging interest in all photographic developments, and is careful to ask the membera of her. family and the servants of her establishment for copies of the views they take in , or aboutthe Koyal'palaces. .^Th'e paper on wh'fch letters to the Queen are written must not be folded. No communication which bears evidence of having been creased will ever find its way ' Into her Majesty's' bands. The proper method is to write on -thisk, glossy white paper, and to despatch the missive in an' envelope which fits it. Any folded communication never reaches the Qaeen, for the simple .reason that she won't look at it. .• . • The ex-Empress of Russia has quite a •jyeakneas for dairies. At Pavlovsk, where ehe established her first, she invited the St. Fetersburgers to come - and enjoy free luncheons — those St. Petersburgers who were anxious to start dairies themselves, be it told. " Only please, visitors," she wrote, " do not walk on the grass, for that wonld hurt me as much aB if you walked on me." Here she (established a farm to instruct the neighbourlog peasants in ajwroved methods of work,,

and bow to improve what stock they possessed. To the successful workers she still bestows presents of calves.

• . • A German inventor has built a houxe of tubes, whose advantages are, be says, a constant temperature and, incidentally, strength, comfort, and beauty. He first put up a frame of water tubing, allowing continuous circulation to a stream of water. Around this frame he put up his house in the 'ordinary way. The peculiarity is that all floors and ceilings are crossed and recrossed by the water pipes. The water, havicg passed through horizontal tubes tinder the floors and ceilings, pastes through the vertioal tubes until all have been gone through. In the summer, fresh, 000 l water circulates under pressure through the network of tubes, cools off the walls, and, after having run its course, flows considerably warmer than when it entered. In its course it has absorbed much heat, which it carries away. During the long and severe winter the water entering through the bagemenfc is first heated to nearly lOOdtg, and then forced through the celling. Of course much of the heat is left all over the house, and at the outlet the temperature of the water is about 40deg. The speed of the circulation of water can be regulated so as to allow fixing a certain temperature, equal throughout the building.— Stone/ * . • The beautiful Ohambory lace is made by women who, up in their mountain homes, dress precisely like the male' villagers, the only difference being that the women wear xed handkerchiefs round their heads. When they go to the towns to sell their lac:, bowever, they usually, at the command of the priests, don skirts ; but they are said to wear these latter very awkwardly. These lacemakers are a very fine race, the women being, apart from the masculinity of their garb, of decidedly Amazonian type, despite the very exquisite work that they do.

•.•. • The smallest watch in the world iB set in a finger ring. This novel timekeeper is worn constantly by the son of a well-known peer. It has kept; perfect time for years. The convenience of having an accurate timepiece on your finger, and therefore constantly in sight, will appeal to everyone. The watch ring looks like an ordinary seal-ring. The tiny clock faoe is oovered with a thick crystal set flush with the surface of the ring. The delicate mechanism of this diminutive timepiece is 1 completely buried in the band of the' Ting. The setting is so small, however as not to appear clumsy or ill-proportioned. The face of the watch is not twice as large as the end of an ordinary load pencil.

• . • A obat with Dr Hans Kiohter forms the subject of ,F. Klickman's musical article in the September number of the Windsor Magazine. In the coarse of the interview the famous conductor said, "Yon have some remarkably fine singers in England.- They produce their voices, as a role, more naturally than do Germans, who are inclined to force the" tone. Look at Edward L'.oyd. What could you desire better than his voice 7 I was sorry be did notr sing when he was in Vienna. He would have made an immense impresßion there. English singers are much appreciated on the Continent, and their popularity will increase as time goes on. Madame Albani and Ben Davies, for instance, are great favourites." On bairig asked whether English composers obtain much of a hearing out of their own country, he replied, " Decidedly yes. I often give their works in Vienna, Cowen's munc is always well received. I introduced his Scandinavian Symphony on the Continent, and other composers — Mackenzie, for example — are often in our programmes. I believe that in the future English musicians will occupy a prominent position on the Continent. You have no lack of good men here, and your audiences are splendid. I reckon my English audiences the most enthusiastic I ever have. They are quite my friends. I brought some members -of my Vienna orchestra over here to the Birmingham Festival, and they were simply astounded at the enthusiasm of the people. We do not have that in Germany or Austria."

* .* The latest fad in table decorations .is (says a Home paper) most beautiful, and is the invention of an American lady, now the widow of a French Vicomte, who hai- for many years past been one of the acknowledged high priestesses of la haute elegance in Paris. The. new idea we refer to is that of floating lamps in pink-tinted water placed in a silver receptacle, and lighted by means of a slender wire passing through the centre of pink, and damask roses to a storage batter j. The queen of flowers thus illuminated is more beauteous than ever. Another lovely effect is obtained by studding the bottom ot an ample dish with tiny globes, and sanding s, flood of light through violet-tinted water, on tbe surface of which float great yellow pansies. By the way, the fashion of "trifling" with one's food has quite gone out, and men and women of the highest and most undisputed chic are not ashamed to give most ample proofs at dinner parties that they are endowed with very vigorous appetites.

• . • A cheap and sure remedy for hard or soft corns is said to be turpentine. One who has tried it says if a little of this is rubbed on a corn every evening for about two weeks the corn and roots will both come entirely out and will not re-appear in any form.

*. For several years after the death of the Duchess of Norfolk ladies were never invited to Arundel. Of late, however, the Duke has relaxed the rule, and occasional house parties of both sexes are invited. The ladies, however, are almost invariably selected from the ranks of bis wife's intimate friends. Some idea of the enormous amount of work which falls on the Duke, in spite of the fact that he employs several secretaries, may be gathered from the fact that there is a room in Norfolk House, St. James's Square, which is a sort of parcel office, and is almost full of parcels which tbe Duke has never found time to open: Some day when this room is cleared out choice etchings and other worki of arb will be found mingled with new blotting pads, books, and other trifles which represented the whim of the moment.

. Complexion bathß date back almost to the Garden of Eden. A decoction of fresh lilac bloom is sometimes used in arranging the ex-empress Eugenie's bath. The effect of the lilacs in this form is said to be very soothing. Bran and oatmeal are used freely by modern Frenchwomen. An excellent tonic bath is made by steeping about an

; ounce of wild thyme and marjoram (equal quantities) in three quarts of boiling water. Let it stand one hour, Btrain, and add to a full bath. Sarah "Bernhardt bathes in water perfumed with a delicate extraob of aoacia flower ; Lillian Russell wi.h violet water ; Mrs Langtry and Mrs Potter both affect Florentine iris. Some Frenchwomen take an occasional wine batb, which consists of about a gallon of cheap red wine to a full bath. It is supposed to be Very refreshing, though the refreshment may be largely imaginative. Some Home Fashions. I am told that we shall ere long see a change in OUR HAIR-DRESSING, and that the curious teapot-handle knot at the back of the head will no longer be so indispensable en it has been to every wellj dressed girl. lam not sorry, as to me that sharp projection has always been an eyesore, and the new style sounds, at all events, prettier. I The hair is drawn up and piled on the top of the head, that close to the head being only loosely caught in with tortoiseshell combs, and so waved as to have a V6ry softening «ffect.

. I think the judicious wave which has replaced the former rampant fringe is an immense improvement, only the worst is that once we have got a really satisfactory fashion on hand that is the very time one has most to dread some appalling Atrocity 1 Oar dear old friend THE TAILOK MADE JACKET

is to be with us in all its glory this winter, though, like everything else, it has changed a little. Tlse smartest now, though closefitting as to body, have large cape-like additions instead of sleeves fastened at the shoulder line, and falling well down over the arms. Then again the long walking coat with heavy revers, coliar, and cuffs of rich fur will also be with us once more. What a hold BROWN HOLLAND DRESSES

appear to have taken on the public taste ! and yet somehow they are cot a success in most cases, chiefly from the fact that not one in ten can get them up properly.

I saw a girl the other day in what wonld have been amost fetching costumehad not the washerwoman ironed it all on the right side, and with irons of varying temperature, with the result that it was all in streaks of different shades, till I took quite a lesson in colour from studying it.

A dress of this kind must in these days be cleaned or it ie ruined, and it is the cheapest plan in the long run, as, properly " dressed," it will last in condition nf-arly three times as long as when ordinarily washed, to say nothing of its being kept in good condition.

' BLACK VELVET JRIBBON appears to be a mania just now, and nothing is up to date that has not two or three rows at least of narrow black baby velvet run on to it, even lace being finished off in this way. It is not pretty, in my eyes at least, bat. it is the thing, and, like buttons, will run its course. These latter, by the way, have seen their best days, and although the country and suburban cousin still clings to her " pearlies " with the constancy of a costertuonger, the women in the know have discarded them, for out-of-door wear at least, with a unanimity that; has already brought despair to the button manufacturers, who have been revelling in the universal taste for their wares.

I wonder whenoe arose the superstition that

MUSLIN

is cheap wear ? It certainly is cot, and the touching way men believe in it is always an amusement to me.

There never can be a doubt as to the sex of an author who clothes his heroine in " a dainty little white muslin frock," the crisp freshness of which is evidently a recurring delight both A> author and hero.

As a matter of faot, Sainte Mousseline is a distinctly expensive saint to her votaries, and those devoted to the fresh print of modern fiction have no less to complain of. I wonder if anyone wonld dare describe exactly the appearance of the prettiest girl after a long day's scramble at the seaside in either of these two materials ?— " Elspeth," in the Weekly OUizen.

CCJ" Descriptions of balls, .to., must be endorsed by, either tbe Witness correspondent for the distrtot or by tht secretary to tbo ball committee. The MS. of any correspondents who do no comply with this rule will bo sent to the secretary for endorsement prior to appearing.— DMMELlNE.

To ensure publication in thd forthcoming issue, letters ilioulij reack the Wltnesn office if possible n Saturday nigUt, but on no account Inter tlum .Uoncl y ,l.ht.

DANCE AT RIVERTON,

Deau Emmeline,— On Mouday evening, the 30th ult., a most enjoyable dance was given in the " Green Line " Hall as a farewell to Miss Bertha Wilson, matron of the Riveiton Hospital. Mrs Nelson, Miss Howell, and the Misses Printz' received the guests. The hall was prettily decorated, and a most recherche supper was served in the ante-room. Mrs Nelson wore a handsome white ilk gown with bodice of electric blue silk and sleeves of white chiffon ; Mrs R. Howell, a lovely cream drens with trimmings of yellow velvet ; Miss G. Howell, pink silk trimmed with white tatin ; MUs l'rintz, white lustre with sleeves of green silk^ Miss N. Printz, a pretty gown of yellow velvet ; Miss Wilson, cream figured muslin with frills and sleeves of green chiffon ; Miss May Wilson (Dunedit ), white crepon trimmed with bunches of violets; Misst Berndtson } terra-cotta silk with pretty angel sleeve* of ■white chiffon ; Miss Durbridge, white cashmere with trimmings of green silk ; Miss O'Reilly (» debutante), a pretty white gown daintily trimmed with tuile ; Mrs Wilkins, a handoonie black velvet richly trimmed with jet ; Miss Sutton (Thornbury), pretty pink dress ; her sister wore a stylish blue silk ; M.iss Morris, handsome white silk ; Miss Nickless, cream gown with yellow sleeves ; Miss Scobie, a becoming pink dress with black velvet sleeves ; Mus Lyell, white ; Mis 3 Neave and Mibs E. Neave looked well in white, and Miss F. Neave wore a pink dress with blue chiffon ; Miss B. Stephens'iu, pretty blue dre&s with forget-me-nots. There were a great many gentlemen present, among whum were Dr Nelson, Dr Palmer, Messrs Lyell, O'Reilly, • Cantrell, Hackworth, Rowley, Wilkins, Pickett, Petchell, Berndtson, Mills, Akhurat, Howell (3), and the Messrs Johnston, Moore, Spence, (Jhisholm, Pine, Moffet, Birch (2), Rogers, Kussell, and M'Kenzie, ' who came through from Invercargill. Everyone agreed that it was one of the moat successful dances ever held in Riverton, and Miss Wilson must have felt gratified to see so many of her friends, some of .whom came a long distance. — One of Her Friends.