LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 44

LADIES' GOSSIP.

• . • The Dachess ot Portland, the chatelaine of Welbeck Abbey, a princely 6eat in Scotland, and v a house in Grosvenor Square, is tbe most gentle and gracious of women". Her sudden elevation from the simple home in Lincolnshire to a ducal coronet has not in any way marred the sweetness of disposition which won her husband's heart at sight eight years ago. The story of th»ir meeting on the platform of a Scottish railway station, tbe determination or the young peer to make the tell, graoeful girl his wife, and the later wooiog at the country hon«e at which they were both invited guests is one of the prettiest in the romance of love. Their married life is ideally happy with their two children ; and whilst the Duchess shares her husband's paseion for horses, she has infected him with her passion for philanthropy, into which channel she has diverted, all bis win r nings on the turf.

' • . • The Duchesa of Teek can claim to be, with the one exception of the Prince of Wales, the most hard-worked royalty in Europe. She is proud of the fact that during one twelvemonth she fulfilled over 1000 public and private engagements. • . • News comes to me from Paris (says a wriUr in a Home »>aper) that the latest fashion in purees is to carry one (on a long gold chaiu) made of silk, satin, or brocade, to match or to contrast with the drees. The pnrso has a silver or gold top, little silver or gold ta&jels sewn on the bottom, and the whole makes a charmiag addition to the toilette. One of the latest things out is a very small chatelaine bag made of pure white oalf&kin, with a rough finish. It ia mounted in silver, gilded with a bright finish, aud is worn with a belt of the same material similarly mounted. • . ■ The Princess of Wales has been heard to express the opinion that those persons who do not know how to take care of pets ought not to be allowed to keep them. At Samdringbam she always inquires minutely into the arrangements made for the crrnfort of her birds and animate, and when in residence there herself feeds the Australian birds and tbe white doves. A girl who once stayed at Sandringham told the Princess about a bird in her possession which would probably be dead by the time of her return home, as she had forgotten to leave any orders about it. Her Royal Highness promptly requested her to telegraph home and order the bird to be sent down to her. This was done, and " Bullie " shared his mistress's visit. It is a charming sight to see the Princess when she goes into the paddock to fondle h«r dogs. The 60 and more animals eeem inclined to overturn their roysl benefactor in their excess of joy. But enveloped in a huge linen apron with pockets, the Princesß allows them to spring up at her, and merely laughs at their shrill yelps. Those gigantic pockets hold scraps of bread and bisouits, and Boon the tumult is quieted as these bounties are divided. • . • Mdlle Lucie Faure, the daughter of tbe President of the French Republic, is most decidedly religions in her propensitiss. Matins, maijp, and vespars are never missed

by her, though hat gentle grace never arouses the ire of modern atheistic Paris* Ac Le Haine, where her father loves to take bis holiday, mademoiselle is well known and well beloved.

• . • Only three ladies of royal rank now survive who have resided as members of a reigning family at the Taileries. They are the ex-Empress Eugenic, the Princess de Joinville, and her sister-in-law, the Princess Clementine of Saxe-Coburg. The last-named lived there as daughter of King Louis Philippe, and the Princess de Joinville as daughter-in-law of that monarch, prior to 1868 ; while the Empress Eugenic resided at the palace throughout the reign of her husband, Napoleon 111.

* . * The black ebony walking-stick most often used by the Queen belonged to Charles the First. Hired for Show.— A Curious Business.

" Apart from my legitimate business, I expect, in consequence of the Diamond Jubilee, to make a very handsome income this year from another source," said a West Ead jeweller to the writer. "As you probably know, there exists a class of individual who is oompelled by birth or other circumstances to keep a certain position in Bociety without the adequate means to do so.

"Now, such a man cannot, for instance, afford to keep an expensive service of plat*, and, therefore, when he finds it obligatory to give a big dinner or reception, he comes to me and hires what is necessary, paying a cum in proportion to the value of the goods. T^en, on the morning of the affair, one of my assistants takes a oab and delivers the plate, which the servants are of course given to understand is always kept at the bank. Although all my sets are of plain, massive character, to prevent awkward recognition several of my customers pay me a small yearly rental for the exclusive use of a service.

"As a rule the abides are out of my possession for a day or two only, but on one occasion the period extended to three months. The borrowers were about to receive as guest a rich young American, whom they hoped to marry to their daughter, and were anxious to make an imposing display. The little matrimonial scheme proved successful, and tbe enterprising parents purchased the borrowed ' family plate ' shortly after.

" Ladies whose jewel oases are not so well planished as their owners might wish frequently resort to me, and you would be surprised at the amount which I lend every season. More than one blashiog drawingroom debutante has owed the attention bestowed upon her to my g«ms, and when you see in the papers that ' Lady X'e diamonds were much admired ' you muit not always take it for granted that her ladyship vms wearing her own propsrty.

11 No, I have never been swindled. You Bee, I only lend to people who are financially sound, and whose misfortune it is that they have to appear richer than they really are." — Oagsell'o Saturday Journal.