LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2298, 17 March 1898, Page 43

LADIES' GOSSIP.

• . • A curious coincidence occurred at a wedding which took placa at AU Saints' Church, Kempaton, Bedfordshire, on BoxingDay. Tbe bride, bridegroom, bridesmaids, and best man were all named Darlow, and the register was signed by four persons all bearing the same surname. • . • Just now clusters of violets and wisps of coloured tulle are much worn in" the hair, but tbe jewelled pin or dagger ia a huge favourite, and tiny plumes or osprey, in company with flowers or ribbon, are worn close up to the'highest knot of hair, which forms the centre of the coiffure. The loose, wavy masses of hair are now giving way to close, regular waves, dressed with brilliantine or other lotions to impart a firm, glcssy effect, and this change is no doubt due to the crop of short, irregular hairs which could not be controlled, and are a consequence of the use of the destructive iron. • . • In a recent number of the Windsor Magazine/ Madame Garet-Charles expresses her views on the subject of modern photography. "As a rule," she says, " a woman prefers to be photographed ly a woman. You see, a strong morning light is horribly realistic j 1 it shows up one's'little deficiencies'so, or it accentuates the* beginnings r of a wrinkle here and a crowsfoot there. Now every \ woman, be she of the new or tbeold variety, likes to feel that she? is being seen to the best advantage — in the presence of man. Therefore when she is posed by a critical male, who notes all her little weaknesses of complexion 'or feature, she feel? ill at ease, she loses whatever of naturalness the has, and as a consequence the result-. ir>g picture (save the mark I) ia more suited to a chamber of horrors than tro a R^gont street showcase. And more, whac does the average photographer know of Ms sitter? And knowing little or nothing of his subject, how-can he make a faithful picture 1 I never take anyone at the first interview. I like to have my sitters all to myself for a qniet half hour — over afternoon tea for preference — so that I can pick out their best features, their best side, their most natural pose. Then when they are gone I turn over in my mind the colic c ion cf facts I have gathered, and I fix definitely what I am to do when they return to face the deadly leas. Heaps of times ladies have said to me when they wei-e going away after havicg sat, ' How quickly you work! Is must; be delightfully easy work I ' They know nothing of the mental labour that went to make the actual sitting easy and swift." • . ■ Everyone may not know that Pnncess ' Ena of Battenberp, whose birthday was October 24, 1887, was the first royal child born in Scotland for nearly 300 -v*sv& — 5n fact, since the -birth of the ill-fated Charles 'l, in the year 1600. Prince D>Eald oi Bii tenberg is ths first royal prince bore north of the Tweed since IGOO. He was born in 1891. • . • The gliding, mazy waltz bas had it all its own way for some years past, rjotaithstanding; the introduction of the '■ P.is de Quatre," <! Barn dance," and rollicking " Canadian galop," but now the "Polka " of our dancing school days sets itself up ss somewhat of a rival — Socisty (with a big S) helping to bring about this change. Given a nice large ball with some three couples upon the floor, and such inspiriting music as the old " Harlequin " or Mr Torn Dunn's '■ Full cry," the polka ia an exceedingly *-i)joy;iblf, if rather warm, dance ; but in the usual congested ballroom it becomes more a series of bumps than anythiag else, and ip, therefore, likely to be sent back to the shelf again before very long. v. • One thing must not be forgotten (writes " Tnalia," in the Sydney Mail), and which is of more import than imagined — the fact that at present the tendency is to pat far too much material into the skir's. Ib looks extremely ug'y, eyen when the skirt is an equally divided one, to see a continual flutter going on — as is usually the case when a dress is made too full and of too light material. But no amount^of talking will in« dace a fashionable maker to stint her stuff ta the regulation two and three-quarter yards round. She will attempt the impossible feat of making a cycling dress conform to the fashion of an up-to-date walking dresp, unmindful of the fact that a cycling dress should be rather short and scant, whilst a walking dress for fashion should be long and full. Many complaints have reached, me from various sources on this subject. The only advice to be given is to go to a good tailor, who understands far better than a woman the dangers and inconveniences of these full absurdities, and insists on the skirt not being above a certain width. • . • It is the woman who has the courage of herself who attracts. Originals are generally more desirable than copies, no matter how accurate the copy may be. Let every woman dare to be herself,, develop her own individuality — not blindly copy some other

woman whom, it may be, her husband happens to admire. Let her think for herself, act for herself, and express her own nonest opinions. Individuality, when, combined with that nameless something called manner, is the moss potent weapon in the possession of the sex, A good woman's laugh is better than medicine. A well-told story is as welcome as a sunbeam in a sickroom. Laarn to keep your own troubles to yourself. The world is too busy to care for i.ycur ills and sorrows. Don't continually ujjry — tears do well enough in novels, but $aqj are not desirable in real life. • . • Mrs Mackay spends more on floral decorations when giving a dinner party or reception than any other member of the fashionable world. She has been known to fcave chariots, drawn by swans, filled with roses, from which her guests could help themselves. Her dinner tables are a wealth -cf flowers. When the blossoms are expensive ?r out of season, the bill for flowers afc a reception often amounts to £500. * . * Lady Granby, who has both. a beautiful face and a superb figure, has, of all Jiving indies of -title, probably been most otten painted by artists. ".• The qttsstion which was burning aii Dutch heart 3 : " What shall we give ' ons Willemint je ' on her accession 1 " Las been finally settled by bar charming Majesty hernelf. Queen Wilhelrmna has declined all j presents that her subjects might giva hec, I f'nee and for all. She wishes August 31 to j fie a happy, festive day to all iii her beloved ! land, and in place of offerings to herself has ] Pegged tbe would-be dotors to remember ' he ; poor and needy. | • . • The oak cradle in which Mary Qusen j ■}f Scots was rocked ia very handsome and ] well-preserved, though it has passed through ! many vicissitudes. She was torn on Dacem- i IS<er 7, 1542, at Liulitbgow Palace, ■which was j *he favourite residence of James V cf Scjo'.- ; 4iind and his young wifp, Mary of Guise. The ,*vyal father never saw his cbi:d t for he was isn his deathbed at Falkland Palace when came into the world. The palace at Linfctbgow was burnt by Gjcerel Hawley's j dragoons after they had been defeated by the J C*lighland army under "bormie Prince j Charlie " in 1746, and the oak cradle was j Bicst likely "looted," and got info the liaises j i f a woman who used it for her own baojes, idd passed it on to her children aad children's children. From her granddaughter ! «t was obtained about 60 years ego hy Mr Joseph V. Paton, a well-known 3'cottish antiquary of Du&fermline, who made a fine collection of antique furai•;.ure. His daughter, Mrs D. O. Hill, gives the following account of it : — " A man whom 'oy father employed to lock out for any old -carved oak furniture in the neighbourhood of palaces went'into a hause near Liclitbgow i'alaoe, where a woman was f ccking a ohild in ten- old oak cradle without one of the rccksrs. The man said, 'What are ye doing, jumblin' your bairn's judgment in a thing like that 2' -She answered him, ' Eb, mon I do you no ken Jhafc-was theQaeen's cradls?' He said, ! 'You'll be asking a lot for it ? ' She replied, 'I wouldna tak' a pound note for it.' The •nan on his return told my father about thif, t-ut s thought the woman was asking too much for it. My father went off at or.cc to Linlithgow and gave the woman a good price for it, and it has been in possession of the family over since." — " Royal Cradles," in the Qcdver. ■ . • Instead of an engagement ring tbe Japanese lover gives his sweetheart a piece j beautiful silk for ber sash. * . • In Norway a law has recently been passed which makes ghis ineligible for matribnony until they obtain certificates of proficiency in knitting, bakirg, and &pinning. • . • The masculine world is now quite s,ecußtomed (remarks the Medical Press and ipircular) to the cross-saddle position assumed j y women on " bikes," and thus it may be *.feat the side-saddle for horse-riding is doomed to pass away. The fair riders in California, at ail events, have made up their j Vainds upon the subject. As a preliminary, j ,<hey have formed a cress-saddle club, each »nember of which pledges herself to ride on f,orseback in no other style. They hold that this is tbe most sensible, comfortable, and only rational position by which a horse can j be properly and gracefully ridden. The difficulty as to costume, we learn, is easily met by the adoption of the divided ulster — whatever tbat may be. After all, the whole matter is only one of sentiment, based on custom. Bicycling women have in this country been laughed oat of their " bloomers " mainly because such a costume did not commend itself to their male companions. Perhaps, therefore, if women appeared on cross-saddles in a becoming dress the innovation would soon cease to be noticeable, and another step towards the " emancipation " of tbe fair sex would ba gained. • . • The lorg arm of coincidence has lately been outstretched- to some effect in the recovery of a valuable ring which was lost in a London street during the summer by a wellknown ycur>g American lady. The, loss of the ring, which contained a msgnificent emerald, was advertised in the papers, and a large reward offered for its restoration ; but nothing was heard cf it, and the lady bad resigned herself to the loss. But one evening, as she was leaviDg her hotel, a workgirl presented herself, and, handing over a package, asked if the ring infide were the lost treasure. It was. One evening in the summer the girl stopped in a Kensington Blreet to pick up her mother's spectacles, •which had fallen, and she found a ring— of brass, as she thought — get with a bit of 'green glass. With no idea of the Value, which was about Ll5O, she took it to a pawnbroker's, who, almost as ignorant, advanced 6s on it. But, on an evening some weeks later, the girl chaaced to be at tbe Earl's Court Exhibition and heard some people behind ber talking of the loss of the ring, the reward offered, and the name aud address of the owner. Their remarks as to the appearance of the lost ring made her suspect, tbat it was the one she bad found ; and when she had saved six shillings *he redeemed and restored it. Such a co.'♦jcidencs would be almost incredible in a novel. • . • Madame Sarah Bernhardt's chateau in Srittany, whither she usually retires when in need of rest and quiet, is a very primitive affair, situated on a lonely islet: a plain, iwo-Dloreyed oblong building of brown brick x.n<X white sto^e, vn'.b a- parapet (once lined

with frowning guns). Some years ago it was a genuine fort, occupied by 40 men and a few officers. In front of the forf, which lies in a deep hollow near the weather-beaten stormy Pointe dcs Poulains, Btand, like twin sentinels, two mighty porcelain storks. The waves rage ceaselessly about the base of this strange residence, which is surrounded with enormcus boulders. No sign of human habitation can be seen from any corner of the building with the exception of I a lighthouse and a small cottage. The I interior of the chateau, although less severe than the exterior, is simple. One long, broad, lofty, vaulted hall serves the tragedienne as dining room, drawing room, and studio combined. -It is wainscoted with pine wood and adorned by 10 or 12 by no means valuable paintings. A huge fireplace, chair?, and one or two artistic couches draped with soft Oriental stuffs make up the furniture. The guests' chambers are situated in a low, detached pavilion. In memory of fier travels far and wide, Madame Bernhardt has named them after the different continents. | • . • When Princess Louise, M archioness of ■ Loree, wants to preserve her incognita she S travels as Lady Sunbridge. It was as Lord I Sunbridge that the Duke of Argyll sab in the House o? Lords until he was created a duke of the United Kir gdom, • .* It is interesting to observe that American millionaires have uot believed in allowing their children to eat the bread of idleness. For instance, George, the son of j , Jay Gould, deceased, the world-famed s capitalist, is capable of earning £5 a week j • as a telegraph operator, being very expert in i that line of occupation. Young Jack Astor, I a member of one of the wealthiest families j in the world, is skilled as a florist, and as a • judge of orchids has few equals. Again, j byrus Field, whose father laid the first cable ! hcrcss the Atlantic, is himself a practical i electrician, and patents and electrical appliances are the products of bis ingenuit y acd invention. • . • "It isn't jast enough that you should i walk," says a physical culture teacher. " You must walk well" That is the secret of ! true health. You might walk for miles every i day regularly, bafc if you walked badly, if by ! ba<l poi&e and pose and, above all, by bad ; ! ac'.icn you brought those muscles into play • which should remain in repose &n3. let oibers I that ehoald bs active remain i»err, it would i do you no good. Tbat is one grtafc rtssson ! why many persons do not get tha fall baooSt cut of exercise : because they do not exeioi&e ] properly. Tney expend the requisite amoußt, of time and energy, they go turough all the motions, but ihey fail in just the most needful thing of &11 — the application and adaptation of those motions — whereupon they do not profit, by the exercise. No j greater shock to the nervous system can bo i imagined than to poise the body upon the i heel rather than the ball of the foot. WalK- j ing seems bo simple, to easy, such second ! caturei but as a matter of fact it is a most difficult feat to perform correctly. Everybody acknowledges the charm of a good walk, but^not everyon?, peihapp, is aware of its physical benefit. Grace means health no less than it means beauty." Tricks Played on Jewels. j The tricks of jewellers are as many as the wilfcs of the heathen Chinee, said one who j eught to know to the -writer, and some of them are clever enough to baffle the scrutiny of an expgrfc. A favourite method of dectoring a dull or defective stone is by fire. The process of burning eliminates many flaw?, and adds very much to tbe brilliancy of a gem. The yellow tinge which you see in Cape diamonds is got rid of, or at least effectually concealed, by placing the diamond in a certain chemical batb, which deposits a thin film o£ the colour of violet on it. By the application of ammonia a faded turquoise astmrnes a new lease of life, and the same effect is produced by treating it with Prussian blue, which in some mysterious way penetrates the gem and imparts colour to it. Manyaof the large diamonds you see are in reality composite, and consist of two or more small diamonds cunningly joined together by mastic, their value being apparently increased tenfold by this " unholy alliance." In the mountingof gems many ingenious frauds' are perpetrated on ignorant buyers. If the. stone fs not "olear set" it is the simplest matter in the world to conceal flaws by painting the surface of the metal in which the stone is set; with a pigment made of mastic and burnt ivory. Much ingenuity .is also used in the art of " doubling," and many " gems " which their owners cherish as valuable possessions consist cf two pieces of glass or crystal, with a little colouring matter skilfully sandwiched between them. milliners' pirates. The people who exclaim sgainst the high price of really good millinery can, I think, have very little idea of the amount of thought, time, and labour which is expended upon its productioD, remarked the manager of a famous West End establishment to the writer. To begin with, there is the design to be made, and in connection with this, I may tell you, we employ a large number of skilled artists, who do nothing elae bub draw designs for new bonnets and hats, and they make a very handsome income out of it. Then come 3 the question of making and trimming, the latter especially being an art which requires not only skill, but great fertility of imagination and perfect taste, and so rare is this combination ,of abiiities that huge salaries have to be paid to such as possess ifc. The value of the actual materials used is very small when compared with these two former items. But this, of course, is far too expensive a procedure for second-rate firms, who instead employ the services of a " pirate," whose duty it is to copy the designs of ctfher firms by fair means or foul. This is generally achieved by keeping a sharp eye oa ths windows of the first-class housep, and sketching everything new displayed there, the drawings being accompanied by descriptions of material. I know firms which make a constant practice of sendicg a " pirate " over to Paris every month in order to obtain the latest modes in this way, and a week never passes without our own windows receiving this unwelcome compliment, The best "milliners' pirates "are women —

those with a very retentive memory and an ability to draw. We are completely at the mercy of such, because they can get past the windows and, in the guise of a customer, see ' our entire stock. There is one woman in London now who must be makicg a fortune in this way. She is always very stylishly dressed, and is to all appearances a very great lady. She makes a few small purchases, and then asks to be shown the latest hats and bonnets. As a rule she leaves the shop without having " seen anything to please her," and, arrived at home, she sits down and transfers to paper all she can remember — not a Hit),-.- -and sells the designs to another firm. I krow th!s wonan well by sight, and have rattier spoilt; iier game so far as we are concerned, for the assistants have strict orders not to sbow her quite the latest concoctions. Household Hints. If a fire requires blowing to give it a good start, it will be found that blowing down into j the flames makes it burn up more quickly and brightly than if blown from underneath. To remove stains from the hands after peeling potatoes, apples, or pears, first wash the hands without using soap, then, while still wet, rub them with pumice stone, and afterwards wash them with soap and water. To Keep Flowers Freeh. — When the flowers are not very fresh they may be put in vases with warm water and a little charcoal. Every morning a little of the stem may be snipped eff each flower and fresh water added to the vase. Ttois allows the flowers to absorb more moisture, and revives them. Knock-knees 'should be most carefully attended to at once, as if they are treated carelessly the child may be deformed for life. There is no better way of treating this disease than by paying great attention to the general health of the child ruffering from them. Sea air is also good. Plenty of pure milk should be given, and farinaceous foods mixed with milk and hot water tend to improve the child's general health. When a child is teething, and seems in pain wiih hot and swollen gams, it can be often much relieved by putting into its mouth a tablespooaful of cold water every hour or co, and a hard crust of bread dipped in cold milk or water will often help largely the | little tuffeiar to get the tooth through ths £jt? mo. Milk that is turning eour is mosl. dangerous? i'ov a baby, as is sets up serious bowel Sxouble. Very small live germs, w&ich ar<? the cause of infectious dtsoaa«&, find their way into milk either frora the air or from impure water that may be use.! in claaning the cans or jugs in wh!=oh ifc has to stand. Sterilisation is a process of punlyiag and keeping milk by tubjecting it to heat in such a way that the germs are destroyed. How to Clean Marble. — Maibla slabs keep well and do not lose their colour if they are cleaned with hot water only, without the addition of eoap, which is injurious to the colour of the marble. Tke stains of wine, coffe* 3 , beer, etc., can bs removed with diluted spirits of sal-ammoniac or highly dilated oxalic ac!<?, or they can be removed, says a writer in Work, by msans of tfae following method : — Take a quantity of newly- slaked lime, and mix it wkh water into a paste-like consistency. Then apply the paste evenly with a brush on the part to be renovated, and leave the coaiirg on for two or three days before it is washed off. If the stains are not removed by a single application, repeat as before. OC7* Descriptions at balls, Ac, mint be endorsed by either the correspondent for the district or by the secrctirv to tbo b.UI committee The MS. ol any correspondents -who'rto no comply -with this rule will be sent to the secretary lor endorsement prior to tppeariug.- KMMKLINE. i To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue, letters should rencli I)"' Wkrnvs-. ollicc if possible en Saturday night, but ou no Recount Inter than Homl y nijlil. WEDDIKG AT YINEGAIt FLAT. Dear TCmmeline, — The social event of the week j in which it took place was the marriage of Miss j Mary Jones, the tecond daughter of Mr and Mrs ! G. Jone?, of Vinegar Flat, to Mr John Munro, of Lawreooe. This was celebrated on Wednesday, the 23rd ulfc , at the residence of the bride's parents, the ceremony being performed by the .Rev. J. 0. Gellie, of Cambrians. The bride looked charming in her wedding gown of gtey shot jarquaid, which was trimmed with silk of a darker shade and with wbite chiffon, surmounted I by the orthodox veil and orange blossom. The i bridesmaids in attendance were the three sisters ! of the bride, Misses Lizzie, Kate, and Annie, with j their cousin Miss E. Harley. Miss Lizzie woi-e cream hailstone muslin with chiffon, red ribbon, and orange blossom ; Miss Kate, blue shot lustre trimmed with blue silk and chiffon ; Miss Ann, blue shot lustre, with chifton and red ribbon ; Mits Harley, heliotrope sateen, ornamented with white lace, and orange blossom. Mrs G-. Jones, mother of the bride, was dressed in a handsome black serge trimmed with jet and black chiffon and orange blossom, and a blacic bonnet relieved with white. The ceremony over, the paity, numbering over 80 relatives and friends of the happy pair, adjourned to the garden, where the wedding cake and wine were, handed round, after which followed a recherche wedding breakfast. The piesents to the bride from the bridegroom and her many friends looked very pretty indeed, and were altogether too numerous to I mention. lii the evening all the gucits were i entertained iv the Victoria Hall, Cambrians, at a dance, which was kept up with great spirit till early morning:, everyone being thoroughly pleased. I The happy couple left in the evening on theiiy ! honeymoon amid shov/ers of well wishes. — Wall- | VLOVfS.II. | WEDDING AT CAMBRIANS. Dear Emmeline,— On Tuesday, Sch insfc., an exceedingly pretty and popular wedding was Holemnised at the residence of Mr T. Hughes, of Vinegar Flat, when his eldest daughter, Annie, was mairied to Mr Andrew Ilaig, eldest son of I Mr A. Haig, of the same place. The popularity of the bride and biiJesroom was evidenced by the ]aige attendance of guests who assemble'! t'> witi nr-ss the ceremony. Tbe ceremony was performed by the Key. Mr Gellie. Ths brio*' looked very ■ pretty in her wedding dre3S of shot silk lustre ( trimmed with chiffon and gimp. She wore the orthodox veil and orange blossoms, and carried a lovely shower bouquet in her hand. Mr Thomas Hughes, iun., acted as besfc man. There were four bridesmaids, the chief one being Miss Jenny Hughes (sister of the bride) ; the othei-3 Miss Lucy Dongey and the Misses Sarah and Katie , Haig (fihiers of the bridegroom). Miss Jenny Hughes was attired in a handsome cream figuied lustre trimmed, with cream lace and ribbons, and carried white and pink bouquets, as did also the other three bridesmaids. Mis 3 Sarah Haig wore a handsonie Ehofc lustre trimmed with cream silk and silk i ribbons ; MS3 pongey, a very pretty dress of cream nun's yeilieisc tummed with cream lace and ribbons ; Mi*s Kaue H%ifr, a charming and tasti ml drets of cream nun's veilicg tiim'£bcl with cream lace and cream ribbous. Afli,r the ceremony a laivje number of guests sat dovnto the wedding bieakfasl, during wkich the mi*! toasts to the bride and bridegroom, etc., weia duly honoured. Later on in the evening the company repaired to the Victoria Hall, Cambrians, where dancing was kept up by the young people till the small hours of the morning. The newlymarried couple took their departure during the evening on their honeymoon tour, driving through to Kokonga, whence they took train for Dnnedin. ' en route for Chrjstchurch, where they intend siay'wg a short tiuiSi revisiting Du:.'-diu during

the Jubilee celebrations. The wedding was . a | very popular one ia the district, as besides the young couple being so well known and liked, the parents of both bride and bridegroom are respected residents of the district. 'Jhe wedding presents were numerous, valuable, and comprehensive, but as it is. against your rule to publish a detailed list I refrain from sending one. — Correspondent. •wedding at oajiauu. Dear Ejimeline,— A very pretty wedding took place last Friday in the Public Gardens, Oamaru, the contracting parties being Mr J. A. Holt, of St. Bathans, third son of Mr Thomas Holt, of this town, and Miss L. Gebbie, daughter of Mr Gebbie, curator of the gardens. Mr Charle3 Watt, of Duuedin, performed the ceremony. The biide wore a very pretty dress of cream cashmere tiimmed with lace and ribbon, and a handsome wreath and veil, and carried a lovely shower bouquet of white water lilies and jnaidenhair fern. The bridesmaids were filiss J. Pinlayson, Miss Holt, and Miss Winnie Gebbie, sister of the bride, the best man being Mr Clarence Holt, brother of the bridegroom. The bridesmaids wore white spotted muslin trimmed with primross ribbon and Valniciennes lace, and carried handsrmo shower bouquets. The bridegroom' => gifts to the bridesmaids were handsome goH brooches with rubies and toijaz. The bride's travelling dreys waa a navy blue serge costume. After the ceremony an adjournment was made to the spot in the gardens, where the wedding party was photographed. Afterwards • the guests sat down to a sumptuous repast, during which several toasts were honoured. The bride was the-recipient of many costly and handsome presents. The happy couple left by the afternoon train for the south. — Guest.