Sovereign Ladies.

Otago Witness, Issue 2398, 15 February 1900, Page 56

Sovereign Ladies.

A writer in the Leeds Mercury, review- ' ing a book lately published by Hutchinson, entitled, " The Sovereign Ladies of Europe," deals with the characteristics of those exalted personages in a very entertaining manner. We append a few extracts: — The visit of the German Empress to our shores reminds us how little the world knows of the Consort of the Kaiser. The old Emperor Wilhelm I, used to say that his grandson's wife reminded him of his " own mother, the famous Queen Louise, whose name throughout Prussia is to this day an honoured household word. Like the Czarina, the German Empress at the time of her marriage — which took place when she was 17 — was quite unaccustomed to the splendour of a great Court, and at first she was singularly diffident and shy. She is a woman of great tact, and though she never . intermeddles with politics, she is most literally the power behind the throne, for her ascendency over the Emperor is manifest. .Those who know the Kaiserin best '■ speak of her as a deeply religious woman, an admirable wife and mother, energetic, industrious, and, without the least parade, most unselfish. It is interesting to learn that the Empress since her girlhood has kept a journal, and tradition has it that even the Kaiser has not seen the contents of the book, which is written up every night, and always kept loiked. Some day,/ perhaps, a good deal of light may be cast on the secret history of Europe from its poges. Perhaps the occupants of lesser thrones are more to be envied.' for they are spared the responsibilities and cares incidental to the supreme positions of the world. One of the sovereign ladies of Europe of whom little is heard is the Queen of Portugal, the beautiful daughter of Ihe Comte de Paris and the Princess who was born on English soil in 1865. Queen Amalie is vivacious, extremely well-read, quick-witted, and large hearted. She has studied both medicine and the science of nur.-hig, maintains a hospital for sick children at her own expense, and delights personally to wait upon the little patients. She has done a great deal since King Carlos came to the throne to help the people of Portugal, and not merely in Lisbon, but throughout the Peninsula, many are the anecdotes which are told of her choritable acts.. The Queen-Hegcnt of Spain has had a more difficult position ; but during the 14 years of her rule she has on by courage, sagacity, and devotion to duty the respect' of foreign nations, as well as the good-will of the moody and excitable subjects of the boy King — Alphonso XIII. The young Queen of Holland is already noted for her perfect solf-posse^sion, intellectual taster, strong will, and marked pre- ■ dilection for all things Dutch. There seems little reason to doubt that she will prove worthy of the best traditions of the House of Orange. Quite one of the most fascinating Courts in Europe is that of Sweden, a circumstance which is largely due to the f-nct that King Oscar is somewhat of a poet and an artist, as well as a lover of literature — tastes which are shared to the fullest extent by the Queen. She is not merely a great reader and collector of books, but a genuine student of politics and of history. One proof out of many of the Queen of Sweden's generosity is a hospital for women, built by her exactly |10 yecU's ago. She is a philanthropist in many practical directions, and there is not a charitable institution in Norway or Sweden with which she is not directly a&socia- , ted. The Court of King Oscar is not only , one of the brightest and most intellectual, ' but one of the most rerined in Europe. Referring to Queen Victoria, the writer says : In this country our Sovereign Lidy the Queen has always set a shining example of private virtue and of public spirit, and during her long and beneficent reign she has shown at every turn of affairs devotion to duty and a constant desire to advance the welfare of her subjects. The Empress of Russia is described as beinc: devoted in her consort, and attentive to domestic affairs ; and if she sometimes shows that she is bored by the half-barbaric splendour and endless ceremony of the Paissian Court, she is known to be a woman of great force of character, animated by a high sense of duty, and with ambitions which are more than peisonal. j Unselfishness. 1 Unfortunately our great love for our children often results not in making them happy, which is our supreme desire, but in making them selfish, and without the very elements of happiness in their composition. We are so anxious to give them " a good time " that unconsciously we teach them that pleasure and amusement are in themselves worthy aims. Let us rather teach them that in thought and care for others, and conquering of self, lies a human being's only chance of lasting content and joy. Hiuls ami ' Sponging with hot, clear coffee will take the shininess from half-worn silk. Spots of paint on window panes are readily removed by being rubbed or scraped with a pennj"" dipped in water. Any mark

left can be effaced by rubbing with a rag dipped in turpentine. It is curious that dry linen and cotton absorb hot water much more readily than cold. Take advantage of this fact when your clothes are over-dried on the line, and sprinkle them with a paint brush dipped in hot water. Muslin curtains may be washed and nicely stiffened at the same time by using bran water, which is made by boiling a quart of bran in a fair-sized bucketful of water. Strain and use lukewarm ; two waters are necessary. To Wash White Feathers. — Take 4oz good white soap and dissolve it in four pints of warm water. Put in the feathers, and keep drawing them through the hands under the suds till all dirt is removed. Rinse iv clean hot Avater, and shake dry, either in the sun or before a fire. Trying on New Shoes. — Always stand and walk about when you try on a new shoe. One's feet are smaller when sitting than when standing, and this if often the reason why shoes that seem perfectly comfortable in the shop are uncomfortable afterwards. To Colour Your Kitchen. — A very pretty pink colouring for kitchen or pantry walls can be made by dissolving whiting in cold water, and adding enoagh permanganate of potash to give it the desired shade. Add a little liquid glue, and apply as you would whitewash. It looks extremely well if carefully applied. Grease Spots on Carpet. — Lay a piece of brown paper over the spots and iron with a moderately hot iron, changing the paper till no grease comes off on it. Then rub the spots with benzine. S^~ Descriptions of balls, etc., mvst be endorsed by cither the Witness correspondent for the district or by the secrctaiy to the ball committee The MS. of any correspondents ivho do not comply viith this rule will be sent to the secretary for endorseiae7it prior to appearing. — EUiIELINB. To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue, letters, t,hoi(ld reach the Witness office if possible on Saturday night, but on no account later than Monday nijht. WEDDING AT ISLAND CLIFF. Dear Emnieline,— A very pretty wedding took place at Island Cliff on 31st January, the participating couple being Miss Sarah Dobaon, eldest daughter of Mr Wm. Dobson, Island Cliff, and Mr C. J. Shine, also of this district. The wedding took place at the residence of t'ue bride's parents, and the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Howard. Mr Shine was attended by Mr David Doland ts best man, and the bride by two bridesmaids, her sisxer, Miss Mary Dobson, and Miss Lizzie Shine, si&ter of the bridegroom. The bride looked lovely in a gown of cre.im serge trimmed •with satin and lace, and the iisual veil and oiange blossoms. The bridesmaids wore becoming dresses of cream figured cloth, with sashes of soft yellow silk. After the ceremony th" guests, to the number of about 70, sat down to breakfast, when the tisxial healths v.-ere dinnk and speeches made. In the evening Mr and Mrs Dobson gave a very enjoyable dance to the j ouug folk, many of the ..wedding guests also remaining to it. The haudsome presents given to the young couple too numerous to particularise, even if your rule against publishing lists of presents were not in force. Suffice it to say th?t the list included almost every article likely to be wanted by a young couple. — GUEST. BALL AT HEDGEHOPE. Dear Emmelme.— A ball was held in tli3 Hedgehope schoolhouse on the 7th inst., under the auspices of the local Athletic Society. Among the many pretty diesses worn, I noticed those of Miss Georgina, Sinclair (who was generally admitted to be belle of the ball), Stuart taitan, trimmed with, white; Miss Mary Young, white blouse, black skirt; Miss Margaret M'Donald, white; Miss Al'Leod, pink nun's veiling evening dress; Miss Lizzie Sinclair, dark skirt, blue blouse; Mis<3 Jessie Young, pale pink dress ; Miss Bella M'Donald, black skirt, pink blouse; Miss Christina M'Donald, blue serge dress, trimmed with white braid; Miss M'Kay, navy blue velvet skirt, while blouse; Miss Kate M'Kpy, black skirt, white blouse; Miss Baldwin, Is vender dress, trimmed with white; Misses Haiding (two), black skirts, white blouses ; Miss Maiy M'Donald, black skirt, light blouse; Miss Mills, yellow dress; Mis 3 M'liierney, pale blue diess; Mrs H. M'Leod, black dress. There were many others present whose names I could not ascertain.— ONE WHO WAS THERE.