LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 52

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— Miss Macdonnell, of Glengarry, who has just died at Eothesay, was an interesting old lady. Her father was the last real chief of Glengarry, and was a friend of Sir Waiter Scott. He was the prototype of Fergus Maclvor, and lived up to the character of his house as nearly as possible under the changed' circumstances. , — The wife of President Kruger is a. magnificent cook. It is a well-known fact tliat she prepares many of the dishes which are placed upon the table, but it is notso well known that her services are much sought after by ladies living in Pretoria, with a view to gaining instruction in culinary art. Recently Mrs Kruger, notwithstanding all the trials and troubles associated with the war, organised a series of cookery classes, and a lady who has just returned from South Africa states that the manner in which the wife of the President of the Transvaal conducts her classes is truly remarkable. j — Lady Audrey Buller and Lady White had an audience of the Queen, at Windsor Castle recently, and were included in the Royal dinner party. Sir George White is to be made a- general for distinguished service in the field, in recognition of his defence of Ladysmith. As a matter of fact, he would have had the rank of general some time ago had he not gone to Ladysmith, as it had been arranged that he should succeed Sir Robert Biddulph as Governor and commander-in-chief of Gibraltar in October last, with local rank as general. — The Prince and Princess of Wales recently celebrated the thirty-seventh anniversary of their wedding. The Princess sprang into popularity immediately on her . arrival in England, and never once has that popularity been on the wane. — Lady White, the wife of the hero of Ladysmith, is exceedinly popular, philanthropic, and pleasant (says M. A. P.). The daughter of the Venerable Joseph Bailey, of Calcutta, she is still extremely goodlooking, with dark hair, kindly and animated features, and a delightfully hospitable manner which sets all her guests at ease immediately. Not only is she a capii tal talker, but she has bravely fought 1 against depression all through the four trying months of the siege of Ladysmith, and hex cheerful coiirage has endeared her to ail who have met her. She has leased j No. 4 Draycott place, W., for the winter. When the crowd came to cheer Lady White on the morning of the relief of Ladysmith, ' she was not at home, and her daughter, alarmed at the noise, and not knowing the ' reason, slipped out of the house by the back, and entered that of a neighbour. Her host, however, speedily told her the truth, and led her to the window to receive the enthusiastic plaudits of the thr^ig. Miss White is tall and very prepossessing, with a wealth of fair, clustering hair. She is an accomplished musician, and extremely popular. I — It was the Princess of Wales who s>hov/ed a distinct approval of the double brooch which is now the most fashionable among small bibelots of the kind, by giving It to one or two of the brides she haw honoured with wedding presents. ! — A rumour is going the rounds to the effect that the Empress of Russia is likely to visit England again. It appears that she j has set her heart on spending a few weeks as a' strictly private individual at one of om quiet seaside resorts, and once again lead' the simple life which she did before phe was introduced to all the magnificence of the Russian Court. — Madame Sarah Bernhardt has taken a great resolve. She has decided to exclude froir> her theatre ladies who persist in wearing hats, and obstructing the vision of the unhappy playgoers who have to sit be-

hind them. This is nothing less than a revolution in Paris. Madame Bernhardt has been, spending all her time lately at her Paris theatre, rehearsing M. Rostand's neAv play, " L'Aiglon," which was produced some time ago. The distinguished tragedienne, LoAvever, Avas present at the funeral of the young actress Avho perished in the fire at the Comedie I'rancaise.

— Although not an actress herself, Mrs George Alexander is closely connected with the stage. Hei good taste is responsible for the charming costumes that one has groAvn accustomed to expect at the London St. James's Theatre. Mrs Alexander is constantly tripping over to Paris to choose fabrics and study old-world dresses in the Louvre and elseAvhere. The coronation robe Avorn by Miss Evelyn Millard in " The Prisoner of Zenda," at its first production three or four years ago, Avas perhaps her greatest creation. The entire train of this dress Avas lined Avith hundreds of roses, thickly seAvn together. — Very little is noAV heard regarding Princess Charles of Denmark, who, as everybody Knows, is one of the happiest of our younger Princesses, and the youngest daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales. As a matter of fact, married life has not changed her very 'bright and genial disposition. She and hei husband still continue their favourite pastime of photography, and it is said that the collection of photographs taken by this .Royal pair from the days when they became engaged is only equalled by that of Princes? Beatrice. "Princess Maud oi Wales is admittedly more skilful than any Royal personage in the art- of embroidery — an art, by-the-bye, Avhich her Royal mother did much to cultivate in her daughter. — The Prince and Princess of Wales s daughters are arways delighted to lay aside State and ceremony, and go about like everyday people. So Princess Victoria has much enjoyed her stay at Brighton with the Duke and Duchess of Fife, whose wish for privacy is so thoroughly respected. Princess Victoria can wander with her little nieces on the beach, or stroll about the shops without attracting notice. Princess Maud has been just as fortunate during her tour on the Riviera Avith- her husband. The Royal couple call themselves "Mr and Mrs Fredericksou "—Prince Charles s father is the Crown Prince Frederick— and can, therefore, mix with the ordinary hotel company, and take part in the carnival festivities at Mentone, where they have last been staying, as it they were private individuals instead of Royal personages. — Lady Colin Campbell bus a rich contralto voice, Avhich was trained in early days by Baci, the successor to Romam, the great singing-master of Italy, and later by Tosti. — By what name, says a writer m a Home paper, should a divorcee^ call herself? Has she a right to the name oi her rejected husband, or should she resume that of her father? It is an interesting question, for there are a good many divorcees hovering in London society Avith a somewhat uncertain nomenclature— Lady Coavley, for example, AA r ho, some.lwo years ago, succeeded in divorcing; her husband for quite adequate reasons. But she has a son Avho is also the son of Lord CoAvley, and she has a sentimental Avish— Avhich came prosaically into vieAV by way of an injunction — that the nominal, tie should not be severed. There is, h.OA\ r ever, already a Lady Cowley, the mother of the present Earl, Avho, as her son has no longer a wife, is not a dowager. Well, which is Ludy CoAvley? The case is still further complicated by the fact that Lady CoAvley has married Mr Myddelton-Biddulph, and v that, as her maiden name Avas Lady Violet Nevill, she would in ordinary circumstances be known as Lady Violet Myddelton-Biddulph. But, after all, the most interesting question is by what name shall the divorced Avife — or the divorcing wife — be knoAvn? It would not be pleasant for the Avronged wife Avith five children to be knoAvn as Miss So-and-So !