LADIES' GOSSIP

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 69

LADIES' GOSSIP

Most people have known what it is tft leave an old home, and in connection with. Marlborough House a' pathetic little incident may be told. Before a single objecthad been moved in what may be called tho Edwardian Marlborough House, Queen Alexandra went slowly through the rooms where so much mingled happiness and pain had been her portion, and took, as it were, a last look round. Very sad must have been the thought that now would be dismantled the pretty-bright apartmenta of her beloved eldei son, arid the rooms where she had seen gathered together all those dear to her ; for more than once her ow» parents were her Majesty's guests in her London home.

— All Queen Victoria's daughters ar* fond of travelling, but during their mother's lifetime they found the greatest difficulty in gratifying this desire, as the late Que«n. was very conservative in her views and did not approve of bhe royal ladies going very far afield. Princess Henry of Battenberg made an Italian tour once, and just before her death Queen Victoria gave h«r consent to the, Duchess of York accompanying her busband on his Greater Britain, tour. Of late, however, Princess Henry of Battenberg and her sister, Princess Christian," have been planning various journeys. Recently they have been staying in Paris, and nowit is rumoured that Princess Christian and her daughter may ge to South Africa, while Princess Henry has in contemplation a visit to America. Very naturally Princess Christian has a great desire to see her son's grave, and in the event of her going to South Africa she will go to Pretoria as well as tc Johannesburg. — Ro^al betrothals are always accorded a fair share of public interest, if only from the fact of their comparatively rars occurrence. The couple now occupying the most attention are the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Princess Caroline of Reuss, who will shortly go through the time-honoured ceremony at the altar of Hymen. The Grand Duke is not perhaps very well known to English newspaper readers, but in his own circles he is a most popular man, kind and generous to a fault, though perhaps a little impulsive, and with a remarkable amount of insight into human nature. Verily, this is a love mutch, for everyone in the know avers that it was a case of "first sight" that was, moreover, not too strong to last. The affection of this royal couple is perfectly mutual, me side being as pronounced as the other. The marriage takes place very shortly. — Lady Dorothy Nevill, whose birthday occurred on April 10, is perhaps the most wonderful old lady in society. In fact, she occupies very much the same position as was held for so long by the late Maria, Lady Ailesbury. Probably her greatest; claim to fame jthe fact tat form many years she was one v of the most intimate youngei friends of Lord BeaconsfieM, and' most Londoners know the look of her houso in Charles street on Primrose Day On the T9th of each April Lady Dorothy's front door, hex area railings, and even her knocker are bidden by masses of the yellow blossom which was said to have been so dear to the famous statesman. Her ladyship's tiny, quaint, light little figure may be seen gliding through the throng at every great social function, from a royal wedding to a private view. She is full of wit, as befits one who was born a Walpole, and her book-plate is embellished with a significant motto, "Stolen from Lady Dorothy Nevill." — It is dreadful to think, says an American writer, how demoralising has been the influence of the telephone. It has opened, endless possibilities of hurry, not only in business, but in social life ; it affects women no less than men. Fashionable members of the fair sex actually call ea-ch other up with inquiries as to health and in giving short invitations. Reflection upon an innovation so tremendous must send shivers down the spine of the person who spells proper with a big P. Making calls used to be the bore of many a woman's life, an dall practical common-sense people must, be grateful foi any «neans if escape therefrom. More punctilio attached to it than to any other social duty. To neglect returning a call was to offer a temble affront. On the day when the poor votary of fashion was not out dispensing calls with feverish velocity, she mu.<n, remain at borne and submit to be bored by people, for the majority of whom she cared nothing. The woman whose calling lists grew to formidable proportions had nc time for personal calls ; she merely made the round, driving from house to house, and leaving a card at sach, re-entering her own home to inspect those which had been left for hei during iier absence. The humour of this was pointed out by Thelma, the popular Norwegian heroine, who, after essaying London life, said naively that it all seemed like a game, this leaving cards for people who left cards for you, and whom you never saw. Common sense has come to the rescue, and we learn that formal calling has almost ceased to be the fashion, always excepting, of course, the calls of congratulation or condolence. Busy society women avail themselves of the mail and the telephone, and people who belong to the same set mee£ etch other at teas, luncheons., dinners, and the opeia. Suparficia 1 acquaintance is thereby relegated to its proper sphere, and time is saved lor cne cultivation of genuine friendship

—In most women kindliness is to be found in a greater^or less degree, and any^ unkindness shown by them is more often, than not caused by want of thought rather ihan from my deliberate intention of being unkind. There are, of course, 6ome women who are actually cruel not merely

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in word but in deed ; but there are the exception, which is proved by their conduct calling forth, as it always does, a spontaneous and a universal e:\pression of surprise and indignation that could only be aroused on account of such conduct being, comparatively speaking, i\u« in a woman. — The four daughters of the Emperor tmd Empress of Russia aie much of an age with the four stalwart little sons of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and. though it would bo difficult to find two countries more entirely difftr-ent than England and Russia, King Edward's British grandchildren and his PiUSMan great-nieces are being brought up in much the same "way and under the care of good old -fashioned nurses and attendants. The Empie«-s is much with her little daughters ; indeed, she is so devoted to her children that she

never cares to leave them fm more than a very few days, and tli€ eldest Grand Duchess is quite a travellei ; before she was two years old she nad made the tuui of Europe. — A correspondent inquires the exact height of the King. As tins inquiry is one which is alwaj s being repeat" d at intervals we reprint the reply which «c made on a, former occasion, when the same (jiiestiun was asked. We believe hi.- Majesty's stature to be as nearly as possible sft 7in in the stockinged feet. This would make the height, inclusive of the low military h»<.ls which lua Majesty prefer", say 5Jt Bj.ni, a height which does not compare favourably with that of sunie of his stalwart relative im this reason it is a tiadiliou uitti th • mi. ,tl pliotii^r.tpliei 1 - th-'c when they axe taking a tun pictme oi the

King in a portrait group they should take care to place his Majesty wJien possible upon, an eminence, such as the step at ±he entrance of a palace. Indeed, the device is not entirely unknown to them of arrjinging a hassock for the use of their Sovereign, its presence cleverly concealed by the folds of the drapery of the Queen or of some other royai lady who may be present in the same group. When the Prince of Wales, the Czar of Russia, or certain other distinguished people are photographed at the same time this precaution is not needed, because, in comparison with them, King Edward is distinctly tall. Nor is it needed when he is seated.

—In Paris one may do almost as one like?. So many incongruous elements mingle in the society there that, if you are reasonably civilised in your conduct, you will pass well enough. 'The political vicissitudes and philosophical vagaries of the last hundred years have mixed things up very thoroughly. The Legitimist, the Imperialist, and the Proletarian live side by side, and, pretences and assumptions aside, one is about as good as another. There is (says a writer in the 'Smart Set) always a possibility of excitement and surpn.se in a Parisian drawing room ; the thing that appears there seldomest is vulgarity. Every Frenchwoman and almost every Frenchman knows how to bohave ; , and their language .is an inimitable medium.' for the expression of the wit, the courtesies, ji and the felicities of the «alon. Manners, ,1 and brains of some sort, are the two amulet* which open doors for one in Paris ; and the chaian of mere intellect, in its social manifestation, was never carried, farther than in that wonderful city. It is apt to be seductive and even demoralising to the new comer; because there appears to be a total absence of prejudices. You may profess any heresy, social or intellectual, that you choose ; and, if you do it well, it will be welcomed. No topic is tabooed, so long as you treat it with verve and resource. Only prosines6 and stupidity [ find lions in the path ; but you may be intolerant, prejudiced, fanatical ; and, if 3'ou are also eloquent, you .will have your success. 'The three graces of the Parisian salon are charm, brilliance, and audacity. One cause of the allurements of French society is that their interest in the thing that you bring them is not feigned ; they will manifest an .enthusiasm as genuine as. it is facile. This is partly the result of- 1 their inexhaustible curiosity and hospitality' towards new subjects, and partly of an expansive, though shallow, goodi nature. On' the other hand, all Parisian, cultivation is! artistic ; your hostess at dinner, or in the drawing room, is suie to be -an artist of the iinest sort ; and the host will generally afford Sier expert support. Nothing can. •surpass the sensitive tact, the soothing, yet stimulating, softness of a stranger's reception in -society. — Princess Alexis Dolgorouki is probably the only English society lady married to a Russian. She is very rich, having inherited a large fortune from her father, Mr Fleetwood Wilson. She is also a -most interesting personality, and before her marriage was said by a royal personage to be "the most popular spinster in London."'

— One of the enjoyments offeied to King Edwaid by the music-loving monarch of Portugal is the singing of Brazilian, "modiuhas," a kind of music unknown outside the dominions of the House of Braganza. Those who have never heard this curious chanting must remain ignorant of what "Vathek" Beckford once declared to be the most bewitcmng melodies that have ever existed since the days of the Sybarites and the Sirens. "Modinhas" consist of languid, interrupted measures, ac if the breath were gone with excess of rapture, ana the soul were panting to meet the kindred soul of the beloved one. With an artless carelessness the notes steal into one's heart before one has time to defend oneself against their I fantastic influence. You fancy, according to Beckford, you are swallowing milk, but you are o^uafLng potions so strong as to haunt and dominate you for hours. "At least," he concludes, ""it i& so with such -beings as feel the power of harmonious sounds. I won't answer for hard-eared, phlegmatic northern animals." There is a subtle and indefinable charm in the royal domains in Poitugal beside the music heard there— a charm quite distinct from anythmg ehe in the wo»!d. It is not Eastern, although traces r>f Moorish luxury meet one on every hand; it is not tropical, although the flowei-lovmg Portuguese fills his j world -nitli roses, carnations, and jasmine- ' it has the dreamy beauty of the South, and something, too. of the" breezy delight of ! northern «un and an ° I — Under the Leading "A Dndiess in Westminster," (he lady wnu>i of the Leeds Mercury jvmnrks —I should tlnnk that there are very few ladii.s mlio have devoted themselves to woiks of benevolence and phdantiiropy in so genuine and self-dnm-ni" a way as has the Dowager Purlieu oTXpu" cast'.e. Many great ladies pass then time occasionally m Vummiug," but I fe.u that in many instance^ it is a veiy exptiimeutyl , kind of woik with them, takpn si.ddenlv .

up as an amusement and excitement and (hopped when thtv are tired of it. In the c."<e of the Duckss, her good woik in ' Uiorouchly and steadfastly pmsu-d, f or lt ' is quite ten yfais a^o 'since she' be<r a n it in the Liis-t Fuel (,f London The editor oi flu- R.ll M.ill Magazine has perMiadtd lipr Grace to -:ne a suuple ai,d imaff, cwd i><<<,ant of hei o.uni n. . s theie, and this appeal^ in the L-t Munhw „f J,, h md .r^ /Ane under the title "11* Uonu n, Wliittthape' '' "lon years ago" «;,■,.« the Duclil^, -Jua^ told that oi all London districts Wmle-tl-ajwl «..s m tl,e gieatest diM-eiKitc ownn' to the evpl.uts of ' Jack the Kijipet ' • \ , , v Aveil. tliLii,' I replied, '1 will go to Wlnte(hypel' Already a girls' f'nb had been s-ta'ted by two laditi ; and lining mvs. If \«y Li.lk> <\\neuetice of tlie \\<,ik, I j.iuh<{ them, v.d ufrl t< /o di vni <.e\ei,il e\ h. ings in the we. I:, t 11 I realised how difficult it was to ccnif do\. n im.'h; aJtei nipliL fiuiu the We-st Kad, r, ah a lout: and weanmi;ji. jnunwv J'unip aft'jui aid-- Muipmei . I appit-Liated hou much moie pi-iiectly the

work could be done on the spot, so I conceived the idea of taking a house." The Duchess is still at her ,post, and I think

all honour is due to this lady, who voluntarily relinquishes many of the advantages of her wealth and station to devote herself so thoroughly to what she considers is her duty. I know, also, some Jewish ladies in London who work on much the same lines. Slowly and sureTy these good women are doing enormous good, without fuss and without parade, and I can see that the result of their efforts can scarcely 'be estimated. Uearly every .protege of theirs becomes in time a centre of good, and the ' effect of their teaching is something like the idea of the endless chain, beginning • with one unit and doubling as it goes. — From the highest to the lowest the .English art a garden-loving nation. The , flowers .grown abroad are grown mostly for , the English .market and visitors. Queen Victoria was a .great flower lover from the

days when, a toddling child, she made daisy ohahiß on the lawns of Kensington Palace, and perhaps wore them with more pride than she ever did her jewels. When she. paid her one and -only -visit to 'Spam, Queen Christina asked, "Is -there anything the < Queen is especially iond of?" "Yes, flowers," was the answer, and so flowers ■ in lavish profusion decorated i,he streets, ' the houses, the railway station, and the Palace. Queen Alexandra is also enthusiastic on the subject of flowers. She enjoys nothing more than superintending garden work, and time was when she would plant and trim, and even hoe, with the greatest pleasure, and she and her children delighted in their gardening mornings. She is very particular about the cottage gardens round Sandringham being kept neat and gay with blossoms, and vncourages her tenants by accepting posies from the children. At Windsor her Majesty has caused j several alterations to be made hi the gar- j dens, and has had- masses of pink monthly j roses planted np the mound to the P. mind lower. She is grently interested in Lady j Warwick's "hostel," near Heading, fox* teaching women the gentle art of gardening. Queen Victoria included in her affection for all things Scotch the humble heathei, h.uebell, and thistle, and con-

sidered that only in the far north did they aftuin TitL-fection. She caused' the bpringflowuitig he.ither ti be freely planted at ' OKborne and Windsor, and some large brds of it in the Italian qarSen in front of the , : Castla aie now a. lovely flush of purple, j By tin- oi deis of Queen Alexandra, to whom Mid tl<.\: ci* iippedl more than all the pam-pf-ud lilos-onis of hothouses, the homely pnmid-e .i^'i find- a place among the-<li|ip-d '-lniibi and at the foot of the | • })ini,/.i; aii'l ninl>le statues; •while the' 1 yf-lluw d.iffudiLs nod in the turf in as great ] luxun.ince a» ever they did on the slopes , ol Mount Ida when Persephone gathered lh- m to h<-r undoing. — It is said that Mme. J.me Hading his Ihe loveliest oyes in the world. Ihey arc ' of the clearest and purest brown, like . that of mountain brooks or wavt'-wablud , onyx, aud veiled with a thick fringe of ,

black and silky lashes. When touring in Turkey Mr Hading learned of the national Turkish custom of lengthening the ellipti■cal space between the upper and lower lids by slitting the outei canthus about a tenth of an inch and stretching the lids as the wound heals, and afterwards decided to try it on his little girl. The result has made Jane Hading's optics famous.

— The Duchess of Fife is one of the few ladies, royal or otherwise, who can boast of having driven a railway train. The Duke and Duchess inspected a splendid new engine named the "Duchess of !Tife," ■which at that time "had just I)een constructed by the London-Brighton Railway Company at their Brighton works. Alter inspecting tie locomotive, which is designed to do the journey between London and Brighton in less than, one hour, the Duchess expressed a wish to board and drive it. The driver and fireman left their places, and the Duke and Duchess assumed temporary charge of the engine, and successfully drove it a considerable distance down sthe station, to the interest of the spectators. Mr J. 'Richardson, the company's outdoor locomotive superintendent, jtood •on the Jootplate, but the Duke and Duchess, after a -few instructions, drove the engine quite unaided.

To tmxtre publication in the farUicominq utsue letters nhotdd reach the Witness office xf possible <m Saturday night, but on no account later than Monday ntij/it

W Df scrip lions ofbulh, ie, mutt be endorsed by either the Witness correspondent for the district or by the secretary to the ball committee. The 318 of any correspondents toho do not comply with Ihis rule will be brut to the secretary /or endorsement pn'or to ppeariug.—ESlMEHyji

WEDDING AT WAIMANGAROA.

! Dear Emnieiine, — A veiy pretty wedding took place at St. Joseph's Cliuich, "Waimangaroa, Westport, on Wednesday, May 20, when Mr William T. M'Kenzje, of Waitaimna, Otago, and ili"s Katlierine Beirne, daughter of Mr 1'". Eviuae, of Waimangaxoa, "were married. The Key. FafcLer Walshe performed the ceremony. The bride was given away by her father. The bridegroom was supported by Mr J. Beirne as best Juan. Mr Colin M'Donald acted as groomsman. The bridesmaids were iiiss J. O'Rourke and Mias L. M'lirtyie. At the conclusion of the ceremony the bridal party returned "to the residence of the bride's parents for the wedding breakfast, when the toast of the health of the newly-married couple was enthusiastically honoured by the numerous guests assembled. In the evening a very enjoyab'e foci.il was held >„ the hall, which wai opened by the giand march, led by the bride nr.d bridegroom Dancing was interspersed by songs and recitations, all going well towards assuring the spending of a real pleasant evening The bride was dressed in a white figured broche, white silk ribbon, and lovely pearl trimmings. She wore a wreath and veil, and carried a beautiful bouquet, the grit oi Sliss A. Marris. Mits O'Bourke wore, a \shite silk che«s tnmmctl with siJk mterfcion and picture hat . Miss il'lnfyre, cream lustre with cre«m satin triniiomga and picture hat, and both can-Led bouquets. Ihe bridegroom's gift to the bmle was a gold watch and chain, and to each bridesmaid a gold brooch Th& bride's gift tt. the bridegroom wa3 gold sleeve links. Xhe happy couple left on Friduv evening for their future homo at Nguhere, Greymouth, the bride goinp away n navy blue serge, cream Bilk vest, and blaok pictuic hat. The presents were veiy numeioiu and valuable.— G ussx.