LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 66

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— The American ballroom will witness a novel two-step during the ' coming midwinter season. It is a British conception, now a fad in London, and is entitled "Handsome, Harry," and, -despite the fact that it appears to be an intricate invention, is practically an ingenious combination of the American cotillon and the Virginia reel. One of the peculiarities of the dance is that it is executed by three persons, two of the feminine sex and one of the male. These alternately change at right angles, and' after a round of dancingmeet in the centre of a given circle and release partners, the first lady resigning her male escort to the second lady in waiting. This is continued indefinitely during tlie performance of the orchestra. This dance was very popular a year or two ago under the title of the "Glide Step Away." Beth the music and the step were originated by Frederick W. Hager, a, New York bandmaster, and incidentally the author of " Laughing Water " and other intermezzos. He originally introduced the work as a phonograph specialty, since which it has been universally adopted by Parisian and foreign orchestras. One of the unique purposes of the " Handsome Harry" dance is to render the modern swagger waltz a back number, in so far as inaugurating a more graceful or genteel pose. In its present form of a glide twostep Londoners hail it as a- " sans pareil " diversion, and as such it will possibly also win favour in America.

— An American who has the true instinct of dressing well made a very -pposite remark in connection with the first Court which she attended. " Very few women," she said, " can understand how becoming cloth-of-gold is both to dark and fair alike, or they would affect it more for big occasions Your Queen looked, a radiant dream last week in her Indian embroidered cloth-of-gold, and at the opening of Parliament Lady Lytton's gold and silver tissue quite transformed her personality." There is no doubt of this fact (writes Sybil, in the Sketch), but most people in England of restrained individuality seem, afraid that cloth-of-gold or its representatives are "too much" ior ordinary festivities — a mistaken idea.

A most outspoken article appears in the new issue of the Fortnightly Review on "The Marriage Contract in its Relation to Social Progress." The writer claims that " it cannot, be denied that a large proportion of women regard marriage as a profession, and marry for wealth or position ; that, when this is not so, anxiety to secure ' board and lodging ' for life often forms the principal motive ; while in the case of the man the dominating impulse is often not far removed, though disguised by a subtle ritual, from that which reigns in the Oriental slave market." In the author's view the froth of the "newwoman" movement has evaporated. The demand for female suffrage has become subordinate to the prior necessity that woman shall be educated. . Meanwhile, as a worker, competing with man in almost every branch of industry, she is making herself an economic unit. Economic liberty will lead to mc-ral and intellectual liberty.

— Mrs Alfred Lyttelton, the wife of the Colonial Secretary, is in her way quite as remarkable a woman as he is a man. She was before her marriage Miss Edith Bal-

four, but she is in no wise related to the Prime Minister. Some years ago Mr and Mrs Alfred Lyttelton took the old-world house in Westminster where nas laid the scene of Sir Walter Besant's fine novel, "Beyond the Dreams of Avarice." Situated" within a stone's throw of the House of Commons, the front of the house overlooks the Abbey Garden, while the back windows command a tiny but exceedingly pretty private garden. Mrs Lyttelton has great literary ambitions, and some years ago she published a short novel, which she signed by the transpaient pseudonym of "Edith Hamlet." Since her husband became Colonial Secretary, Mrs Lyttelton has taken an active interest in the difficult question of women's emigration to the colonies, and especially to South Africa — where, by the way, for a while her own brother, Mr Reginald Balfour, held an important appointment. Like so many clever people, Mrs Lyttelton on occasion can surprise even herself. Although she had never spoken in public in her life till the occasion of her husband's contested election last autumn, Mr Alfred Lyttelton's sudden illness compelled her to see what she could do in the way of platform work, and even_his opponents admitted that he owed his triumph entirely to her brilliant speeches and to her unrivalled powers of canvassing. — Princess Margaret of Connaught is one of the most popular of our young Princesses. She is tall and graceful, and devoted to country life and sports. She is just over twenty-three years of age, and came out nearly five years ago. The eldest son of the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden, to whom she has become engaged, is younger by ten months than the Princess, who is a good musician, has considerable artistic ability, and has been taught to take a thorough interest in housewifery, and in the dairy, as well as in the general management of domestic affairs. The young couple recently have seen a good deal of each other, as Prince Gustavus Adolphus has been travelling in Egypt at the same time that the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and their daughters were there also. Princess " Daisy " will be a good deal missed in her family circle, especially by her younger sister^ Princess Patricia, the two having always been much together. — The Countess of Suffolk is Lady Curzon's sister, and though she does not possess the uncommon type of Madonnalike loveliness of the Viceroy of India's wife, she is a very beautiful woman, ana when she wears her hair parted down the centre, as she sometimes does, bears a strong resemblance to Lady Curzon. Lord Curzon fell in love with, and married Miss Mary Victoria Leiter while pn a visit to the United States, and the w-eddings of both her sisters may be said to have been the outcome of that splendid alliance. For not only did the present Countess of Suffolk meet her lord and master at the Viceregal • Court in India, when Lord Suffolk was on the Viceroy's staff, but Miss Nancy Leiter, who married Major Colin Campbell just after the cruel anxiety of Lady Curzon' s illness had abated, met him also in the same brilliant centre of diplomacy and social triumph. The Countess of Suffolk will, in her lovely Jacobean home, Charlton, in Wiltshire, find a glorious array of fair women in the oak-panelled picture gallery, some of Ihem enshrined in what are among the wonders of Charlton, massive silver frames. But not even that galaxy will disclose three more beautiful women than the Washington belles, Lady Curzon, Mrs Colin Campbell, and the Countess herself.

— According to a story from St. Petersburg, the Tsaritsa has no rest either by day or night. The greater part of her time is passed in consoling her husband and in inspiring him with courage. Besides this, she must concern herself with every trifle. She prepares food for the Czar, who is in constant feai of poison ; she assists at every detail of his toilet ; she superintends the tailor and the laundress, as well as the barber, nnd, besides, attends to every want of her infant son, whom she rears herself. — When the Autocrat of AH the Russias sent Queen Draga, of Servia, an emerald and diamond bracelet as a token of goodwill, report had it that his Imperial Majesty had paid a very large sum for this ornament ; yet when it sold in London the pi ice given did not reach £500. Nicholas II was probably charged a much higher amount, and may have considered his present worth a small fortune. Early Victorians heard but little, as a rule, of the ways of foreign Courts, and took scant interest in the European sovereigns of their day, save in those who happened to loom large and affect matters in England ; yet the Czar Nicholas I used to be a name to conjure with during the Crimean war, and anecdotes were rife respecting his handsome appearance, his despotic disposition, and his seemingly inexhaustible wealth. His possessions were so extensive, his income so large, that it was impossible for him to cast an eye occasionally over his household accounts, as Queen Victoria and her inestimable and careful husband might have done. The tallow candle story used to be a favourite with Britons, as it helped to show how the mighty Emperor could be robbed by his own folk. Early in his reign his Majesty caught a bad head cold, and asked a humble subject how this annoying ailment could be cured. The advice given was that the Imperial nose should be annointed at night with tallow from a rommon candle. Years rolled on, and on^ day, by a mere accident, the Czar had the chance of looking through a book of household expenditure, and was amazed to find he had been charged for a pound of tallow candles every night since !

— When the Queen Broke Down. —

Queen Victoria was a woman of wonderful courage, says a writer in the February number of The World and His Wife, and riot in the least emotionaL It was singular, therefore, that the first distribution of the Victoria Crosses won by her soldiers "For Valour" should be the only occasion in public when emotion should get the better of her.

As her heroes approached to receive at her hands the reward for their devotion and suffering, it was observed that she trembled and was distressed at the Mgnl of the more badly hurt of the veterans But she struggled bravely through until almost the last medal had been pinned to its owner's breast. Then came one poor remnant ot humanity who presented a spectacle too piteous. Both his arms had been shot away, one leg stiffened by injury ; and there was a bandage about his pale, wan face. . . c,-. „ The Queen started as she saw him. b&e o-azed at him for a moment; then the medal dropped from her nerveless fingers ; she covered her face with her hands, and burst into a passion of weeping. The soldiers on parade, when they saw their Queen in tears, were overwhelmed for a moment. Then they broke rank; caps were removed, and they surged around the Queen in rough, inarticulate sympathy. These men, who had not flinched in the face of Russian shot and shell, were unnerved at the sight of a noble woman s pityino- tears. It was some minutes beiore order 'was restored, and the Queen, mastering her grief, could fix the medal to the poor man's breast. —A Blanket That Will Always Keep You

Warm. — A well-known French engineer, M. Camille Herrgott, of Belfort, has invented a most valuable blanket. It always keeps warm, no matter how cold the weather may be. The invention is not confined to blankets, but may be applied to rugs, sheets, clothes, and all kinds of cloth. The heat is furnished by fine electric wires of peculiar construction, woven into the cloth A very small battery is needed to work a blanket, and the apparatus is within the reach of the humblest homes. The electric, thermophile, as the invention k called, is intended to be used in connection with fabrics of all kinds, and does not alter their ordinary appearance or their usual flexibility. This result is obtained, in the first place, by a peculiar thread specially composed of a mixture of textile fibre and. conducting wire. The latter does all the heating, while the fibre gives strength. The heating thread is made up in fabric of any desired thickness, for use as light or heavy cloth, carpet, or hangings, taking the place of the fabrics ordinarily used for such purposes. The " thermophile " tissues are so constructed that they are able to give only the uniform temperature for which they were made. The weave of the electrothermic cloth being very close, the heating threads are at a temperature scarcely higher than that of the whole fabric, so that any abnormal and, therefore, dangerous heating is avoided. The cloth cannot possibly take fire, because the wire will break before the heat becomes sufficient to cause that.

Another remarkable advantage is that when the cloth becomes wet it can be dried by the electric current. — A Song of Bright Days. —

What's the use of sighin' 'cause the world is

goin' wrong, When, the birds are just a-tryin' of a ha.lelula song 9 Seem' shadders of a tomb When, in spite of all the gloom. The violet in the snowdrift is a-fixin' for to

bloom! What's the use of sighin' when yor know a

sky of bine Is just behind the shadders, an' a-smihn

sweet for yovi ? When the larks are on the wing — When the sunny rivers sing,

An' the meadows are a-waiting on the promise

of the spring! Yoii jest can't change the coniin' or the goin'

of the years ; Let the -winds do all your sighin' — let the clouds weep all your tears! 'Spite o' shadders o' the night. There is love, an' there is light, An' the stars that shine above you— they bring heaven to your sight! — Disgraceful Deficiencies. — It is a disgrace : To half do things. Not to develop your pos&ibilities. To be lazy, indolent, indifferent. To do poor, slipshod blotched work. To give a bad example to young people. To have crude, brutish, repulsive manners.

To live a half life -when a whole life is possible. Not to be scrupulously clean in person and surroundings. To acknowledge a fault and make no effort to overcome it.

To be ungrateful to friends and to those who helped us. To go through life^a. pigmy when nature intended you for a giant. To kick over the ladder upon which we have climbed to our position.

To be grossly ignorant of the customs and usages of good society. To ignore the forces which are improving civilisation in your own country.

Not to be able to carry on an intelligent conversation in your own country. To shirk responsibility in politics, or to be indiffeient to the public welfare. Common sense is a sdfer bank account than cent&.

To ensure publication in the forthcoming issue letters should reach the Witness office if possible on Saturday night, but on no account later than Monday night PST" Descriptions oj balls, &c. , mutt be endorsed b>/ either the Witness correspondent for the district or by the secretaiy to the ball eoviiiuttee. The MS of any correspondents who do not comply with this rule will be sent to the secretary for endorsement prior o appearing. —EHMELINE

KIA ORA BALL AT ST. BATHAXS

Dear Emmeline, — On Apnl 2*l the young me a. of St. Bathans gave, by succiaj invitation, a grand "Kia Ora" ball to all thenmarried and single fuends in the district. The ball was held in Mr King's hall, which was tastefully decoiated with evergreen?, flags, and lanterns. The early part of the day looked very wild, and pionused unfavourably for a large gathering of visitors from any great distance ; but on opening the hall the committee weie agreeably surprised to see so many guests from outlying districts present. There were some from as far off as Livingstone, and even Dunedin. There was not a single hitch in the proceedings during the

whole evening, and all present seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. A sumptuous repast was laid in Mr King's hotel dining room, and needless to say everyone did ample justice to it. For an up-country township, the display of ancient, modern, and fancy dress has never been excelled, and I can safely: congratulate the committeemen on their general management. The grand march was led off by Mr Al£ Fahey, as "Natioleoii"' with Miss Wilson ass "Starlight"; and then followed Mr Tom! Gallagher, Spanish cavalier, with Miss Strahan as "Hinemoa" ; Mr J. Strahan, English; b-u-on, and Miss A. Dilon as "Early Spring,"in white si.k; Mr Ulic Fahey, a Highlander, and his partner as "Colleen Bawn" ; Mr li. Fahey, evening dress, and Miss V. Fahey as "Cleopatra" ; Mr C. Fahey as a stockman, and Miss M. Fahey as "Night" ; Mr W. Hughes with Miss Excell as "Folly" ; Miss A. Excel aq "Butterfly" ; Mis? M. Webb, "Harvest" ; Mrs Osman Hughes, "Evening" ; Mr J". Beattie, jun., seventeenth century court dress ; Mr G. Groves, seventeenth century court dress: Miss Gallagher as "Ivy"; Miss J. Garrety as "Impudence"; Mrs M. Garrefcy, a nurse; Miss Kenny, evening dress; Miss K. Haig, a schoolgirl; Miss sT Garrety, "Mischief" ; Miss J. Shepherd, a Highland lassie; Mrs Kinney, black silk diess; her two daughters, ''Early Spring" ; Miss May Gallagher, "Marguerita" ; Mrs T. JPauley, white mus'.in ; Mrs Todd, dark silk evening dress ; Mrs M. M'Gregor, tussore silk ; Mrs R. Matheson aud Mrs Falkner, evening dresses. Among the ladies on the stage were Mr-a Kennedy, dark silk even-ing dress ; Mrs C. Fahey, black satin; Mrs M. Hanrahan, dark velvet diess; Mrs J. Wilkinson, dark silk evening dress; Mrs A. Gallagher, black and maroon veiling; Mrs J. Enright, black muslin dress ; Mrs J. GallagEer, black dress — • GUEST.

FANCY DKE3S BALL AT BALCLUTHA.

A very successful fancy dress ball was held in Balclutha on "Wednesday last. It had excited a great deal of interest throughout the district, and many of the ladies had gone to a good deal of trouble to prepare for the event. The hall was gaily decorated, and the scene was a brilliant one, nearly 100 couples, most of them in fancy dress, taking part in the grand march. The Free Press states that many naturally gay and festive maidens masqueraded as sober-minded matrons, Red Cross nurses, etc. ; while staid mothers reversed the order, .and came on the scene as dancingc girls, geishas, and other characters of a froli<> some mood. Romeos there were of course, and clowns who cracked no jokes. Spanish admirals, cavaliers, tea-planters, and military men were indiscriminate in their attentions to Juliets, nurses, geishas, the " Queen of Hearts, ' a Breton goose herd, or gipsy tambourine girls. Even the '• Pride of Battery B " was not restrained by caste scruples from waltzing with Pierrots or Tyrolean 'peasants or stockmen, and timid *" Red Riding Hoods " were quite courageous with fierce-looking military men or admirals. The Mayor (Mr Dunne), who was to have led off the grand march, gave place to Mr J. Leslie Smith, the secretary and organiser (with Mrs Hutchins), who was more conversant with the intricacies of the march. The Mayor and Mrs Crawford (as " Jeannie Deans") followed. Messrs Yates supplied the music, and Messrs R. R. Stewart, P. Farquhar, and C. C. Spedding were the M.C.'s. The Ladies' Cominittea (which arranged and provided the supper) consisted of Mesdames Hutchins-, D. Stewart, Fleming, J. Crawford, Mender, Misses Jean Stewart, Hutchins, Florence and Frances "Wilson, Grigor, Grant, and Barr. Mr Leslie Smith was the promoter, organiser, and general manager. Amongst those present were: His Worship the Mayor (Mr Dunne) and Miss Dunne, in evening dres3 ; Mr and. Mrs Fleming, evening dress; Mr and Mrs Stewart, in evening dress; Miss Stewart, green evening dress; Miss Jean Stewart, flower girl ; Mr R. R. Stewart, athletic costume ; Mr M'Elrea, evening dress ; Mrs M'Elrea, " Erin-go-bragh " ; Miss M'Coy, Japanese lady; Rev. Mr Davidson, clerical garb ; Mrs Davidson, " Night " ; Mr Dennis- • ton, evening dress ; Miss Denniston, " Old Mother Hubbard " ; Miss — Denniston, ■' Pride of Battery B " ; Mr and Mrs J. W. Wilson, evening dress; Miss Gertie Wilson, " Duchess of Devonshire " ; Miss Florence Wilson, evening dress ; Miss Frances Wilson, French waiting maid; Miss Dodd (Mosgiel), Japanese lady; Mr Hutchins, evening dress; Mrs Hutchins, powder and patches; Miss Hutchins, Japanese lady; Miss Molly Hutchins (debutante), " Stars and Stripes " ; Mr T. Stoddart, evening dress; Mrs Sfcoddarr, " Monte Carlo " ; Mr Allan Bishop, yachtsman ; Mrs Bishop, English lady sixteenth! century; Mr Inglis, evening dress; Mrs lugUs, " Dolly Varden " ; Dr Fleming, evening dress; Mr J. Walker Johnston, teaplanter; Mrs J. Walker Johnston, Breton, goo&a girl ; Mrs J. Crawford, " Jeannie Deans " ; Mr Brook, clown ; Mrs Brook, Spanish lady ; Mrs D. T. Fleming, " Esmeralda" (gipsy girl) ; Mr Alexander Latimore, clown ; Mrs Latimore, Normandy peasant ; Mr J. Wright, athletic costume; Miss Cissy Wright (debutante), Japanese lady; Miss) Mao-gie Wright, G-reek slave ;- Miss Wells, white evening dress ; Miss Watt, " Queen of Hearts " ; Miss Smaill, Kate Greenaway costume; Mr Smaill, stockman; Mrs Smaill, hospital nurse; Mr Smaill, Tyrolean peasant; Miss Smaill, " Dorothy Manners " ; Mr Woodward, courtier (Old English) ; Mr W. Hutchins, Windsor uniform; Mr Atkinson, evening dress ; Miss Gawn, military nurse ; Miss Lily Gawn, " Forget-me-not " ; Miss Scotfe (Bushy Park), poster (Stronach Bros, and Morris) ; Miss Murray, Japanese girl ; Mr " Charles I " ; Miss O'Connor, " Mercia," in " Sign of the Cross " ; Mis 3 Robinson, clerk in orders ; Mr H. Paterson, " Romeo " ; Mr M'Cosh Smith, Old English, gentleman; Mr Aldridge, jun., Old EnplisiD gentleman; Mr Shaw, returned trooper I.Y. j Mr Bone, sailor; Mr Hislop, cricketer; Mr Leslie Smith, captain U.S.S. Company; Mr; Greig, Spanish admiral; Mr Fred Wilson, Spanish cavalier ; Mr Jack Clark, Volunteer ; Mr George Hay, Volunteer.; Mr G. Guest, tropical costume ; Mr J. R. Renton, evening dress ; Mrs J. R. Renton, " Red Ridings Hood " ; Miss JDochrane, Japanese lady ; Mr R. J. Paterson, Highlander; Mrs R. J. Paterson, " Autumn " ; Mr Mander, evening dress ; Mrs Mander, " Queen of Hearts " ;. Miss Lefevre, "Red Riding Hood"; Miss Allan, lady graduate; Mr Moreton, "Road to Ruin"; Mrs Moreton, Old English lady; 1 Miss Milrov, nurse ; Miss Williamson, "Juliet"; Miss Clark, Grecian lady; Missi Grigor, powder and patches; Miss As^ia Grigor, shepherdess; Mi&s MacGregor, Spanish dancing girl ; Mrs Lousley, Red Crosa nurse : Mrs Aldridge, tennis ; Mr D. G. Algie', "Mr Hardcastle " in " She Stoops to Conquer " ; Mr Jim Clark, cricket ; Mr Simpson, athletic costume ; Mr M'Lachlan, a.thletic costume ; Mr Holmes, fancy dress ; Mr Spedding, fancy dress ; Mr Ward, fancy dress; Miss Cissy M'lntosh, milkmaid; Mr} A. R. Familton, " Hurroo for Ireland " ; Mr J. M'Donald, Puritan; Mr W. Kinder, tourist ; Mr L. Edwards, " Duke of Wellington " ; Mr Robert Wilson, courtier ; Mr 1 Edward Walls, "The Unspeakable Scot." The following were also present in evening dress:— Miss C. Turnbull, Mr T. R. Mackay, Mr R. Riddell, Mr and Mrs W. Stewart, Mi* and Mrs A. M'Donald, Mr P. Farquhar, Mrs and Miss Grant, Miss Guest, Miss Ba*& Ms J. E. Thoiaßfion, Mi H. Gunthorp.