LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 73

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— Mrs Mary Grace Quacbenbos, who has been appointed assistant Attorney-General to aid Mr Bonaparte in curbing the American trusts, is the busiest woman lawyer in the United States, a favourite alike with hundreds of poor clients and with the magistrates before whom she appears. She is a lady of independent means, and charges only nondna] fees, according to the financial standing of her clients. Amencane, Germans, Italians, and He-

brews are on her books.

— Apropos of the fact that Mie Duchess of Portland is a vecretarian, it may be interesting to lean that not only does

her Grace object to flesh meat, but ehe never taetes wine of any kind. She dislikes State functions, and at dinners, banquets, and all such entertainments passes all the meat dishes, only eating fish and vegetables. Her daily breakfast .'onsists of skim milk, a lettuce, and a boiled ee;g, and her lunch is the simplest of meals, never varying from cheese, fresh butter with bdscuits, and skim milk.

— Queen Alexandra- has for many years suffered from deafness, making conversation with her Majesty extremely difficult. Several instruments are now on their «ray to the Qu-een from America, however, which enable the King and Queen to talk together without the aid of a trumpet or horn. The transmitter will be hidden in the folds of tbe Queen's dress, and the batteries, which are about 3in high and l^in in diameter, carried in the pockev. One of the instruments contains a double transmitter for table use. This will be set in the centre of the table and covered by floral decorations. Wires will be attached, running under the table, enabling the conversation of the royal pair and their guests to be conducted without interruption. • '

— I have often wondered (says "Rita" in *h« Melbourne Weekly Times) why wealthy people who leave money to va.rious charities do not more often leave their money specially for women in need. The first instance of such a thing being done that has come under my notice has been cabled from New Zealand, where Mr Allan M'Lean, a well-know^i' man, "who recently died, has left property valued at £500,000, one-third of which is to be devoted to making provision for women who are in need. This ie a beginning, and comes from the quarter where womcn'6 interests were first more fully recognised than elsewhere. Let ue hope that some more wealthy people wll follow Mr M'Lean's example.

— Man is the hunting animal, the provider, the winner of bread. Woman is the housewife, the preparer of meals, the mother and the nuree. The woman who despises matrimony, Mho, perchance, by sheer pressure of circumstances has drifted into political work, who has not a tie in the world beyond her feminine friendi>hips, belongs to the abnormal type. She is a product of a variation that in its essential nature will modify her f.ex, and will bring her (as certain female animals are brought) nearer and nearer to- the type of the male. This again is biological reversion. It is retrogression to a state in which differentiation of sex was nonexistent. Sooner or later in. human life, if the present warfare of woman against man proceeds apace," we shall arrive ai the conception of the neuter bee, which; indefatigable worker as it may be, misses the highest development of the life of its species. — Dr Andrew Wilson, in the Illuetrated London News.

— The Gentlewoman at Home" in The Gentlewoman is Mrs Pinnock, sister of Sir Alfred Jones, and at the conclusion of a very interesting article the writer tells us that Mrs Pinnock ia happy in her daughters, the elder of whom is the wife of Mr Harrison Williams, who is confidently expected to play his part in Imperial affairs by-and-bye. Mr& Pinnock'a younger daughter, who is her constant companion, is a dark-haired young lady, with a pretty bright complexion and charming eyes. She is very popular in society, her simple sweet manner making her hosts of friends. It may be «aid of Mrs Pinnock, as of Sir Alfred, that her sympathies are national as well as personal. Every righteous cause appeals to them ; and she is constantly ranging herself with the philanthropic enterprise of Liverpool ladies. _ She is known to be a true and steady friend ; one whose winsome, unaffected manner is the mirror of her gracious and sympathetic nature. In regard to hobbies, were she pressed on that point, it is* probable she would tell you, in her pretty silver voice, that her chief hobby is — her brother.

— There is not the slightest truth in the report tnat unpleasant feelings eiist between Queen Victoria Eugenic of Spain and the membeis of the King's family. On the best authority, indeed (says P.T.0.), it can be asserted that the relations between the young Queen and the Spanish Royal Family are of the most cordial character. The Queen Mother treats her in eveiy way as a dear daughter, and yields place to her with the most gracious readiness, while on her part the girl Queen cherishes the greatest admiration (or the mother who brought King Alfonso up from sickly babyhood and set- him firmly on a throne where his predecessors tottered. The motherless children of the late Prinress of the Asturias are frank worshippers of their fair-haixed English aunt, and so. it is all round. The rumour of strained domestic terms doubtless springs from the fact chat the King's only surviving sister, with her husband and baby, are shortly to move from the Royal Palace into a home of their own, and chat tho Queen Mother is also to take up her residence in a piivjte palace. These removals were, as a matter of fact, decided upon at the time of the King's marriage, and it has been in part owing to Queen Victoria's wish that they were not carried out earlier.

— For the first time since her marriage the Queen of Spain is enjoying the companionship of one of her girlhood's friends. This is her cousin, Princees Beatrice of (Joburg, who shared with her the joys aJHI glories of her one brief season in Ixmdon. The two girls made the most piquant contrast imaginable when they appeared in ballrooms or at the opera together — Princess Beatiice. blender, dark, and pale ; Princess Ena, a glowing, golden-haired beauty of majestic presence, even in he.r teens* Both were fond of dancing, and had a score of tastes in common, and the affection* between them ha^ always been of sisterly strength. It was an understood thing that the one who mr-rried first should have the other for principal l»idosmaid. .but the fates dfiiL(d that I'rinccis Ena bliould marry in.

a country where bridesmaids are a quantity unknown. She has always been anxious to have Princess Beatrice with her, but readily fell in with the views oJ her elders that it was wiser to content herself at first with, and to make friends of, those of Spanish blood. The young Queen is so popular in Spain now, especially since the birth of her son, that she can follow the dictates of her own sweet will. Princess Beatrice is with the Queen and the baby Prince at La Granja. — The following impression of Countess Montignos appears in P.T.O. of October 12 .- — 1 wa6 staying at a London hotel th« week before last (writes a correspondent), and often saw a lady who attracted my atttention by what I can best describe as her un-Briti6h 6tyle and manner. She was not particularly good-looking, at least according to my somewhat insular notions, and by no means remarkable for elegance of figure or dress. But a certain imperious way 6he had of looking about her and of holding herself, a certain manner of assuming fhat she had only to speak to be obeyed instantly, seemed to convey the impression that she was "someb<sly'" — a very different somebody from the liniid provincial ladies who pervaded the hotel at that time. Yet you would never hava taken her for an American ; ncr assurance and sense of her own importance were quite unlike theirs. What struck me most forcibly however, was her abstracted restlessness, so to put it. It was easy to sear that the others of us did not exist for her, though her manner did not lack graciousness when chance or determination on our part threw us in her way. She aJways seemed to be thinking furiously, and her eyes looked so intensely active that oner felt tomehow as if ■ she -was- forcing he* body to sit still and wait. She interested me as someone well out of the ordinary— « as a vivid, dissatisfied, eager creature wha seemed always to be searching for something. Her smile was unusually radiant,' and when she had friends with her her.' laugh was very ready, . but, somehow, I found myself pitying her. I have sinca learned that the lady who excited my interest and curiosity so profoundly wa* the Count-ess of Montignoso, es-Afchchicbess of Austria, ex-Crown Princess of Saxony, and now the wife of an Italian pianist. —It hao been stated recently, that, owing to the growing habit of" cigarettesmoking among women, their taste" in foo* is undergoing ■ complete change. It has been noticed at women's clubs, and it ia very evident to those who use their powers of observation at restaurant din< ners. that women' are far lees keen ow sweets than they were A few years ago.-' They have developed a taste for savourieaJ they eat with gusto such spiced an* reasoned dishes aa would have positively*, affrighted them .20 years ago, and actuallm punished their "delicate palates. To ther cigarette habit, whwjh is growing on( women to a remarkable' extent, is as^ signed the cause. " It is possible that! women have largely educated their palates' to stronger flavours since they have been growing more and more masculine in their., tastes. For years women were rated for, feeding themselves in unsuitable fashion.? Buns and tea were supposed to satisfy the?, gastronomic taste of any one of the sex,! and in consequence they were tinmerci-i fully " chaffed," derided, upbraided. - Them women grew bolder. They took violent? exercise ; they grew in stature and gastro- ' nomic wisdom ; they copied the superior 6ex; they followed their lead in ath-

t

letic6, in the use of nerve-soothing tobacco, and in the craving for " strong meats,"' both liquid and solid. Still they fail to please, apparently. The men are now grumbling that women are not satisfied with sugary confections or comforted with innumerable chocolates. — Lady's Pictorial.