LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 72

LADIES' GOSSIP.

One most comforting rumour, K avs the Queen, is afloat, and that is that, thanks to the decorative medium of buttons, there is a possibility we mav again in some measure enjoy the privilege of gowns fastening up the front. The gown of many little buttons is an accomplished fact. These are chiefly the all-in-one little frocks, closing down centre front from throat to hem, or else diagonally from the left shoulder to an even distance below the waist on the right hand. But the text once started, it will not be long ere some of the blouae models follow suit. The longest Christian name in the L nited States, and probablv in the world, v has been' discovered in Onicago. It is Harbertunninnibcrtunnia. It contains 23 letters, only nine of them different. The name belongs to a fifteen-year-old girl, who was heard as a witness in a court case. " What is your name ?" the judge asked. " Harbertunninnibertunnia Pillow, sir," the girl replied. "What!" asked the judge. "Spell it." Miss Pillow did so with ease, and explained that her relatives and friends called her Harbertunni for short. King George and the King of Norway have placed Barton Manor and Appleton Hall at the disposal of the Princess Royal. Both Barton Manor and Appleton Hall are famous for their beautiful gardens. The Princess Royal already has a keen personal interest in the place, for she designed the decorative effects of Queen Alexandra's apartments. The lovely old-world garden at Appleton Hall, Sandringham, was modelled bv Queen Maud on that of the Poet Laureate at Swinford Old Manor. In the grounds i 6 a romantic wishing well, concerning which a good story is told. "Look into it," Queen Maud said one day to King Edward, "wish for something, and it will be yours." King Edward gazed mournfully into the depths! " It's no good my wishing for anvthing," he said, ruefully, "without the'consent of Parliament." To Viscountess Curzon, has fallen the pleasing distinction of being unanimously chosen as Queen of the Tournament in connexion with " Shakespeare's England" at Earl's Court this year, she stands a life closer to the famous Admiral Earl Howe than does her husband. Viscount Curzon is fifth in descent from the Admiral, while his wife is fourth. The difference arose from the fact that the late Colonel Montagu Curzon, Viscountess Curzon's father, being eighth out of nine sons, was 24 years younger than his halfbrother, the late Earl Howe, grandfather of Viscount Curzon. Viscountess Curzon married her cousin, Lord Howe's only son and heir, a little more than four "years ago. She had unfortunately lost* her father only a few weeks before, and consequently what would otherwise have been a very brilliant wedding was a very quiet one at the quaintly-named St Mary s in the Elms, Woodhouse, Leicestershire. In August of the following year was born a son, to whom King Edward stood sponsor. New York's first hotel bar for women has pioved a failure. The bar was opened by the new Vanderbilt Hotel a few weeks ago, but it has not been patronised, and the manager of the hotel announces it will be used hereafter as a rendezvous for men. The bar was in an annexe to the ladies' drawing-room, and consisted of an elaborate sideboard, attached to the wall, presided over by an English butler. The women were secure from the gaze of masculine eyes, but they could not be tempted, nevertheless, & order drinks by themselves. The bar was opened as an experiment, and it has shown that New York women have not the masculine longing for alcoholic stimulants between meals. —Siam is one of the few countries which boasts of a corps of women police. The members of this Amazon guard are all old and ugly. They wear a uniform, though they are not armed. Their chief duty is to act a 3 gatekeepers of the Inner, or Women's Palace at Bankok. They follow any stranger who enters the palace, and remain with him until he takes his departure. They see that there is no mischief done, and that no one makes love to the royal wives and court ladies. Men who have business inside the palace—doctors, architects, carpenters, electric light fitters, etc., enter the palace freely, but are always accompanied by some of the Amazon Guard, The palace has some difficulty in recruiting these guards, as the work is hard and the pay poor.

The Japanese Woman. In an interesting translation of Dr Kaethe Schirmacher's history of the Woman's Righte Movement in all countries of the world (London: Macmillan, 6s 6d net), there is a note on the .Japanese woman, which contains some facts not generally known. Previous to the thirteenth century the Japanese woman, when compared with the other women of the Far East, occupied a specially favoured position—as wife and mother, as scholar, author, and counsellor, in business and political affairs. All these lights were lost during the civil wars waged in the period between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Japanese woman was expected to be obedient ; her virtues became passive and negative. In the seaports and chief cities European influence has during the last 50 years caused changes in the drees, General bearing, ana social customs of the Japanese. Women are employed as Government officials in the railroad offices ; thev are ahto employed in banks. Japanese women study medicine, phar-

macy, and midwifery in special institutions, which have- hundreds of women enrolled. Many women attend commercial and technical schools. Women are engaged in industry—at very low wages, to be sure; but this fact enables Japan to compete successfully for markets. Greek for Girls. For girls the study of Greek would be exceedingly beneficial, and, according to the Gentlewoman, it is astonishing that so few parents realise this. Matthew Arnold prophesied that the time would come when women would again study Greek as Lady Jane Grey did. It would widen their vision enormously, and would raise them far above that narrow atmosphere of gossip and small talk which so many women seem to regard as their natural environment. Of course, even now there are many girls who study Greek, but tho number is comparatively small. The more useful " modern languages," so necessary in this age of extensive travelling, geem to be as much as the average girl can conveniently " take in." Be that as it may, the girl who is unacquainted with the world of ancient Greece is ignorant of much that is fine and beautiful in life. Mrs Sun-Yat-Sen. " 'Mrs Sun r Yat-Sen,' said my Chinese companion. " 'But, madam,' I stammered, ' I have just been told that your daughter is 17 years old ! ' , "A pair of dark eyes twinkled and a smile played like a sunbeam about the sensitive mouth. All the way I had been wondering what sort of mate this Chinese rebel leader had taken to himself," WTites Mr William Maxwell, in the Daily Mail, of the wife of the first President of the Chinese Republic. He saw her at Penang. " Here she was—just a dainty little lady with sweet, ©miling face and a grace and charm that make willing slaves. The simple robe of pure white threw into strong relief the clear, olive tone of the complexion and the glossy black hair unadorned and smoothed back from the shapely forehead. Mrs Sun-Yat-Sen might be a beautiful nun if her face did not shine with the happiness that is of this world also. " ' For years the cause has separated me from my husband, on whose head there has been a price. My married life has been filled with vague terrors and active alarms. But never for a moment have I lost faith in the success of our sacrifice.' " This is the secret of her radiant youth and enthusiasm —faith in a man and a cause." Singing and the Lungs. It is well known that singing, like whistling, is a fine exercise for the lungs, and Mdme. Jeanne Jomelli advises those who fear consumption to go in for singing for this reason. At the same time, she, of course, does not advance the claim that singing alone will save any one from or cure consumption. Acquire the habit of taking the big, deep breath, which is a primary requisite of anyi kind of singing, bad or good, proceeds Mdme. Jomelli, and the physical joy derived from it will never allow you to relapse into lazy breathing. The breathing exercises recommended by certain physicians, and which are so monotonous in themselves, become much more pleasant when some artistic pleasure is attached to them. Furthermore, the mere effort of singing compels the singer to stand straight and to throw the chest out, a good corrective for the bad physical habits of weak-chested peoDle. Finally, the exhilaration of singing is not a negligible element as a mental adjuvant to the cure. If you doubt my statements go to the opera, turn your glasses on every singer, man or woman, and see what a wonderful chest development they have attained. Personally, I have never heard of a singer becoming consumptive. Hobbies of Koyal Ladies. Princess Eitel Friedrich, the wife of the second son of the German Emperor, who is a great favourite with the people, is as practical in her tastes as most of the Royal ladies of the Courts of Europe at the present day. The Princess paints most beautifully, and spends a great deal of her time at her easel. This dexterity of hand has, probably, encouraged her to industry of a less artistic nature, for it is said that she wields a plane and saw with the accomplished skill of the trained craftsman. Her latest venture has been at the Castle of Ingenheim, where she has been helping the Prince to make a riding course. Every day, arrayed in the simplest of short skirts, and a workmanlike coat, the young Princess starts out with her tools, and she is seen at work, plying spade and saw without, the slightest hesitation, and as if she found the exercise thoroughly invigorating and mightily to her taste. To the example of Queen Mary may be ascribed the revival of needlework in Britain. The marzipan made by the Duchess of Albany with her pwn hands has been in evidence during the winter at more than one hospital bazaar. The archduchess Isabella of Austria makes wax candles, after a recipe that is entirely her own, and which she absolutely refuses to give anyone the right to use. Her castles are illuminated by her own candles, and no other light is used. The Crown Princess of Saxe Meiningen is one of the best lace-makers in Europe. Not only does she revive old patterns, but she has worked out some of her own, which are recognised as worthy to rank with the standard ones. The Duchess Philipp of Wurtemberg interests herself in hospital nursing, and is the inventor of a bandage which she presents gratis to certain institutions. Princess Hermine von Reuss amuses herself with making watches, and does the

work with remarkable technical knowledge.—Telegraph. 4 Curious Romance. A romance of June and December culminated at Trinity Church, New York, when Mr E. B. Alsop, tlie millionaire Pittsburg steel merchant, who is aged 75, married Miss Effie Hill, aged 19, a daughter of the late Dr J. J. Hill, of Atlanta, Georgia. Miss Hill, who is one of the most beautiful girls in America, thus becomes the stepmother of Mr Alsop's two sons by his first wife, who died in 1908, one being aged 18 and the other 22. Both are students of Harvard. Mr Alsop met his bride two years ago, and fell in love at first sight. He duly proposed, but Mrs Hill thought her daughter was too young to think of marriage. Nevertheless it was arranged to have the marriage next year. Mr Alsop, with his two sons, and Miss Hill and her mother happened to be visiting New York on Thursday. Mr Alsop and Miss Hill were shopping together when the former suggested immediate marriage. Miss Hill agreed, and they went to the Oity Hall, and secured a licence. With his two sons Mr Alsop then hastened to Trinity Church, where the ceremony was immediately performed. The bride was suffering from a bad cold, so Mr Alsop, with unusual paternal solicitude, took her to the Hotel Latham, where Mrs Hill was stopping. The bride and groom and Mr Alsop's two sons burst into Mrs Hill's presence and announced the marriage. Mr Alsop left his bride in the

care of her mother in order that she might be tended for her cold, While ne 21 his sons returned to tl en at the Waldorf. Mr Alsop then ™™g his friends who at the Waldorf and held an all night f kbra-Uon. lliey also drank to the toast that the absent bride's cold would soon be better. Centenary of the Waltz This year marks the centenary of the introduction of the waltz into England. In 1812 Lady Caroline Lamb wrote: "My cousin Hartington wanted to have waltzes and quadrilles. At Devonshire House it could not be allowed, so we had them in the great drawing-room at VVmtehall All the bon-ton assembled there continually. There was nothing so fashionable." At this period the arm movement was of more importance than the steps—a reminder of the dance that came in the days of Queen Elizabeth, through Germany, from Provence, and was known as the volta. Into the midst of this Society, already on the verge of the waltz, there came the Tsar of all the Russians. He danced the waltz with right good will in the merry two-step. The best dancers of the day in London were Lord Palmerston, Princess Esterhazy, and the Countesu de Lieven, and they followed the Imperial example, so that, at the Embassy, everybody went dancing mad. Then the fever spread until London was aflame. The tune was sung, whistled, and played everywhere. Almack's was filled with waltzers. The fact that the Emperor, dressed in a tight uniform, and wearing numerous decorations, had waltzed round that famous rendezvous was sufficient for fashionable London. Insular prejudice was thrown to the wind. Fit mi that moment everybody practised the waltz, just as a couple of centuries before-they had done the volta. Ladies, old and young, spent their mornings in the privacy of their own rooms waltzing, with chairs for partners, so that they might be certain of their steps before they appeared at Almack's. Alterations took place in the beat and in the music,

but it remained as the most popular of all society dances. One of the first teachers of dancing in London to-day is the authority for stating that when Louis Philippe visited London about 1848 he waltzed with Queen Victoria. The Queen was a graceful and accomplished dancer, and liked to enjoy the . pastime with her cousins, Prince George of Cambridge and his sister, Princess Augusta. The Prince Consort was also a good dancer. Concentration. —Princess Henry of Pless's Appeal.— Lady Sybil Grant recently wrote an article in the '"Gentlewoman" treating the power of " Concentration' from a humorous point of view. In the same paper the Princess of Pless replies in a serious vein. Here are some quotations from her very interesting article: You have been told in the "Gentlewoman " that we should never hanker after any quality which we do not naturally * possess; also the words "it might not agree with you." "You might suddenly exclaim —' Why should I not win the Derby, or reach the North Pole, or wish to become Prime Minister?' " May I be. forgiven if I become slightly argumentative and obstinate on this subject, which is to me one of my strongest ideals? First of all, I think concentration cannot be called alone a quality as are generosity, affection, and unselfishness. These are qualities, and are one with

our character. But we can learn to concentrate. Think of yourself if at dinner you sit (as is usual) between two men. lou naturally wish the time to pass agreeably, so you concentrate your mind upon what they say, or on the subject you wish to speak about with them. You do not let your mind wander. If you ride a horse you learn to know his mouth, his paces, his temperament; you do not think you are riding a zebra, giraffe, or elephant; you concentrate upon the horse. Then as surely nothing is ever first seen by the eye before the brain has reached it first to carry its knowledge to the power of sight, then to carry the brain quietly and victoriously towards concentration is to reach the goal towards which you are working. 'Die words, "we should never, therefore, hanker after any quality we do not naturally possess," is a selfish statement, and in speaking of concentration mak;es me sad. For most people, if they know their faults hurt others, try to correct them. Then, surely, as we know the lack of power to concentrate in ourselves hurts and destroys the power in our lives, we would naturally try to help and encourage ourselves. " Where there's a will, there's a way." Where there is real concentration—which, remember, must match with our conscience—towards the point we wish to fill, with the desire for what is beet, right helpful to others, good, powerful and true, there success shines out to us in the distance, and it for us, with patience and concentration, to reach it. Believe me, if in your life you see some hours, or even some minutes, in the day, apart for concentration upon that object nearest your heart, you will find it will bring you more peace, more dignity, and more certainty and assurance in yourself and towards any work you wish to perform, any idea you wish realised; it will help and strengthen your religion, love, duty, music, science, art, and literature ; any point you wish to reach and understand with certainty.

Fortunes in Watercress. "For a woman by her own unaided efforts to have amassed £20,000 three or four times over by selling watercress is surely one of the most wonderful romances of business London has ever known," says the Daily Mirror. "Yet this has been done by Mrs James, of Covent Garden, who started her business career with only two baskets of watercress and now has practically a monopoly of the watercress trade. "One of the few women merchants in London, she has a fine house in Kennington, owns a watercress farm and country house, keeps a river motor launch. "Mrs James, by hard fighting and stern struggling, gradually built up her big connection. She now supplies nearly every large London hotel and restaurant. "At first it was very slow, uphill work, for the money with which Mrs Jaines was able, eventually, to purchase her watercress farm had to be earned in pence. "Her business day commences when most people are asleep. By 10 o'clock in the morning she has finished with the market, and attends to her office work at home. In the evening she goes round the stations to meet the afternoon's consignments of watercress, and sells them right off to the barrow merchants, to be retailed all over London. "The Daily Mirror visited Mrs James at Kennington, and found her, after a hard day's work that commences at 3 o'clock in the morning, busy with her

chickens, which is the hobby of her spare time.

"'Hard work,' she said, "is the secret of success in business—at least, I've always found it so—and I have been out in all weathers selling watercress for 17 or 18 hours a day tince I was five years old. " 'Study your customers, never disappoint them, and give them the beet, and you must get on. I've been lucky in business, but I've had plenty of bad "luck in other things. I've made a fortune of as much as £20,000 three or four times in my life, and other people have spent " 'Holidays don't appeal to me My greatest happiness is in my work, and I enjoy myself most of all looking after mv customers. ' Work suits me best of all Once I retired from business, and I lost three stone in weight in nine months. Last August I went for a trip to America with my daughters on the Carmania, and came back on the Lusitania. I was hungry to get back to the market, and tired of looking at the sea and listening to people's silly talk ' " 'Women have got just as good a chance as men in the market if they will put the necessary work into the business.' "

Hints and Sujrjrmions. To prevent coffee boiling over, add to it a lump of butter, about the size of a small marble. To cut warm bread or cake evenly, heat the knife-blade just before using it' To absorb the damp, fill a s fxil box with lime and upon a shelf. This will keep the air in the cupboard both dry and sweet. After peeling anything that stains the skin rub the hands with a cut lemon or a little vinegar. Then wash in warm water .without any soap, and the stains will disappear. Scrub a stained kitchen-table with water to which a little chloride of lime has been added, and afterwards rinse well. Rub any special stubborn spots with a lemon dipped in sand.

After flannelette articles have been washed they should be rinsed in water in which alum has been dissolved. This little precaution will make them non-in-flammable, and may be the means of saving many little lives. If a piece of fat about the size of a nutmeg is added to the water in which any kind of greens are being boiled, there will be no boiling over, and no stirring will be required. Carbolic acid i& a cheap and good disinfectant, but it is powerless in the form in which it is bought. It must be diluted with at least 20 times its bulk of cold water before it can act as a disinfectant. Carbolic soap, although it but a small percentage of carbolic acid, is of great service in keeping disease at bay. Painted wood, panellings, and wainscotting can be rapdly and effectually cleaned wth potato-water. Put half-a-dozen tubers into a pail, having previously peeled, washed, and grated them. Pour a gallon or two of fresh water over them, and let them stand for half an hour; then strain, and use with a house-flannel. No scrubbing will be needed, but another flannel with clean water must be used for rinsing purposes. This is good for any kind of wood. Time for Cooking Vegetables.—Potatoes, half an hour, unless small, when rather less; cabbage and cauliflower, 25 minutes; peas and asparagus, 20 to 25 minutes; carrdts and turnips, 45 minutes when young, one hour in winter; onions, medium size, one hour; beets, one hour in summer, one and a half or two hours (if large) in winter; French beans, if slit or sliced slantwise and thin, 25 minutes; if only snapped across, 40 minutes; broad beans, if very young, half an hour; old, 40 to 45 minutes. All vegetables should be put into fast-boiling water, and quickly brought to the boiling-point again, not left to steep in hot water before boiling,which toughens them, and destroys colour and flavour. This time-table will be found useful if copied and fastened on to the kitchen wall.