LADIES’ GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3138, 6 May 1914, Page 64

LADIES’ GOSSIP.

The Queen of Eoumania, Carmen Sylva —queen, poet, and philanthropist—became specially interested in the blind because one of her ladies-in-waiting suffered from ophthalmia, and eventually lost here eyesight. The Queen still kept her as companion and assistant secretary. Herself a lover of the beautiful, she feels keenly for those deprived of its enjoyment. Mrs Saima Neovi, a Swedish Finlander by birth, and a well-known member of Berlin society, was decorated by the Kaiser for conspicuous bravery in saving the lives of four little boys who were drowning at Heilingendam. One of the children saved. Count Gisbert von Eeie, is an intimate friend and playfellow of little Prince Wilhelm of Prussia. A youthful royalty, the Duchess Inge-borg-Alix, of Oldenburg, a daughter of the reigning Grand Duke, and half-sister of Princess Eitel-Friedrioh, of Prussia, was awarded a gold medal for saving the life of her younger sister, the Duchess Altburg. The children were bathing in the river, and the younger girl got out of her depth, and would certainly have been drowned, but for the timely aid of her sister, who is an experienced swimmer. The Duchess of Marlborough is an American by birth, being a daughter of Mr W. K. Vanderbilt, the millionaire. She devotes a deal of her time and money to charity; she is not seen so much on the golf links now as formerly. At North Berwick, whore she first took up the game, she is said to have had one particular caddie who was noted for his dry humour. He was once carrying the clubs of a famous judge when they happened to meet a certain Ambassador. The story goes that the caddie nodded in familiar style to the foreigner. “You know his Excellency?” asked the judge. “Oh, aye.”

replied the youth, “he’s an old mine. Why,” in a. burst of confidence, “I’m wearing his waistcoat.” Boston women have started a ment to protect marriageable girls fun long courtships, which, they declare, ate the most unjust thing in the wor . ‘ has brought the matter to a climax is Bill before the Legislature asking tha the bachelors be taxed sdol pe to be paid to the city or town m .which they live, the money being used m of worthy spinsters. A rider will be attached to the Bill limiting courtships to two years. “Why should not the limit of a courtship be two years? asked Mis Caroline Nelson. “In two years .- J couple come to know each other sufficiently well to marry. They learn each other’s likes and dislikes and whethei they are really adapted to each other. The romance of love rarely' lasts _ more than two years. It is always the girl who surfers during the long-drawn-out courtship. Lady Aberdeen’s engagement was a romance. Lord Aberdeen had resolved to live and die a bachelor. But one day, when out shooting, he inadvertently entered the coverts of the late Lord Tweedmouth, when keepers appeared and took him for a poacher. In their custody he was hauled before Lord Tweedmouth. who at once realised that his explanation was no “fairy tale,” as the keepers had supposed. He invited the young fellow to stay to lunch, and it was then that the future Viceroy met Isabel, Lord Tweedmouth’s charming daughter. It was a case of love at first sight. The pioneers in coloured hair have arrived in New York (says the Standard), and they —according to the hairdressers, at any rate—are hut the forerunners of what is to he a big society “craze.” i\ew York lias been hearing about purple wigs and green wigs and crimson wigs for some time; but, all the same, people taking tea at the Ritz-Carlton the other day received a genuine shock when a young lady clad in a pale green gown with a wig” to match sailed through the lounge and into the tea rooms. And when it was seen that her companion, clad in a plum-coloured dress, had locks of a delicate shade of purple the excitement knew no bounds. The complexions of those who follow the new mode are to be pale - Icy pale —while the lips are to be _ very red. Imagine, then, pale, red-lipped femininity 7 crowned with delicate ti esses of a sea-green! But this is not all. Eyebrows and evelashes are also to be given strange hues—to blend with wig and frock. Moreover, the eye is also to he delicately shadowed both underneath and aoove with exquisite shades. The effect may he better imagined than described. __ Sir Francis Burnand tells a delightful story of the late Sir Arthur Sullivan’s mother,” who was a most amusing old lady. The Duke of Edinburgh, he say 7 s, to whom Arthur had been introduced, was an enthusiastic musician, and frequently, for quiet practice on the violin, he would drop into Arthur Sullivan’s in the most informal way. On such occasions old Mrs Sullivan would treat his Royal Highness just ‘‘as one of the family,” and would no more herself” about his exalted, rank than if she had been in utter ignorance of it. One afternoon, when the Luke and Arthur, having finished their duet, were sitting down to a homely “dish o’ tea” provided by Mrs Sullivan, it suddenly 7 occurred to her to start the subject of family names and titles, which puzzled the good lady considerably. “Sir,” she said, “your family name is Guelph?" “My dear mother ” began Arthur, remonstrating. “But it is, isn t it? she persisted. “Certainly,” replied the Duke, much amused. “What’s the matter with it, Mrs Sullivan?” “Oh, nothing,” returned the excellent old lady, musingly; “only I can’t understand why you don't call yourself by your proper name.” Arthur wanted to explain to her, but the 3>uke would not allow him. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of in the name of ‘Guelph,’ Mrs Sullivan,” said he gravely. “That’s exactly what I say,” persisted Arthur’s mother, “nothing whatever, so far as I know. And that being so, why you should not call yourself by it, I can’t understand.” “ Ornamental Wives.” The rich men select their wives . for their ornamental qualities and poor men for their good looks, was the assertion of Mr M. W. Keatinge, Reader in Education in the University of Oxford, who spoke on “Education and Eugenics” at a meetino- of the Eugenics Education Society held at the Grafton Galleries, W. For the artisan and labourer, he contended, there was practically no selection in marriage ; for the rich’ classes there Avas a considerable reserve of capital. “We are driven to the conclusion,” said Mr Keatinge, “that ornamental qualities are the determining qualities with the rich as superficial good looks are the determining qualities with the labouring classes. We find young men of wealth marrying chorus girls, a process which, Avhen stated in terms of selection, means that they are selecting, for the most superficial qualities, girls who frequently have been driven to their mode of life because their fathers have been selected for failure, OAving to the absence in them of those qualities which the State most needs.” Reviving: an Old Art. A little school of scissor artists is reviving in England the glories of oldfashioned black-and-white portraiture. The present pomilarity of the art has been largely brought about by the number of noted people who have had thenportraits executed in this manner. Princess Mary, Queen Amelia of Portugal, Princess Victoria, the Duchess of Somerset, Signor Caruso, Mr George Grossmith, are’ a 'few of those who have been silhouetted recently. The revival of an almost forgotten method of portraiture has been brought about largely by the boom in old silhouettes among antique collectors Many dealers Avho formerly relegated silhouettes—bought in a “lot”—to

the darkest corner of their shops, are now eagerly buying up fine specimens at high prices. The result is that their charms have begun to be appreciated again, and several artists in this particular “line’’ are busily engaged in transferring likenesses to black paper. Silhouette _ portraits first came into vogue in the eighteenth century, and their origin is said to be due to an economic French Minister of Finance. Comte Etienne de Silhouette, objecting to the extravagant sums which were paid for miniatures in those days, advocated the inexpensive method of portraitui’e which has been called after his name. George 111 was a great admirer of the new art, and his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was herself skilled with the scissors. There is a remarkable room at Knole, Sevenoaks, in which silhouettes are utilised to decorate the walls, ornaments, fittings, and even china. Chinese EEomes. “The absence of furniture and of what we should consider the bare necessaries of life is the outstanding impression of a visit to a Chinese house or palace,” writes Miss Violet Markham in the Westminster. “A Chinese palace is merely an exterior with magnificent painted beams and a tiled roof of many colours. The desperate discomfort of these places as living houses —judged by our standards —jumps to the eyes. A Chinese house has no windows — only trellis work pasted over with paper. The Chinese eat, sleep, and conduct the business of life wherever the fancy takes them.

“They have no special rooms set apart for special purposes. They eat on their beds and sleep on the floor. For heating purposes they have evolved Avhat is known as the stove bed, consisting of a raised platform at the end of the room Avhich is heated with hot air in winter time the only warm spot in the house for there are no fireplaces. They have no beds, only bedding, and the Emperor Avould sleep huddled up in a quilt on the stove m the same AA-ay as his -humblest sueject. The Necklace Watch. The bracelet watch, the ring Avatch, the watch set in the side of the handbag, are finding a sturdy rival for favour in the necklace watch, which is at times very small, then at other times of goodly size (saA 7 s the Star). To be flat seems its one” standing rule; and this pendant from a fine chain around the neck is almost as flat as a plaque of gold. Sometimes this pendant of gold is a plain locket, which, opening with a spring and revealing the face of 3 the Avatch or the face of the pendant, beautifully enamelled in a delicate design, will indicate the hour of the day, and* 3 a moving marker Avill easily make it possible for the owner and weaver to note the exact minute. To have these 01 ments richly bejewelled is a fancy Avuh some who like the convenience oi tins necklace watch. Bobsleigh Elopement. A romantic elopement by bobsleigh is reported from Montreux (says the Evening Standard). A young man named Briquet wished to marry the daughter of a loca tradesman, but the parents objected, and the young couple decided to elope _ with the aid of their friends. An original method was chosen, as the girl was closely watched. The parents Avere persuaded to join a party the other day up to Les Avants, above Montreux, and allowed their daughter to take a place in a bobsleigh with a girl friend and a young "man. Halfway down the run Briquet, ■who” Avas waiting, was picked up, and the elopers and their allies made off in the bobsleigh towards Yevey. There the

runaways took the express to Zuiich, where, being over age, they were married. The girl’s parents afterwards forgave their daughter, and M. and Mine. Briquet returned to Montreux. Hints and Suggestions. Milk applied once a week preserves boots and shoes. Common salt is one of the best agents for cleaning marble. A bag of salt standing where there is a smell of fish will absorb it. A slice of apple or tomato rubbed over the hands will remove ink stains. Nails, dipped first in lard, can be driven into hard wood without bending._ Honey and glycerine, mixed in equal proportions, is an excellent remedy foi cracked lips. It should bo applied every night till the cracks are thoroughly healed. Wormwood boiled in vinegar and applied hot, with plenty of cloth wrapped around to keep the flesh moist, is an invaluable I remedy for a sprain or bruise. I To preserve oilcloth from cracking apply 1 a little crude oil. Do not rub it off, but I allow it to dry in. I Shoe polish which has become too dry I for use should be moistened with a few ■ drops of turpentine. I To remove tea or coffee stains pour ! boiling water on the affected parts and sprinkle with borax. This should be done j immediately. To remove spots from a plush coat : sprinkle a few drops of turpentine over | the place, then rub dry with a soft flannel. To raise the nap damp slightly

on wrong side and draw backwards and forwards an iron held by someone else. Housekeepers who have had trouble with ants have found that borax is one of tue best exterminators. Pantry shelves and cracks should be well sprinkled with it. To keep a cheese which has been cut, bore a hole in the centre and fill it with powdered chalk. When boiling potatoes, add just a little sugar, as well as salt. They are far more floury than if only salt is added. If woodworms are in old furniture rub constantly with turpentine. The polish made of turpentine and beeswax is to be preferred to any other for this cure. Should the inkpot be accidentally upset on table cloth or carpet, pour a little cold water over it at once. The ink will float on the water, and when cloth or carpet is rubbed dry no stain will show. In wet weather clean the windows with chamois leather in the usual way, then sprinkle a little flour on the polishing duster. The result will be an easy and a brilliant polish. A zig-zag tear should always be mended as follows: Buttonhole the edges of the tear closely. Then take another needleful of thread, and draw the stitches of the buttonholing lightly together. This makes a wonderfully neat mend. Damp a handkerchief, lay it on the top of the mend, and iron it with a heavy iron. You won t see the tear. If the buttons on woollen jerseys begin to drag the material, sew a linen button on the back of each of the pearl buttons. When mending stockings, darn them with thread and wool the same colour as the stockings. They don t go into holes nearly so soon. Try placing a slice of lemon with the rind cut oil' in the boiler along with the clothes next washing day. It will not injure them in any way, and will make them beautifullv white. To Clean White Paint.—Take a saucepan of water and put it on the fire ; then add two huge handfuls of bran and boil for 15 min/tes. Wash the white paint with this, (ising no soap. Then take a piece of house flannel, a cake of yellow soap, and some powdered whiting. Damp the flannel and mb it well with the soap, and then dip it In the whiting. Hub the

paint carefully with this, and finally wash over with cold water. After a polish 'With a perfectly clean, soft duster, the paint will look as if it had been newly enamelled Lamp-chimneys should not be washed but rubbed clean with tissue-paper. If the glass is much stained or smoked, damp the tissue-paper with a little paraffin before using, and polish with a soft, dry cloth. Good fur necklets often becomes spoiled at the back of the neck. This can be prevented in this way. Get some satin as near the colour of the fur as possible; and make a small ruche, and neatly fasten it to the back of the neck of the fur. The “rub"’ will be on the satin instead of the fur, and when greasy or worn can be easily replaced. The fire-poker by constant use becomes soft, and is generally more or less bent. This arises from its being left in the fire and becoming red-hot, then being put on the fonder, where is slowly cools an operation which softens even the best steel. When the poker has thus become soft and bent, it may be again hardened by making it hot two or three times and plunging it every time that ii> is heated into a pail of cold water. For stiffening Maltese lace, dip the lace in milk, then cover with muslin, and iron while wet. This gives the correct and preserves the creamy tint. To keep clothes a good colour add a little blue to the water in which they are boiled; then rinse in cold water and blue in the usual way. To whiten a discoloured silk blouse, add a teaspoonful of methylated spirit and a little blue to a good soap lather. Do not

rub soap on the silk, and rinse twice in slightly blued water. Kid gloves can be cleaned at home by putting them to steep in a basin full of petrol, then rubbing them well with a hot, clean flannel, and hanging them out to dry. But such drastic cleaning will not be necessary for a long time if a little attention is frequently given to the gloves. French chalk and fuller’s earth mixed together and rubbed into the slightly soiled parts with a bit of clean flannel -will prolong indefinitely the life of both light and dark lined gloves. In boiling fresh meat allow the water to reach boiling point; then add to it a tablespoonfnl of salt. Put in the joint, let the water boil, remove the scum, and boil quickly for five minutes. Then add the vegetables and boil slowly. I'or fresh meat allow 15 minutes to the pound, and an extra 15 minutes on the whole mint. For salt meat allow 20 to 25 minutes to the pound, with an extra 20 minutes on the whole joint. Chapped Hands.—This is a reliable and certain preventive, also cure if they have already commenced to look rather unsightly : Take a couple of slices of lemon, place in an old breakfast cup half filled with milk, stand on stove, and allow to simmer or scald. Then remove to cool, and use every time after having the hands in water, applying the milk to the hands with the lemon, rubbing it well in. Keep lemon in milk until all is used. By coustant use of above rough red hands will soon become white and soft.