LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 70

LADIES' GOSSIP.

Like her husband, who is a prominent member of the Jockey Club, and a consistent supporter of the best traditions of the turf. Lady Derby is fond of racegoing. One of her chief hobbies is poul-try-keeping, and with her black Orpingtons she has won many prizes. Lady Derby was one of Queen Alexandra’s Women of the Bedchamber, a post she had to vacate on Lord Stanley succeeding to the Earldom of Derby. Lady Galway’s military hospital at Serlby Hill has proved very useful in view of the urgent need for accommodation for the wounded. In the piping time of peace she organised an auxiliary military hospital in anticipation of a continfency which might, or might not, arise, n 1909 Lady Galway told a meeting in connection with a local branch of the British Red Cross Society that she did not want to be an alarmist, but she believed there would be war with a great European nation; therefore she thought it their duty to prepare in time of peace for what might happen in time of war.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford are caring for a large number of wounded soldiei’s at Woburn. The Duchess’s private hospital, one of the most perfectly equipped in the country, is full, and the great riding school at Woburn Abbey has been requisitioned as a hospital. She is indefatigable in looking after the comfort of the wounded, and could not possibly show a greater active personal interest in their welfare, while the Duke has organised .a splendid training camp—one that offers many suggestions to the authorities, for numerous camps, despite the huge expenditure, lack much that the troops should have.

Mothers of every nationality have had handed down to them superstitions about their babies, though in these days such beliefs obtain only in the most rural districts. The following are a few of the commonest: —ln Russia they think a baby and a kitten can’t thrive in the same house. The kitten is therefore got rid of as soon as the baby comes. In Spain a baby under three must not see its reflection in a mirror. Otherwise, it is said, it will grow up vain, proud, and cruel. In Rumania babies all wear blue ribbons round their left ankle to ward off evil spirits. In Hungary the belief is that if you dress a girl baby in red she will turn out bad. In India it is considered a good omen for a baby to fall out of bed. Some Irish mothers put strands of women’s hair in their babies’ cradles to protect the infants from illness.

Lady Jellicoe, -wife of Sir John Jellicoe. the Admiral of the Grand Fleet, the Citizen says, had an amusing experience recently when she made a round of visits to the Women’s War Clubs at Cardiff, where the wives of soldiers and sailors meet for social intercourse. At one club two little “John Jellicoes” were introduced to her. There was a hurst of applause and laughter as the infants were presented for her admiration and inspection. They were declared to be the finest baby boys in the club.

“As all the dresses, no matter whether for walking, the house, or for evening, are quite short in the skirt,” writes a Times Paris fashion writer, “it is easy to imagine the fantastic things that happen in shoes. A slim ankle will be more to bo desired than a pretty face this year, and what women will save in their dresses they will expend on their shoes avd stockings. For the house, the d”"ssmakers are making a specialty of very simple little satin frocks with long sleeves and hip sashes just where the wearer pleases. Some have high necks, some are

cut low with just a throat band put on separately, but I have seen none of the boned guimpos which gave us all red marks on our throats and caused even the most arniab.e women to look stiff-necked." The Duchess oi Albany rinds her greatest comfort nowadays in the company of her daughter and her grandchildren, pretty nine-year-old Princess May and prince Rupert, who, at seven and a-iralf, is filled with the desire to be a soldier and follow in the paternal footsteps. The Duchess of Albany has had a most trying role to play since the beginning of the war, and for a time it seemed likely to affect her health; but she is much better now, and always so fully occupied with benevolent work as to have little time for troubled thoughts. It need scarcely be said that her sympathies are with the country where she has spent the greater part of her adult life, and where her daughter is so happily married; but she realises that, since England gave her son to Germany, he could not have acted otherwise than he has done. has never obeyed anvono or anything except her own imperious will. She is neurotic, and sometimes has tremendous fits of rage. “I inherited this tendency to fits of rage from my mother,” she has explained. Her mother was a beautiful Dutchwoman. Before she was 50, at the height of her fame and activity, she made more than half a million pounds. She was drawing £20,000 a year. The first time she went to the United States she was paid £24,000 above all her expenses, which included an allowance of £4O a day for hotel bills. She once refused an offer of £40,000 down to write the story of her life. The thoroughness with which she always prepared her parts was positively amazing. Every book, pamphlet, poem, or story connected with the personage she was next to portray was read with the utmost diligence. She rehearsed “Cleopatra” no fewer than 500 times; she spent a year preparing “CEdipus Rex” before presenting it; and she had over 100 rehearsals of “La Fille de Roland.”

Lady Sarah Wilson as a child lived in the semi-iegal state of Dublin Castle during the Vice-royalty of her father, the seventh Duke of Marlborough. A woman of striking originality, she was not long out of her teens before she made a special position for herself by her brilliant and facile pen, and a certain capable directness of character. Called after Sarah Jennings, wife of the first Duke of Marlborough, Lady Sarah Wilson seems to have inherited some of that ancestress’s lack of conventionality and love of adventure. In years gone by she has startled her friends by suddenly disappearing from the haunts ol society and hiding herself in remote regions, where she has gratified her fondness for big game shooting, exploration, and yachting. In 1891 Lady Sarah married Lieutenant-colonel Gordon Wilson, of the “Blues,” who inherited a large fortune from his father, Sir Samuel Wilson, an Australian millionaire squatter, King Edward, then Prince of Wales, attending the ceremony. Lady Sarah was a special favourite with both King Edward and Queen Alexandra. Quietly and unostentatiously, the Duchess of Bedford carries on all manner of good works, as befits a parson’s daughter, her father having been Archdeacon of Lahore. In the neighbourhood of Woburn Abbey she is greatly beloved by the tenantry, who look upon her as an ideal “Lady Bountiful.” She has Lately opened a Theatre Girl’s Club, a most useful and desirable institution, promoted by the ■Bishop of Winchester in conjunction with Sir Herbert Tree, Sir George Alexander, and other famous players. The Duchess is a great sportswoman, fond of shooting and fishing. In one day she once caught 13 salmon ranging in weight from 221 b to 6Jib. She is a clever skater, too, and is often to be seen at Prince’s Club. Carmen Sylva, the Dowager Queen of Rumania, was the first to be found in Rumania ophthalmic hospitals and institutions for the maintenance and education of the blind, and Queen Marie of Rumania has won world-wide fame by the pluck which she displayed in taking; an active part in the nursing of the cholerastricken patients at Turnu MagUrele, on the occasion of the very serious outbreak of that dread Asiatic malady which followed the second of the two recent Balkan wars. Queen Marie has distinct leanings towards the Allies, and is prejud'«gv 1 against the Kaiser, due to the latte disposition to constantly interfere in L, affairs of the Duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and to encroach upon the sovereign prerogatives of their ruler—that is to say, of Queen Marie’s father. These prejudices became quite acute after the tragic suicide of Queen Marie’s only brother. Prince Alfred, who killed himself after having had his entire life wrecked at Berlin and at Potsdam while under the immediate care and paternal supervision of Emperor William.

Helen Lady Abinger, who was the first American lady to contract an alliance with the British peerage, came of the stock of the Macgruders, who claimed to be affiliated to the Clan Macgregor. Her father was Commodore Macgruder, of the United States navy, whilst her uncle, General Macgruder, was a distinguished leader on the Confederate side during the Civil War. As a result of the war her home in Virginia was broken up, and the family crossed the frontier into Canada. Here they met William Frederick Scarlett, third Baron Abinger, who was then serving with his regiment in the colony, and who ultimately became her husband. When in the early sixties Lord and Lady Abinger came to" their beautiful seat at InveUochy, her ladyship became very much attached to the home of her adoption, and her brush portrayed many of the rugged scenes around it. During Queen Victoria’s tour through the Highlands in 1873 Lord and Lady Abinger placed luverlochy Castle at her Majesty’s disposal, and her residence there for a week was responsible for many of the entries in her diary. The death of Lord Abinger some 24 years ago and the premature death of

their only son cast a shadow over the later years of Lady Abinger’s life, and throughout her widowhood there has existed for her in the wide district of her proprietorship a feeling of respectful and tender sympathy.

Worn,'*ii in fu.'ioßS Holes. —The Only Lady Recruiting Officer in England.—-

Slowly, but none the less surely, woman is proving herself the equal, and. indeed, the superior, of man in various occupations. This is very evident from the fact that women clerks are now being largely employed in the banks, while some time ago one was started staffed exclusively by women. Again, in Stock Exchange offices, insurance offices, and commercial houses more women are being employed every day.

It is significant that a lady at the pre sent time holds the position of Inspectoi of Agents to the Commercial Union Assur ance Company (Ltd.), receiving the same rate of payment as a man. Quite a novel profession for women, the utility of which is being recognised more and more every day by large business houses, is that which is known as the “welfare worker,” who looks after the physical and moral welfare of women and girls in large businesses. Welfare workers are women whose tact, resourcefulness, and organising ability make them specially valuable in dealing with a large staff ol women and girls. A university course oi economics, a year’s training at a Settlement, and a few months’ business training are all the 'desirable preliminaries. Scientific Women. — Among the more advanced posts which women are admirably filling to : day, particularly in the scientific world, might be mentioned the appointments which have been given to two ladies in the National Museum of Science and Art, one in the Zoology Division and the other in the Botanical Division. These ladies are em ployed a ; s assistants. But distinguished positions gained by women are legion. Miss Marie Stopes D.Sc., is the only established lecturer on palcEobotany; Miss Muriel Robertson is assistant to the Professor of Protozoology at London University; Miss Alice AVornei holds the post of Professor of African Languages at King’s College; Miss M. A Czaphika, who holds a travelling Fellowship of Somerville College, as gone to Siberia under the auspices of the Oxford School of Anthopology to study the native tribes of the Yenesei Valley; while Mias Gertrude Lowthian Bell’s' studies oi ancient inscriptions and architecture ir. Syria have won tributes from learned societies. Referring to curious occupations chosen by women, it is to be noted that there is at least one woman slaughterer, four bricklayers, and three grooms, while th< only woman authorised to fly the recruit ing officer’s ribbons is Mrs J. G. Patterson, Pixboro’, Horley, Surrey. Hints and Snsrarstionv The white of an egg applied to a burn is a more efficacious remedy than canon oil or collodion. Knife handles which have become yellow with age can be whitened by rubbing with fine eipery paper. To remove a fishbone from the throat, swallow a raw egg, and follow, if possible, by eating plenty of mashed potatoes. The egg will carry the bone into the stomach, and the potatoes will prevent it from doing any injury there. When boiling new potatoes add a few sprigs of mint to the water. When, dishing °up, sprinkle with a little chopped parsley mixed with melted butter. When kitchen towels wear thin lay two of the same size one upon the other, machine the edges together, and stitch diagonally across. Ink Stains on Floors.—Apply lemonjuice and salt at once. Then scour the place well. If this fails apply strong spirits of salts—remember this is poisonous, —and wash all the acid away with cold water. To clean white felt hats successfully, buy a penny packet of powdered magnesia, and with a clean piece of white rag rub this on the • hat in a circular direction until it is perfectly white and clean. Shake the hat gently before wearing. This can be done again and again with excelent results.

Mildew stains are sometimes a source of great trouble, and are difficult to remove unless you know just the right way. Rub a little soap over the mildew spots, and on top of this a little chalk and lemon-juice. If the garment is then put out in the sun for a couple of hours and afterwards washed in the usual -way the the spots will disappear. To improve the flavour of currants and sultanas which are to be used for cakes, place them in a bowl, pour boiling water over them, and leave to soak all night. The fruit swells to twice its former size, but should be drained from the water and dried in the oven before being added to the other ingredients. This is a very simple remedy and very inexpensive for indigestion. Mix a teaspoonful of glycerine with a wineglassful of water, and take it with or directly

after each meal, until the enemy is ousted, which in an ordinary case will be only a few days, and in a very obstinate case about a fortnight. The same treatment should be repeated if the indigestion mani-le.-tj itself again. Blocks of camphor dispersed in all corners of damp rooms in a new house ■will effectually banish damp in a very short ime, even when fires have proved ’ineffectual. They should be simply laid on paper, or on the bare shelves of a damp room or linen closet. The blocks gradually decrease in size, and when they finally disappear should be replaced until their purpose is served.

The most economical method of cleaning silver is Avith powdered Avhiting. Mix this to a paste with a little warm water, and apply it with a rag. Allow the paste to dry on the silver, then rub it cff Avith a dry cloth, and polish. Use an old tooth-brush for the crevices.

To prevent frayed doormats from fraying any further take a large packingneedle and some medium-sized string. With this buttonhole-stitch all round the edges. The stitches should be lin apart ana about lin deep. This prolongs the life of a doormat for months, and, as prevention is better than cure, there’s no harm in doing it when the mat is new if you like.

Boots and shoes intended for rough wear during the rvinter months can be made waterproof if treated in the following way: Melt together two parts of beesAvax and one part of mutton fat. Apply to the leather at night, and leave for 24 hours. Then wipe off Avith a soft flannel. When first blacked the boots will not polish easily, but if the blacking is sparingly applied and allowed to remain on a fcAv minutes they will take a good gloss after being cleaned once or twice. To wash woollen stockings so that they will not shrink is quite easy. First shred some yellow soap into a small tin saucepan, cover it with cold water, and let all boil slowly on the stove till a jelly. Take some tepid Avater, and Avith the boiled oap make a good lather. Wash the stockings in this,, rubbing Avell and using no ether soap. R;n:e in tepid clear water, Avring out, and set in the air to dry quickly.

Extreme cleanliness should be observed in the cooking for an invalid and in all connected with it. No trace of fat should appear on the soup or broth, no taste of smoke on the milk puddings or toast. Ev.ery cup, plate, and glass should be bright to the eye and clean to the touch; the gravy or sauce round the meat, etc., should never leave a mark on the edge of the dish. The table-linen should be spotless, and the dishes made to look as damty and tempting as possible. A large plateful of food should never be placed before an invalid, and it is better to make •i small separate pudding, than to send up a piece cut from a large one. No food should be left within the constant sight of an invalid. gW Descriptions <n balls, &0., must be endorsed by either the Witness correspondent for ths district or by the secretary of the ball committee. The MS. of any correspondents who do not comply with this rule will be sent to the secretary for endorsement prior to appearing.—ELlZAßETH. 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. WEDDING AT WELLINGTON. A pretty wedding was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Basilica, Wellington, on April 5, the contracting parties being Mr T. J. Trier, of Wellington, and Miss Jean Marguerite Garty, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs P. Garty, St. Bathans, Otago. The ceremony and the nuptial mass which followed were performed by the Rev. Father Smith. The bride, who was given away by her ccusin, Mr James Gallagher, wore a pretty trained gown of ivory satin, wdth chiffon and pearl trimmings. She wore the usual veil and wreath of orange blossoms, and carried a shower bouquet of white chiysanthemums and maidenhair fern. Miss Mona Gariy (sister of the bride) was brides-maid-in-chief, wearing a cream costume and white hat. She carried a bouquet of pink flow'fcrs. Little Aggie Glengarry (cousin ot the bride) wore a dainty frock of w T hite silk and mob cap. Master Tom Moran was paste boy, and wore a cream Eton suit. Mr W. Tiller (the bridegroom’s brother) was best ma-n. On leaving the church the happy couple, who were deluged with the hearty congratulations of relations and friends, proceeded to the residence of the bridegroom’s mother, where a dainty breakfast was partaken of and the usual toasts duly honoured. Mr and Mrs Tiller’s home is in Wellington.