LADIES’ COLUMN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 62, 9 February 1884, Page 2

LADIES’ COLUMN.

THE PBINOESS ALICE. " Bscoixscnou. of the Life of the Prlnoem Alice " ia the title of one of the moat intara.ting hooka of the season. It does not proteM to be a complete biography, but it a sketch of the chief points of interest during the comparatively brief existence of this favorite Princess, including many of her letters, chiefly those addressed to her royal brother. The book is a German one, and edited by a German. It gives with much simplicity the details of a homely life of charity and bene, volence, of an affectionate wife and mother, and a most devoted daughter; Various oir* oumstances had drawn the Princess Alice especially near to the Queen; She was htt father's favorite daughter, and her engagement to Prince Louis had taken place ibortly before the Prince Consort’s death, and was the last happy domestic event ere the circle was broken by hi. un< timely death. The story of this en> gagement, the description of the happiness of the young couple, and the pleasure and sympathy of the kind parents, is too well anowu to be repeated here. Ere that happy engagement waa old, however, th. crushing blow of th. Prince Consort’, death fail upon the family, aud the Pruioeas Alice wu called upon to set aside alike her own happiness and selfish grief to comfort her mother; After nursing her father untiringly to the end, she became until her marriage her mother’s devoted and inseparable companion; Her marriage to Prince Louis of Hesse took place during the following summer. Her lettere from this time forward to her mother breathe so much affection, sympathy, and simplicity that they may well be read by all. They necessarily contain much sadness, although as time goes on and the interests of life increase, they take a more cheerful tone.

August, 1862. . . . Everything reminds me of dear Papa and of our last happy visit. . » . We went into his little garden, and I plucked two flowers for you, which I enclose. . . . I had to tell them all about dear Papa’s sad illness and sorrowful end. I lived over again the whole fearful time, and, while speaking of it, I am surprised that we ever survived that time. Dear, darling Mother,— Can you give me no shadow of hope that you are at all better in body or mind? It pains my heart bitterly to hear this sad news from you, and yet I know only too well what your life must be without him. That God may comfort you is my constant prayer. . . . My own sweet Mamma, you know I would give my life for you if I could only change what you have to bear. . , Trust in God. In my life I ever feel that this is my support and strength, and it increases as the days pass by. . . The longing that I sometimes have for Papa surpasses all bounds. In thought he is always with me and near me, but we long to see him in reality. Dear, good Papal . . I share everything with you from here as if I were really at your side, and I do not think many prayers can be offered up to a merciful God without his sending relief and comfort. Please remember me to Grant, Brown, and all at home in dear Scotland, and tell them how much Louis and I wish we were there too, although everything is so changed. You tell me I am to write to you only of our happiness. You are unselfish and full of love, and can picture it, although I would never have been the first to tell you how great it is, for it must make you feel the sad contrast between your past and pi esent life more keenly. When I tell you 1 love my husband that is scarcely enough; it is a love and esteem that increases daily, hourly, and which he, too, shows me by all possible consideration, and in such a tender, fond manner. We have our own world, which nothing can affect or disturb Our rooms are small, but so nicely furnished, and with such perfect taste, everything a present from my own dear Louis. . . . We have our

own carriage, and kfe two generally drive out alone. We drink tea in some nice spot where we have driven to. . . . We have begun to read • Westward, ho !’ together. I am endeavoring seriously and joyfully to do my duty and all that is right in my new life | in this I am only acting as dear papa wished. Space does not admit of many more of these extracts. It is difficult to avoid making this notice too long, as the letters are all full of interest. In one she relates; asking her mother to tell no one of it; how she and her husband visited the homes of the poor, tnroyntfo, helping the rieki the PHn cess Alice “ cooking something for a poor woman, arranging her bed, taking the baby, and putting everything in order.” The people did not know me, and were so nice, good-natured, and touchingly attached to one another that it did one good to find such feelings in the midst of so much poverty. ... If one never sees poverty and lives among courtiers alone, the feelings of the heart fall into the background.” The death of the Princess took place five fears baek, on the anniversary of that of her father. One of her dying children, full of the poison of diptheria, besought her for a kiss, and the tender mother folded the child in her arms, and drew her own death from its lips in a last embrace. It la hinted in certain circles that there may one day be a marriage between the eldest son of the Prince of Wales and the Princess Eliaabeth, second daughter of the late Prince* Alice.

A WOMAN’S INVENTION. Madame Delong, a French lady, has invthted and patented a machine for cutting all sorts of metals. It is worked by steam, and cuts either the hardest or the softest metale in any design, large br small. It can brbdueb articles of any size, from a brooch to i pair of park gates. She received two medals for machinery at the Paris International Exhibition of 1867, and has obtained medals yearly eiao?; receiving the great gold medals at the Exhibition of 187 h and 1880, crowning her naceises Mth htr present invention. She hie presented the Prince of Wales with a beautiful representation of his monogram in steel, with three feathers surmounting the initials: He sent her an autograph letter of thanks. Madame belong was left a widow at an early age and began her career by manufacturing gold ornaments for the sup* port of herself and her son, Her right arm became paralysed, which led to her invention of machinery to supersede the use of the hand in cutting metals, WOMEN AS STATION-MISTRESSES. On the Paris and Lyons Railways women now take the glace formerly occupied by Station-masters. They wear a dark-colored dnsa of simple and masculine cut, with the letters PX.M. in red on the sleeve. LADY PAINTING A CHURCH. A lady named Gosselin has just finished painting the panels of the roof of a church in Hertfordshire. The roof contains nine-six panels, and each is painted in a separate design, consisting chiefly of emblematic subjects. On the flat portion of the roof are six nighly-flnished pictures. The whole roof is one mass of designs. The Queen of Denmark, mother of the late Princess of Wales, is an accomplished painter, and recently presented a village church in EutlUnd with Un altar-piece, executed by her own hands;

THE PRINCESS LOUISE. the Princess Louise is a notable housewife. She possesses considerable skill in cookery, and takes much pride in the accomplishment. At her home dinners, one of the more delicate dishes is sure to have been cooked under her own supervision. Some time back, a young mother and her babe were on a visit to the Princess. They were taken ill with scarlet fever; None of the servants would go near their rooms, being afraid of infection. The Princess herself cooked all the food, and carried it with her own hands io the sick visitor. She made the bed, smoothed the pillow, read and talked to the patient, and nursed the mother back to life. The baby died, and was buried in the cemetery near the HaU.

FASHIONS. HATS. AU isorts and sizes of birds are worn to adorn hats; Any quantity of feathers are piled on. Pigeons, seagulls, hawks, partridges, and even fowls adorn the fashionable head. A favorite hat with the Parisians is called the chapeau minette, and represents a Cat, the crown being covered with the tabby skin, the head nestling near the brim, surrounded by velvet to match. Hats made of foxes, mice, and puppies, in the same way, are also common. One hat has eight wings introduced into the trimming, another has Six breasts, a bird's head, and an aigrette, and k velvet capote is adorned with twelve little birds. Another is adorned with twenty-four bullfinches. The animal world is so much in favor this season that the new colors are named •• infuriated rat,” “ timid mouse,” and others equally absurd. Z7U Queen gives some useful hints for renovating children’s frocks, Frocks of serge, Ac., cut in one last year, and now probably too short, may be lengthened in the Sleeve by a gathered piece put on at the wrist is a cuff, or with a puff at the top if the length requires it, To make the frock long enough, arrange a kilted or box-plaitea crimson cashmere skirt as an under-petticoat. The advantage of the crimson under-skirt is that it is also useful tor wearing with a light brown or holland polonaise at any other jacket, out-grown by its owner, can be opened up the centre-seam at the back to allow sufficient play, and at the top of the bpening a bow and ends of ribbon can be placed, with a bow to match at the neck. The Sleeves and jacket all round can be lengthened either by letting down the piece turned up, or by neatly joining on a piece of material and covering it with fur-trimming to hide the join. Hooka and eyes up the front instead of buttons will allow more width of the jacket if too tight across the chest. Black felt hats can be renovated by sponging them with ammonia. A great many white muslins are now made very simply with gathered flounces up to the waist and full-gathered bodices. This is an exceedingly pretty style if nicely made, but ears must be taken to make the skirt hang nicely, throwing all the fullness to the back. The flounces should be about two fingerlengths wide; may be worn with colored Bash or belt, A very uncommon dress is of shot silk and brown nun’s veiling, the novelty being that the nun’s veiling bears a design of arjaleas scattered over the surface. The sprays are in contrasting tints, and have the appearance of being worked in arrasene, but are, in reality, woven into the surface. The skirt has sidepanels of this material opening over a flounced front of brown shot silk, while the bodice shows a silk waistcoat of the same.