WOMAN'S WORLD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2679, 6 January 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S WORLD.

Florence Nightingale, of whose splendid work we are again reminded during this time o£ bloodshed, and who is now eighty-one years of age, is being constantly consulted by those in authority at the War Office in matters concerning the nursing of our troops. Miss Nightingale lives in the neighbourhood of Park Lane, and takes the greatest interest in all that happens in the , war. Her table is covered with maps, and she follows every movement of the troops. Few men,_ and perhaps no woman, have seen so much’as she has of , the horrors of war.

Those who are unfortunate enough to have wounded husbands, sons, brothers, and lovers out in South Africa, may at least take a little comfort in the knowledge that the rarefied air of the plains and mountains is perfectly wonderful in healing wounds. A lady who stayed at Johannesburg, and there underwent an operation, was moved on to the “ veldt,” where her recovery was incredibly rapid. It is now a well-known scientific fact that rarefied air is both healing and antiseptic to wounds.

‘ One of the most beautiful of bas-reliefs, which will decorate the facade of the Palais de I'Alimentation at the approaching Pans Exhibition, will be the work of a lady sculptor— Mdlle. Jeanne Itasse, who made her debut as a scuiptdr at the Saion in 1886. She has been an artist from babyhood almost, her father being a distinguished sculptor, and at an age when most children are engaged with dolls she was modelling clay.

Lady Randolph Churchill’s decision to go out to South Africa in the hospital ship Maine has won her even more friends than she already possessed in English society. It is hoped that Lady Randolph will meet her (son, Mi Winston Churchill (correspondent to the “Morning Post”), shortly after her arrival at the Cape.

The Queen's grandchildren, or rather those among them who actually form part, for a longer or shorter period, ot the Queen’s Household, are not allowed to have indoor pets. As all the world knows, the Sovereign herself is passionately fond of animals, but she early observed that even the kindest children are incapable of bestowing long-sustained attention and care on living anijnais. Accordingly, although Princess Ena of Battenberg and her brothers are encouraged to pay frequent visits to the kennels—where they are allowed to keep all sorts of animals presented to them by friends and relations—the Royal nurseries at Windsor, Osborne and Balmoral only receive visits from those dogs that belong either to the Queen herseif, or to those members of the Household who are allowed to keep pels of their own.

Lady Audrey Duller has been busy at Aidershot cheering tho women whose husbands have left for the Cape. The other day she gave a tea to the wives of the Second Infantry Brigade, talking to them with womanly sympathy, and comforting them with hope. “ All of us,” she said, “ are anxious. Our husbands who have gone to tho war are constantly in our thoughts; they’are brave men, and we must try and be worthy of them by bearing oul sorrow bravely. ”

The Society of Women Bookbinders has celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday. For this memorable occasion Miss Grieves presented a beautiful wedding-cake made in the shape of a book, and Lady Howard de Walden made a charming little speech. The success of this admirable society is largely clue to the unfailing tact and energy of Miss Eleanor Whyte, its secretary.

Two notabie octogenarian women of this century end are tho Duchess of Cleveland, who has just entered her eighty-first year, and Mrs Gladstone, who is about tho same age.

The Ladies’ Gallery in tho House of Commons consists of two sections. Two-thirds of it, containing about forty seats, are given over to the members of the House, who dispose of them by ballot to the successful applicants. The smaller, or more select portion, consisting of a third of the space, is divided off by a partition, and is at the sole disposal ot the Speaker’s wife, or of the lady who acts as head of his household. Mrs Gully is, of course, die high pa lioness, on whoso goodwill the privilege of a seat in this part of the Gallery depends at present, and she is said to be fully equal to the difficult task thrust upon her. A most amiable and gentle-natured woman, she strives to please everybody, often at some risk to her health, which is by no means good.