WOMAN’S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1923, Page 10

WOMAN’S WORLD.

GIRL'S 2160 MILES. UPSET BY CROCODILES AND AT- . TACKED BY JAGUAR, ••:' ■?■■■' Miss Katherine Macgregor, 26, has arived in New York after a seven months’ journey across the South American Continent from Lima, Peru, to Para, Brazil, 2160 miles. She was accompanied on the journey by a British guide and two muleteers. She fell over a precipice when her mule shied at a rock on a path 3ft wide. She was caught by the underbrush after a fall of 40ft, and hauled back by her companions on the end of a rope. The mule was lost. One day she became separated from her companions. In a clearing in the jungle she found two jaguar cubs playing by the body of their father. While she was playing with the cubs, the mother arrived, and attacked her. Mies Macgrogor brought down the charging animal with a shot from a rifle. She made her way down the headwaters of the Amazon in a dug-out canoe, and had several escapes. Many Indian tribes she encountered had not seen a white woman. A DEVOTED SON. THE KING AND HIS MOTHER. One of the Royal romances of the present day is the deep mutual affection that exists between the King and Queen Alexandra. He and the late Duke of Clarence never permitted a week to pass during the whole of the time they were making their lengthy cruise round the world in the Bacchante without writing long letters to her. These letters were subsequently bound, and when an outbreak of fire took place at Sandringham, over a quarter of a century ago, it was the fate of this volume that caused Queen Alexandra the greatest anxiety. When the King is in town, and Queen Alexandra is staying at Marlborough House, he rarely allows a day to pass without walking or driving over to ascertain if there is any little service he can render her, while Queen Alexandra usually lunches with the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace two or three times a week during the London season.

It was a considerable regret to his Majesty when Queen Alexandra definitely decided to withdraw from court at the commencement of the present reign. Her Majesty remained firm on the point, holding that her widowhood entitled her to quit the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the throne, and that her continued presence might lead to a certain amount of embarrassment, since there was no precedent in the history of the British Court for the attendance of a Queen Mother at a State function.

Upon the occasion when the King was serving with the fleet he received a severe official reprimand for travelling- direct to Sandringham instead of reporting himself first of all to the Board of Admiralty, as is the procedure whenever a naval officer arrives home after a period of foreign service. He offered no defence, and apologised to his superior, merely adding, ‘ My mother has not been very well sir, and that is the only excuse I have to offer.” This explanation was accepted, but he was duly warned that he must not repeat the offence! 1 The King has often been heard to declare that had it not been for the care and attention he received from his mother when he had typhoid fever towards the end of 1891, he would never have recovered. The present generation does not fully realise how near King Edward and Queen Alexandra came to losing both their sons in a very brief period, since no sooner had the present King recovered than the Duke of Clarence was taken ill with pneumonia and died after a few days in January 1892. Last year, when Queen Alexandra’s eyesight was temporarily affected, no matter how important the King’s engagements were, he postponed or abandoned them, in order to call at Marlborough House, often as many as three times a day, in order to cheer her, and to consult the specialists in attendance.

At the death of King Edward there was a large assembly of the members of the Royal family around the bed, when Sir Francis Laking, who had been listening to the gradually-fading beats of the patient’s heart, suddenly rose from his knees. Without a word, he looked directly at the King, and His Majesty understood. He released the hand of the Queen and moved to Queen Alexandra, raised her by sheer strength to her feet, clasped her in his arms and led her to her apartments. There he remained until he proceeded to St. James’ Palace to inform the Empire that it hac| a new King Emperor.

7 DUKE OF YORK’S BRIDE. V AN AUSTRALIAN’S VIEWS. The engagement of the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowee-Lyon will bring pleasant recollections to many former officers of the A.1.F., who spent their leave at the old castle at Glamis, states a Sydney newspaper. Invitations from the Earl of 'Strathmore were eagerly accepted, for a good holiday was assured. As one officer put it to-day, they were permitted to spend nothing but the time.

In 1918 Lieutenant George Williamson who is now in Sydney and a brotherlieutenant, Jack M. Rohan, spent four weeks at Glamis. ’They were sent there by Lady Harrowby, who arranged all the visits for Australian officers on leave. She told them that they would meet the finest people in the United Kingdom; and they agree that she was right. “At the time Lady Elizabeth was a healthy, jolly girl of 18,” said Lieutenant Williamson. “She was born on August 4 t 1900, so that war was declared on her fourteenth birthday. The toast that birthday was ‘Down with the Germans.’

“Lady Elizabeth is an excellent driver. She had a pair of thoroughbreds that the officers could not handle; but she drove them like ponies- She was a lover of sport, and often joined in a footrace with the officers, and when the head gardener was looking the other way she would sometimes lead them to the hothouse, where they found the best grapes they had over eaten. “Lady Elizabeth is a beautiful dancer; also has a good voice, and is a fairly good pianist. She used to play for us in the evenings, and join in the choruses. She is a beautiful girl—the kind of girl any man could fall in love with. None of her photographs does her justice. Though she belongs to one of the most aristocratic families, she had none of the haughtiness that is usually associated with the aristocracy. She liked the unassuming nature of the Australians who were gucste at the castle.”

HOW TO LOSE YOUR FRIEND. AS PRACTISED BY SOME PEOPLE. Don’t keep your appointments. But if you do pay a visit, criticise everything,, including the food. Always wriggle out of doing a favour or a good turn. But really accept any favours bestowed on you. If the opportunity of doing you a favour should be withheld, go and tell everybody what a selfish person your friend is. Borrow money when you need it, but don’t dream of paying back until compelled to. .Never think of lending a penny to a hard-up friend. Borrow books. Spoil the covers, mark the pagcs f and put them high up on an out-of-the-way shelf where the lender won’t see them. Don’t dream of answering letters. When you next meet, explain that you are a poor correspondent. You will be believed. Make an appointment and put it off at the last moment. If you are a woman, first of all ask to see all your friends’ new dresses, and then pass disparaging remarks on them. When you drop in unexpectedly, be sure it is a wet day, and have your dog with you. The dog will be muddy, but, then, it’s not your furniture. When you call, outstay your welcome by several hours. The {atmosphere will become gradually chilly, but, all the same, the supper will taste just as good. If the supper is not up ta the mark, complain afterwards that those people ar mean. Look in at awkward moments, just when a meal is beginning, or when your friends are retiring for the night. Talk about yourself and what you have done the whole time. You will weary them splendidly that way. Never take a hint on these occasions. Ignore snubs. Always contradict their pet theories. Spread yourself about and appear very much at home. To do this you only require a very, thick; skin, and your campaign will work admirably. You can always rest content in the ' knowledge that a fresh set of acquaintances are easily picked up. ENGLISH FASHIONS. Some charming novelties are mentioned in The Gentlewoman as the result of a recent visit to some of. the chief London houses of fashion. Here are two brief descriptions:— A dainty crinoline frock of flowered brocade, with a skirt of silver tissue adorned with scattered roses. The rose leaves have collected themselves into a bunch and formed a fan. A dainty dinner frock of Russian green velvet, with sleeves of sea green tulle draped through a shoulder strap of beads, and caught again at the waist with a treble bead girdle. Continuing, the writer x says:—There has been some of the dignity of dead Pagan pomps entangled in the suggestion of an exquisite tea gown. The luxurious brocade of Egyptian blue, tinselled with gold, and needle run with pottery red, is reminiscent of many half-forgotten ancient patterns, while the long trailing chiffon draperies suggest mist-like blue-grey clouds, portraying rather the ethereal element than the human. A turban-like head-dress, with the simple beaded ornament in the middle of the brow, tends to accentuate this modern representation of the dignified past. Flowers, .continues the same writer, have often provided the inspiration fur the most successful dress creations, their exquisite colourings and graceful loveliness proving an irresistible attraction to ihe dress designer, who quickly grasps their beauties and reproduces them in gowns of chiffon and tissue for women of rare and equal charm. A golden-brown chrysanthemum inspired a tea gown of tinsel embroidered chiffon. that shades from golden yellow to ruddy brown, and thence to brown with bronze green sequine. The sleeves were fashioned of golden yellow chiffon.

Every new Government brings fresh political hostesses, remarks an (English writer. As Mr. Bonar Law has chosen many young colleagues, most of whom have not held high office before, political entertainment promises much for the coming season. Mr. Bonar Law is a widower. The new hostess at Downing 'Street will be Lady Sykes, his daughter, the wife of 'Sir Frederick Sykes, the well-known aviator. ‘She is a charming and unassuming girl, with fair hair and a merry manner. When Miss Isabel Bonar’ Law became Lady ‘Sykes in 1920, her husband was ControllerGeneral of Civil .Aviation. After the wedding he flew with his wife to Lindisfarne, the Holy Island, off the coast of Northumberland. It was the first time an aeroplane had been used for an extensive honeymoon trip, at any rate in connection with a society wedding. Lady ‘Sykes has already had some experience in political entertainment, as she helped her father when he was Leader of the Commons, under Mt. Lloyd George.

Described as the rich man of Wales, Major David Da vice, M.P., is to marry Mihs Henrietta Margaret Fergusson, of Baledmund, Perth (states a London exchange). 'Major ‘Davies is 42, a big game hunter, and a man with a purse. He is said to -be one of the six wealthiest Britons, his fortune, derived from coal and railway interests, amounting to many millions. 'ln Montgomerjr he is known as “the man who is always giving things away,” and the munificence of himself and his family to public objects has been for years on the grand scale The gifts include.— £lOO,OOO on conditions to the Welsh Presbyterians; £20,000 to found a President Wilson Chair- at Aberystwyth University; £20,000 to the League of Nations Union Fund; £12,500 to found a Chair of Tuberculosis at the Welsh National Medical School; £l5OO to the Welsh Council of the League of Nations Union. Major Davies first married in 1910 the fourth daughter of Mr. L. T. Penman, of Broadwood Park, Lanchester, who died in 1918. He has one son and one daughter. The family fortunes were founded by the major’s grandfather, who started his working life as a sawyer, and died a wealthy coal and railway magnate.

The teachings of Ratana appear to be having a good effect on some of the young members of the Maori population (says the Chronicle). Among the visitors to the Caledonian sports at Turakina on Saturday were a number of young Maori women, who at mid-day quietly, withdrew to the shade of trees in the vicinity, and there spent a short time in prayer, and singing with subdued voices several hymns.