WOMAN'S WORLD.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 3130, 9 December 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S WORLD.

There are said to be now something like 200 lady commercial travellers employed m Great Britain. Nearly all of them are women who, having gained indoors a certain knowledge of a business, have felt confident enough to venture out and seek for orders. Even women are touched by the war spirit. A few weeks ago a woman dressed m a man's check suit and sailor hat was stopped at a railway station m Norfolk by the police. She said she wished to go to London, anu had dressed as a man m order to take ship for South Africa, working ker passage over, SO as to reach the seat of war. A change has come over the way m which fashionable people acknowledge their friends and acquaintances m the street. One used to bow gravely or smilingly, according to your feelings; now, instead of lowering the head, women jerk it gently backwards, slightly raising the chin mso doing. It ia not an ungraceful action, and is less ceremonious than the more formal bow we were taught to make by our dancing mistresses. A physician says it is far more healthful and natural to sit on the floor than m a chair; that the exercise of rising from the floor after one has been seated there calls into piav certain muscles that ordinarily are not used. Children who are. allowed to sit on the floor will learn to sit properly, that is, with the backbone a perpendicular, and not an oblique line, as it often is when a child sits ir. a chair. Very few persons sit properly, or give the muscles m the back the exercise they need. A new fashion m gloves for bridesmaids is quaint and certainly smart. Pearl grey or white suede gloves are worn so long; that they reach quite comfortably to the shoulder, where they are fastened by a few buttons on to the shoulder-strap. The only thing to be said against them is their liability to wrinkle from the wrist to the shoulder; but when they are made to button the whole way up, a much smoother effect is obtained. Feather fans fill the hands of nearly all bridesmaids who do not carry small bouquets, and very pretty they look. Mrs Langlry contemplates publishing a book of reminiscences. She had hoped, at one time to accomplish the task by Christmas, but now finds that such a thing is out of the question, and the publication of the book stands over until her return from her tour m America. There is a great rivalrly among publishers concerning this talkod-of book. One well-known firm is said to have offered £20,000 for it, another £15.000 for the English rights; but. it haa remained for America, of course, to " top " the sums offered by one of gTeater magnitude — £22,000. Greek girls are betrothed m early youth, and their marriage dowry consists of linen and household furniture, money not being a requirement. Their education is very limited, and does not consist of music and painting, as one might imagine, but dancing, conversation, and ease of manner. Household duties are also included m this limited curriculum, and every girl receives instruction m the art of making rose jam, Turkish coffee, and various delicious sweetmeats. Beauty and the. art of pleasing aro considered to be- the main requirements for a woman m Greece. "Wherever Miss Rhodes travels throughout " the Dark Continent," she is 'the centre of the most lavish hospitality, and many of -the English visitors io Buluwayo during the festivities connected with the opening of the railway still speak with the greatest enthusiasm of the manner m which she entertained, almost m the heart of Africa, such a large number of guests. Her brother's beautiful home, Grootr Schuur, a few miles from Capetown, is one of the most hospitable houses m the world, and it ia there -that Mr Rhodes is always seen at his best. During his receptions he drops the role of politician and empire builder, and genially plays xhe part of the country gentleman and the generous host. A new association lias* boon formed m Paris cnlled "La Ligue dv Matin." Each member must make a vow to rise not later than 7 — earlier if she likes, but never latter— and take a bath of ice-cold wnter. Then she must walk or ride not less than two miles before breakfast, and that meal must be of Spartan simplicity; that is to say, if Spartan simplicity, roughly translated, may be taken to mean porridge and dry toast. If »Tie goes to a ball she must be home before midnight; and on tho evenings when she does not dance she must bo m bed before 10. She may go to the theatre or any similar entertainment once a week, instead of a ball, during any week sho has no other late (?) engagement. Athletic exercises must be practised daily, and she must walk at least four miles a day. The Queen's health is remarkably good just now, and she is entertaining an unxisually large number of guests at Balmoral. It is said that Professor Angeli always paints th<> portraits of the Queen, as he is the only man she permits to stare at her. Professor Aiif;eli recently told an interviewer that the Queen's physical and mental energy is marvellous. During the sitting for the portraits she had letters, newspapers and State documents read nloud to her by Princess Beatrice. Her Majesty discussed public affairs m the painter's presence with perfect freedom. The Queen desired her last portrait — painted after her eightieth birthclay — to represent her as a woman, not as a Sovereign, hence she wore a simple bind; j dress, relieved only by the ribbon of the Order of the Garter. Her Majesty recently ordered Angcli to paint for her portraits of Mr Cecil Rhodes and Lord Kitchener, as two of her most distinguished subjects. Mrs> Ann Xieho'us. who died m Melbourne during Cup week of pneumonia, used to bo one (if the most richly-dressed women at Klemiiurton m past days. On one Cup day she fairly outshone- ;ill her rivals 1 v appearing m n dress literally sprinkled over with jc*v!s, and wa--accomplinied by n servant, who never took her eyes off the precious gown. One of Mrs Nicholas's daughters by her h'rst marriage became the wife of Mr David Lee, the well-known city orgmiist of Melbourne. Mrs Nicholas, whoso first husband wnn ;i wool-king, married a second time, and her daughter, now dead, was ktiown m Melbourne as the ' boy-girl." She was the " new woman " of twenty years ago, and caused a great deal of astonishment m those days by her masculine tricks of dress and demeanour. She wore .sTTort hair, men's hats, plain short skirts and mannish coats. A change hns come over the land since then, and Miss Kate Johnston?, the " boy-girl," would not attract the slightest attention m her native town ut the present time, so greatly lias public opinion broadened siuco then.