WOMAN'S WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6467, 22 April 1899, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD.

Mdme. Emma Eaines, the singer, is a true cosmopolite. She was born in China* brought up in Maine, studied in Boston, sings in New York, summers in Italy, has a. hc'mc.in the Plaos of the United States, Paris, and the mantels, bathtubs, and pianos in her house are raid to come from Chicago.

The evening parties given by the Queen at Osborne in January were the first enter-, tainments of the kind which have taken' place at the palace since the death of Prince Henry of Battenburg, and they were of a quasi-official character, being reallygiven by Princess Beatrice as Governor of the Isle of Wight.

Probably the smallest monarch :n . the world is she who reigns over <he Hindoo vassal State of Bhopal, and governs a nation of more than a million, souls. This dwarf is a woman, Djihan-Bcguni by name, but although about fifty years old, she is no larger than a child of ten. Her diminutive size docs not prevent her, however,.: from holding the reins of government with a firm hand.

Madame Marcella Sembrich, the singer, has a collection of jewels valued at more than 200,000d01, and as she always carries them with her on her travels, they are guarded • with 'extraordinary precautions, i Many of them were given, to the singer by admirers' in Russia, some of whom were not even known to her by name. The most valuable part of the collection is a superb set of sapphires.

An enormous christening cake was made recently for the christening of the twin children of Mr C. F; Seely, M.P. for Lincoln. The -tenantry were" entertained ab a hotel in Lincoln, where, on the table, stood tho christening cake, surmounted by a cradle and twins, and having other appro-< priate devices The following day the whojo of the school children of Lincoln were entertained at tea, and each child received a piece of the christening cake, nine thousand packages having been made up for the occasion. The caikc weighed two tons in all.

It is interesting to note that no fewer than six of the Queen's eliildren and grandchildren have chosen July as their wedding month. The ill-fated Princess Alice >vas married on the first of the month; Princess Christian on the fifth ; the Duke of York on the sixth ; Princess Maud on the twentysecond; Princess Beatrice on the twentythird ; and Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife. on the twenty-seventh. March appears to rank next to July in Royal favour, for in, this month the Prince of Wales, the Marchioness of Lome, and the Duke of Connaught began their wedded lives.

One of the Dukes of Chandos acquired his second wiie by purchase. The story goes that the Duke and a friend dined at the Pelican, Newbury, on their way to London. After dinner 'there was a stir "and excitement in the inn yard, and iC was explained to the travellers that a man was about to sell his wife. . "We will go and see the sale," said the Duke to his companion, and they found the woman in the yard with a halter round her neck. Tho *S3uke was smitten with iher beauty! and patience and bought her, marrying her on Christmas Day, 1774, his first wife having 1 died in 1837.

Pew persons who have seen the German. Empress would believe that she spends money extravagantly on her dresses, yet she is said to keep .twelve women constantly employed on her wardrobe, under the supervision, of a miaid of honour. When about to take a, journey that involves some special ceremony, she employs forty dressmakers, and when she attends a wedding the Empress requires fifteen new , gowns. For State occasions Court gowns are made in Vienna. These are so long that ' the trains have to be carried to enable the Empress to walk,, and arc frequently studded with jewels. The value of one dress, including the jewels applied to the train, is said to have been 20,G00d01. The rule at the German Court makes it impossible for the Empress to appear twice at the State functions in the same costume, and much of the work done by the twelvo dressmakers is in making alterations so that the rule may not be broken and the dresses may have a different look even though they are in reality the same. The Empress, when in full dress, wears many jewels. Some of these are the property of the Crown. But she has some beautiful gems given to her by the Emperor at their marriage, and a beautiful collection of pearls left to her by the late Empress Augusta. The Empress Freidrich is most economical in matters of dross, and so are the majority of women who come to the German event. At the so-called " Schleppe Com 1 " or " train Court," which corresponds to a presentation, in England, the costumes are not brilliant. The most necessary thing is a train of satin of a certain length. Some of these trains appear to havo been in use for years, and they are fastened on to various dresses wliich do duty from time to time at the Drawingrooms of the Empress.