WOMAN'S WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7506, 13 September 1902, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD.

G-reek ladies are eaid! to have 187 different styles of dressing the hair.

The Duohess of 'Somerset takes precedence among British peeresses, as there is no . Duchess of Norfolk.

j A curious custom prevails in Coxea. If a man meets his wife in the street he ignores her presence and posses her aa if she were a stranger.

There is an unrepealed law in Switzerland whioh forbids the wearing of hats more than 18in in diameter, artificial flowers and foreign > feathers, under a heavy penalty.

! The popular idea that putting scent on a handkerchief is wasting money on an effeminate luxury is dispelled by ihe "Lanoet." It is stated in that paper that a little aoent on the handkerchief may he very useful as a die* infectant.

' In the churchyard of Leigh, near Bolton, will be found a tombstone bearing the following amazing sentence: — "A virtuous woman is 6s to her husband." The explanation seems to be that space prevented "a crown" being cut in full, and the stonemason argued that a I crown equals ss.

Mr Beerbohm-Tzee's little daughter is the subject of a delightful story. Once when some visitors were talking of theatrical matters, a lady took the child on her knee and said, " And you, my dear, I suppose you intend to he a great actress when you grow up ?" " Oh, no, not at all," was the self-possessed response, I "mamma intends me to marry."

(According to a New York paper, the latest fad among the "smart set" in that city is the use of the deaf and' dumb alphabet. It ie suggested that, apart from rise in noisy streets, •the new accomplishment will be of great use at the theatre or the opera. But how are we to know that people are " smart " if they do not talk at the tops of their voioes at such ■ places?

! At the last Court of their Majesties it waa noticed thai some of the ladies appeared in. gowns trimmed with gem-set lace. This ie an old fashion revived, for such trimming* were used aa early as the end of the fifteenth century. A fortune can, of course, ihe easily spent on suqfi adornments, rioh lace, of great . value in itself, having diamonds, rubies, sapj phires, and other beautiful stones tewn on it.

' Lady Violet Greville writes thai she is not sure wh&ther fish-knives are now quite the correct thing. Certainly the idea ot a knife (except a silver one), cither for fish or fruit would have horrified our gxandmothefa, and it is more convenient, as the Shah of Persia realised, to eat asparagus with one's fingers. Perhaps that dread of fingers is a remnant of gentility that apes fine manners, holds its tea-cup with the little finger curved, and minces ita meat and its words.

The highest woman Wrangler this year in ' England is Miaa A. J_. Bennett, tihe is equal to thirteenth on the Wrangler list. Mias JBennett is the daughter of Mr Thomas Bennett, of Watford, and has heen head' girl iv the Watford Endowed Camden and the North Loudon Collegiate schools. In her year she held 'the premier position in the Junior Cambridge Local Examination (girls), and was highest woman in honours when matriculating at London University. Miss Bennett was a Ciothworkars' scholar (having held three scholarships presented by that company), and also a ti-ilchrkt scholar.

j Queen Alexandra never loses an opportunity i of using her commanding influence to put down cruelty and. to secure kindly consideration for dumb animals. It was through her thoughtfulness that notices have been posted ! in many omnibuses requesting passengers not ito require the complete stoppage of the vehicle more often than is absolutely necessary. Her Majesty haa now turned her attention to the needs of the London cab-horses, and has sent from her native oountry some speoiniena of a light stand for supporting the nosebags of horses, so that they may take their casual feed in greater comfort than is possible when the bag ia suspended from their heads.

A very interesting sale at Christie's the other day (saya the " Gentlewoman ") was that . of Georgina Lady Dudley's jewels, sold by order of the trustees. The late Lord Dudley was eu enthusiastic collector, one of the greatest connoisseurs of his day, and, apart from their monetary value the gems were of great historic interest. The present Earl bf Dudley bought one of the finest tiaras, and the eele- ' brated pear-shaped pearl, whioh weighs about 290 grains, and a magnificent rope of pearls. A very beautiful jewel was a tiara in the form of a peacock, studded with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, standing on a huge white pearl. An exquisite pearl necklaoe. weighing over 1000 grains, a great pink pearl and brilliant pendant, a lovely pearl and brilliant tiara in coronet form, a turquoise and brilliant collar, and an exquisite pendant Latin crosß, composed of stones of incomparable brilliancy and purity, are hut a few of this wonderful! collection, now dispersed. About J £95,000 was realised by the sue.

I — — j A most interesting foreign guest who came over for the Coronation ia Mdlle. Helene Vacaresco, who received a special written invitation from Queen Alexandra. Mdlle. Helene is a very clever and charming woman, her work having been twice crowned by the French Academy. Her career (as told in the " Lady ") has been somewhat romantic, and closely associated with that of Queen Elizabeth of Roumania, to whom ehe waa Maid of Honour. She became engaged to Prince Ferdinand, the King's nephew and heir, and was to have been raised to the rank of a Princess, but the match did not meet with the favour of tlie powers that be, and her love affair resulted in her 'being exiled. The Queen so warmly espoused her cause that she also left Bucharest*, and remained in exile at Neuwied, her home in Germany, for two years. After Prince Ferdinand's marriage, however, Mdlle. Yacaresco returned to Rovunania, and the Queen also reconciled herself to fate, and, after the heir to the Koumanian Throne was born, went back to Bucharest.