WOMAN'S WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7701, 9 May 1903, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD.

Mr Reginald Yaiuderbilfc bas married Miss Kathleen. Neiison. The wedding presents were valuad.at one million dollars (£200,000^.

A statistician has gone into the question. He finds tbat while twenty years ago only seven) women had taken tiheir medical degree here, in the face, moreover, of violent opposition, the 3,600 physicians now established in Paris include fifty-sev»n women. The latteT all have busy and remunerative practices.

The latest craze among society folk is the breeding of 'butterflies. The originator of this pretty and scientific pursuit is said to 'be the Comtesse de Nadec, who breeds a large quantity of them invher drawing-room^. Baroness de Rothschild is also fond of this bobby, and its votaries include no end oi fashionable people.

The cleverest artist- among Royalties is undoubtedly the Czarina. Her power lies in) caricature, and she bus depicted the Czar -and many diplomats in all kinds of humorou-s situations. In, one of these pictures his Majesty is represented as a solemn, bearded but hald infant surrounded by -a crowd of anxious relations flourishing feeding-bottles, etc. The Czar wis. delighted witih the clever sketch, whidh, however, does aiot pfteai see the light of day.

Lord Ohesham's daughter, the Hon Lilah Constance Cavendish, enthusiastically carries out a quaint idea in- farming. She bas mado a hobby of what is known as -her Blaok Farm in Buckingham. Here Miss Ohesham keeps black cattle, black horses, 'black -dogs, a black cat, etc.; in) fact, every animal to be seen on the farm is 'black. The country folk are much interested in the young lady's hobby, and a standing joke among them is that Miss Qavendish has everything 'black except her dairymaids.

The Empress Eugenic, in her English home at Farriborough, has many interesting and melancholy rencs, one of which is the perambulator of the late. Prince Imperial, whidh was presented to him by Prince Albert, and which is kept in- the hall. The Sevres china cups out of which Napoleon I. used • to drink his coffc-e aro carefully preserved in a iglass case, and the rare Gobelins tapestries also belonged to him 1 . In the chapel is the Prince Imperial's cradle, with its faded draperies, and ' many of his other belongings are to be found throughout ihe hpuse.

The most original and interesting member of the ill-fated liouse of Bavaria is tho ex-Queen Sophia of Naples, sister of tbe murdered Empress of Austria. Thirty years ago she was a woman of remarkable -beauty ancf daring, .ar.d was t!b_e idol of the Ityeapolitan army. When the Sardinians were storming 'the fortress of Gaeta the Queen donned uniform and fought bravely against them, showing her contempt of danger by coolly smoking a cigar while the bullets were- raining around her. She was also one of the cleverest 'horsewomen in Europ*, and on more than one occasion has 'hired "ja circus in Paris and executed the most daring bare-back feats of 'a circus rider.

, The business girl understands thai, when * man marries he wants a companion, not a doll. Consequently 'hor husband is a 'happy man. Hi*- can smoke in tlhe drawing-room. if 'lie likes, lie gets good meals at regular hours. He gets a c-hanco to air his pet tbeories before a select audience of one, who can understand what he is saying. The business girl's husband knows that "his hard-earned income wiil not. bo wasted on. "ducks" of ton nets at exi-ravagawt prices. The business girl can trim iher own hats. He knows that his. wife is bis best friend, to whom ho can- go in -any emergency. The business girl does not pride herself on knowing nothing about " horrid business."

The hirtb of the youngest Royal Prince ia * reminder that only one .of the Princes of Wales's children— Prince Edward— has been born out of York Cottage, Sandringhani. The cradle, which is now in the possession of tfie Princess of Wales- was presented to her /by the late Queen (says the "King"), and is the one whioh was used for all the Royal Family. The gold punch-bowl which is sometimes used at Royal christenings was made for George IV., and cost JEIO.OOO. When the Princess of Wales moves into Marlborough. House she wiil have the advantage of a lift which Qucoh Alexandra had erected there between her boudoir ,and "the nursery, and so arranged that the Royal infants could be lowered in it «nd shown, to visitors without waking them.

Ono of the most beautiful Toyal ladies io Europe, is tihe Duohess of Aosta. Princess Helene d'Orteans, or Mdme H»lene de France, as was hex correct appellation,- before her marriage, is tho second of the 'late -Comte d* Paris'* handsome daughters. Some people admire her eldest sister, Queen Amelie of Portugal, more; but for splendid dignity of presence and charm of manner the- Duchess of Aosta. stands unrivalled. The Duchess _is a remarkably witty, cultivated and intelligent woman. She is a gre*t friend of the English Royal Family; and was bna of the guests of the King ahd Queen at Buckingham Palace; tho only one, indeed,, who remained there throughout the illness' of King Edward, and was constantly with Queen Alexandra a-nd th Princesses, during those trying days.

The protest made last summer in England against the extravagant proportions attained by the custom of giving wadding present* seems to have had no effect, judging by tiie extraordinary 'harvest (reaped by a number of brides and bridegrooms oi no distinction fchit winter. The latest instance is furnished' <b\ .the wedding bf a Scotch -peer, the- Earl o KLnnoull, who selected a; bride from the rathe, unfashionable regioni of Bayswater. Eetwee. them they received over €00 gifts, including t< supp.-y of diamond, pearl, gold .and silver ornaments and. other- trinkets, almost exten sive emougbto sefup'a Bond Street' Jewell ci. in business. Ifc is indicative of the absurd la-vishwess of t the present-giving habit that it now necessitates in ®ome instances* coihbinar tion of two or three soore friends to provide » single article— one thing in hundreds.