WOMAN'S WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9214, 18 April 1908, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD.

Penny-in-the-slot machines are being largely used now in all kinds of ways. At Home, beside machines for delivering chocolate, matches and cigarettes, there are machines which, on the receipt of a penny, pour forth hot water, and others which supply milk.'

The Queen of Holland is passionately fond of children and it is a very real sorrow to her that she ha* none of her own. When riding or driving she always smiles at any of her little subjects she passes, and will sometimes stop and speak to them. Every year, on her birthday, she- give 3 a garden party for all the little iDutch folk at Tha Hague. Needless to say, the children oi Holland are devoted to their Quean.

Prince Edward of Wales, ( who is now studying at Osborne College, has no relaxation made in the rules for hi* benefit, and in every way he is treated as an ordinary cadet. Not very long- ago he wa& given a shilling- by an elder cadet, and sent' to buy some jam tarts from the tuok-?hop. The tarts cost ninepence, and when Prince Ed-ward returned with them he was generously told to keep the .change, which he pocketed with nnalloy'ed schoolboy joy.

A "League, of Respect to Woman" is in process of formation in Paris. The founders consider that Frenchmen have of laic years lnst their ancient reputation for politeness, and the idea of the new 'Lea^Uß is to renew and foster ifc. It is not intended to revive old-world ceremonious methods which would seem, perhaps, somewhat ridiculous, or at any rate incongruous, but to practise courtesy on all occasions. ' At present Frenohmen, it is said, do not offer their seats to a tody who muy be standing- in car or omnibus, eto.

Madame Patti has a repertoire of forty-one operas, and during her career she is said to hove earned £ 1,000,000 sterling with her wonderful voice. When she was quite a young) ohild Ehe resolved tfaat she would remain young as long as she lived, and this resolve has been triumphantly carried; out, Her •youth has been marvellou^.y retained by the persistent leading of a healthy life, regular outdoor exercise being never neglected; while, as is not unnatural in a woman to whom success has come in so wholesome a manner, her temperament ia steadily optimistia.

About six months ago a strong-minded, lady in Paris started a "Thirteen CJub," which was to kill all superstitious follies about that allegedly unlucky number. Everything pertaining .to the number was enthusiastically indulged. Thirteen women alwayß sat down to dinner on the thirteenth day of the month, and when that day happen«d to be a Fridar there were special jubilations. But, alas and alack, the strong-minded lady, who was president of (he cluS. went motoring upon a Friday life thirteenth, and had a motor accrdent. That slightly shook her faiti. but when aha returned home and found her house had been burgled during her absence, her belief was completely shattered, and she promptly resigned from the club. The other members, fearing to tempt providence further, also resigned, and the Thirteen Club io d«ad.

The Bishop of Worcester has a practical knowledge uf sewing. It oame to him, tn© Bishop stated at a recent prize-giving, when, as vicar of a country pariah, he was less bu»y than he is as a bishop. He had eonduotei an examination at the village school, when the mistres remarked, "You have examined us in everything but sewing, and that .» i cur best subjeort," A* once Dr Yeatman Biggs determined secretly to equip himself witn the knowledge be lacked. Kot long afterwards nappy chance enabled him to astonish the governess by showing a girl in the school, who was trying to hem, how to, do tt correctly.

, Two London girls have "struck oil" in a very simple way. Being left penniless at their father's death, they turned iheir hands to dressmaking, about the only thing of which they had any knowledge. One day the eider el&ter, while putting hooks and eyes on to a. bodice, pierced the eyelet straight instead of round. "A straight eye is a good thing, 90 we'll leave it," she said. Then the sisier took np * hook and nipped it till it was humpty, and tried how it hooked into the eye. It was most successful, and they both agroed it was better than the other kind. Feeling sine they had happened upon a good idea, they went straight away to the paterrt office that very day, and took out a patent for their invention. The hook and eye caught on. and now the sisters have retired from business on a nice little income of about £4000 a year from their invention.

No Hoyal lady in Europe has given more evidences of courage than the Queen of Portugal, whose indomitable spirit did not fail her even in fhe most Tragic ordeal any woman has evor laoed. Not long ago her Majesty rescued a fisherman from drowning at Cascaes, at great risk of her own life, an act of heroism which prompted the Kaiser to offer her the German medal for saving life. Some years earlier she plunged into the Tagus, and, under circumstances of great danger, brought two drowning children safely to iand. The* medal &he won by this d«ad of gallantry is one of her Majesty's most prized possessions. On another occasion the Queen was dressing on shore after her swim, when she saw the boat which carried -her attendant, an old sailor, capsize, and its occupant smuggling in the sea. Knowing that he could not swim, her Majesty, without a moment's, hesitation, plunged in to his rescue, and supported him until he was able to olimb back into the boat.

It is sometime* hard to realise the persecution which popular actresses ax© subjected to from a too-interested public "I reajwm"ber two well-dressed women, to all appearances ladies, boldly entering the' room while I was at breakfast." says Mary Anderson in "A Few Memories, "seating themselves, and oalmly requesting m« to continue my meal. Their sol© excuse for their cool invasion and rude questions was that they had seen m« aa Gala-tea the night before, and wished to know new I looked off the stag*. One night, my maid had to return unexpectedly from the theatre for something she had left at the hotel. Sh© found my room filled with youngi ladies, who, having bribed the chambermaid to open the door with her key, were rummaging about amongst my effects. Their embarrassment on being discovered was, I think, a sufficient punishment tor their joie curiosity.. Indeed, the number of such impertdneneM that well-known actresses are subjected' t* » beyoad eredesM*."-