WOMAN'S WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9913, 30 July 1910, Page 4

WOMAN'S WORLD.

The house where Jenny Lind was married in 1851 is still pointed out in Boston. It was then the residenco of Samuel "Q-. Ward, .b banker who transacted tho prima donna's business in America. It was in the height of her American season, during a jropularity attained by no otW European artist up to that time, that she bestowed her hand and heart on Otto Goldsdhmidt, who was her pianist. Jenny Lind was first and last a home-making, home-loving woman, _ utterly unspoiled by the adulation she received.

In New Mexico there is a lady game warden, the only one in America, if not in the world. She is Mrs B. 1L Bu2ham, formerly a school teacher. After pettling in New Mexico-, her indignation was roused by the wanton and cruel slaughter of wil4 birds carried on there. She remonstrated but without effeot till sha was appointed a deputy gan>« warden, after whioh she backed her official Admonitions by an appeal to her rifle. As she is a dead shot and a fearles3 hunter of big game, the bird-fiends Boon took the hint.

Tho following anecdote, told by the "Liverpool Post," bears on a trait we had hardly suspected in our present Queen Con, sort. Queen Mary suffers from overpowering shyness. Once she said to Lady Laniing'ton, " Do you know I am so shy, that I feel I daro not tell you all to go to bed." To which fcady Laminsrton retorted, Well, ma'am) I wish you'd let me give the order for you, because we sit suppressing our yawns till our jaws ache." " Oh, you popr dears," replied Princess May with her quick, bright laugh.

Miss Elizabeth Hyde, a girl; of eighteen, who lives at G-ougli Street, Poplar, has just won tha Parepa-Kosa scholarship for singing! at the Itoynl Academy of Musio. The examination was held at Easier, and Miss Hyde has now been informed she has proved successful from amongst twenty-eight competitors. The scholarship is open to all British-bom girls between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two., is worth £3O a year, and entitles the winner to two years' tuition in singing and piano (or somo equivalent subject) at the Royal Aoademy of Alusia.

The old fashion of wearing corked heels to add to : the stature oontinued for many years, and references to it in contemporary literature lire frequent. When Henrietta Maria was met by Charles I. at Dover, almost the first thing she told him was that eho stood on her own feet with no help of art. Poor little bride of fourteen! She had for some time considerable need to stand on her own feet without help from-,, outside; it was not till later that she gained that ascendancy over Charles which secured lier from harsh restrictions in the English court.

We cannot esteem too highly the value of plants about a room. Hardiest and best is the aspidistra, for neither draught ' nor gas affects it. Palms, though graceful very ornamental, are delicate and disappointing plants. Ferns "need constant attention, buli always repay care. A house in which there are no flowers sot about is dull and disheartening. Too many flowers in a room give it a garish look. The Japanese, who aro the most artistic people in the world, consider that one perfect blossom, set in a rare vase and stood in the most favourable position, is sufficient decoration. N

A curious alliance between European royalties is that just arranged for the Crown Frinco of Servia. Prince George,, it will be remembered, owes his elevation to the abdication and banishment of Ills elder brother, coarse debauchee who became something like a homicidal madman. The present Crown Prince is to marry the Princess Schadis Sultana, daughter of the ex-Sultan, Abdnl Hamid, a voung lady of great beauty. Tho lite of a Queen of Servia is L not to bo envied for many yeaTs to come; and perhaps it is as well that she should ha chosen from a line as used to deadly alarms as that of tho lata Sultan.

A recent writer on China speaks of the greater facilities now /accorded to young) people for seeing each qfther before marriafro, thonsrh the formalities /are still arranged by a third party. " The/ rigour of the old regime," she says, " was apparently modified trivintr the youn? ladv a chance to refuse! About ton days before tho marriage two ladies were selected by the mother of the youn'X man to carry a peculiar ornament made of ebony and jade, or jade alone, or red lacouer, to the homo of the prospective bride. This ornament is called the 'ju yi,' which means ' according to my wishes.' If the ladv receives it into her own hands it sisiiifiVs her willingness to become his bride. I h?.ve_ never heard of a girl who refused the ' ju yi.'"

Tho true history cf the elausa in the Australian Federal Constitution by wbieh_ a woman can be elected to tho "Federal Parliament is as follows: —The Federal Constitutional Law* vrere framed on the broadest linea then existent, in Australia. In lS9i the women of South Australia ware allowed tho privileTe of votin?. Tlie Upper House did not. really want the women to have tho vote: so, in order to wreck the Bill, they introduced a clause which extended to women the riffht of entering Parliament. They neve'- for one moment thought the clause would bo accented, but Mr Kingston, who was Premier at the time, was a strong, broad-minded man, ».nd so tlie Amended Bill w!»s pureed to, and it was passed. Conthe Parliamentary door was opened to yomen, arid it hintrei entirely upon the South Australian laws" of lS9i.

Probably the most nnrient love letter in existence is that which has just been discovered in Egypt by Professor Delitssch, the Asff.yrk>lo<nst of tho Berlin University. This if. "in the form of a tablet or hrick. on which tbo letters are cut. It was found among the treasures of Sippp.r the Second. Tha professor be'ieve.i thai: the writer was tho wife of Simil-lUarduo. ■ and that the tabletvor britrk is three thousand yesr« old. Tho tran«h\tion runs as follows:—"To My THrline Simi'-Mardnc: M«y Ppniar and Marduk accord thee for my hnrwiness a lonif and hai>pv life. How ert. Thou? "V>ito t.o mo tJ'on. I went to Babylon, but I did not fb?d tlieo. I have hud much <rripf. Tail \-,i3 that thou wilt come soon, a-nd T will rejoice. In Marschschwnn (Nr/retnher) it is necessary that thou cotre. May thou, for the love of me. live etemft'ly."