LONDON CHAT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11932, 19 February 1894, Page 2

LONDON CHAT.

(CORRESPONDENT CHEIBTCUUUCH TRESB.) London, December 30 Mrs llackay, the wife of the Silvor Kin?i is in doinoafcio trouble. Her daughter by her first marriage became a Boman Princess, having married into the great house of Colonna. She now seeks relief in the Divorce Court. Her husband is a gambler it seems. Her dot from her stepfather was large, but a gambWs power of spending is expansive. A friend of mine met the yonng lady two summers ago in a London drawing room, and not knowing who Bhe was thought she was some poor friend of the plum p little Silver Queen, but someone came up and addressed her ;\s " Your Highness !" Her Highnesß was low of statureand decidedly common looking. We have no order of merit for distinguished women—we canuot knight them or make them 0.8.'5, but in Francs they do things better— such womon have a special permit to wear trousers, but for this privilege they must pay a yearly tax | of from 40s to 50s. Only six ladies have been so entitled— Rosa Bonheur, Georges Sand, Madame Dieulafoy, Madame Foucault, the archajologist, and two sculptors, Mesdames Fourreau and Jeapnette. Sir Edward Levy-Lawson, the ominent Jew proprietor of the " Largest Circulation in the World," haa attained one object of his ambition. He has received the Prince of Wu'es as his guest in his own house. Anothor ninbition is said to be a peerage, and if tho Princo comes to the throne during Sit Lovy-Lawson's lifetime he will get, it, and then may not Sir Augustus Harris, too ? Waier Plows where Gravitation tracts.— You recognise the fact ; the second is as true when the wate rflows upwards. People will not trouble when and what they buy, but until thon they will always see they get Crease* Al Cowee for itisthebnst Princess Henry of Pleiss, the lovely daughter of a lovely mother, Mrs Cornwallis West, dresses in a staitling and effective style. At Miss Grant's marriage to Lord Essex the other day she wore a gorgeous gown of black satin to her knees, from whence descended a floumed blue velvet, draped in costly poinc d'Alencon. She also wore a picture hat of blue velvet, with plumes and aitrrette. The men at the Essex-Grant wedding were of a bold society mixture —very aristocrat of aristocrat and very Tank of Tank. This would account for some of the vivid fcios worn. One fair youngster wore a glowiug pink satin tio with a blue shirt, another a vivid green silk tie shot with rod gold, and one gentleman came in a blazing scarlet waistcoat and blue scarf, with a diamond pin. There is no doubt of it; men are breaking out in colours. The epidemic is spreading. A well-known M.P.H. was recently married in one of tho Houis countries, and in honour of his calling tho wodding was emblazoned in tho colours of the hunt. The bride was dressed in « riding habit, with vest in the hunt colours— a " crop" in her hand, a smart riding hat on her head. Tho bridesmaids wero in convontional silk and muslin, with hunt accessories and colours. Tho going-awny dros3 was a covert skirt and a plumed feat. This sort of thing is becoming fashionable. A cricket hero, a lawn tonnis champion, a golf oxpert, a successful yachtsman and rowor all are emphasised on their wedding day in suitable ombloms and colours, Tho groat foaturo of winter fashion is tho pelisse — not tho (.me Pclisli original, sovoro in form nnd unadornod savo by fir, but a highly ornate garment with tho Polish garment as a base in form only. At tho wedding namod onegnimfr dam'- woro a pelisse of pink satin lined with pale groon moiro, trimmed with sable and old lace, a high collar at tho back, witli an ovor one of fur. Lady Randolph Churchhill wore ono of blao velvet- and ssblss with diamonds galoro. Begging is a roaognisod industry; it haa rights of way, buys and ai-lla good positions, and lisns ofton to tho dignity of an art. In Paris it hns its organ— a periodical which deals oxelusivoly with mendicant?, their aims and intorosts. Its namo is Lc Journal des Mcndiciwls. it is well conducted, but does not touch on oithor politics or litoraturo. Its advertisements aro unique. "To-morrow at noon tho funoral sorvicos of a vory wealthy man will bo hold at the Madeloiuo." "At ono o'clock a fashionable wedding at the TriuiU' Church." " Wanted, to ongago a eiipplo for a seaside retreat ; good roferonces and a sniftU deposit required." At the Eonsido hotel proprietors and lodg'ng-house keopprs hire professional beggars, who have to give their omployers half what they take. It is constantly stated that the Queen so disapproves of ladios smoking, that sho will not allow a woman to smoke a cigarette in her presence. I doubt it. 1 happened to see twq handsome cigarette cases in silvor, tho ono with the royal V.B. we are all so familiar with, ready for despatch. 1 admired the finish and was told that they were to the order of the Princess Louise, the one for herself, and the other she intended as aOhtiotmaa gift for her august mother.