GOSSIP FOR THE LADIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1324, 23 December 1880, Page 2

GOSSIP FOR THE LADIES.

La.cc just now, both real and imitation, plays a very important part in our toilets. The Spanish hat made of felt or straw, is again worn, and has for its trimming feathers only. The inconvenient though becoming fashion of fastening polonaises at the back is still in favour, and likely to remain. New shades for silk stockings are chiefly blues, gendarme, navy, sapphire, and royal blue. Old gold is also prominent, and garnet is seen in a variety of shades. Gloves f©r street *ear this spring are chiefly in shades of gray, ranging from pearl to stone -colour, and in browns and tan-colours, with many shadings of old gold. Black gloves are once more very popular, and all first qualities for the street have four buttons and a broad welt at the wrist, which is either white or of the same colour as the glove. According to Gipsy in the Sydney Town and Country journal, a very stylish wedding is announced between a wealthy squatter and the daughter of a Sydney merchant reaidinsr in one of the railway suburbs. The young lady will be attended to the Altar by no less tbantwenty bridesmaids, who are to be arrayed in parti-coloured dresses. The bridal costume, which was made in London expressly to order, is said to have cost nearly 90 guineas, and is composed of white satin, most expensively trimmed. Indeed, the gown is a complete triumph of the costumier's art. As the lady's father and future husband are both very wealthy, they have settled £500 per annum between them upon her. Quite a nice little income. So handy in case of any difference' of opinion between the married pair afterwards, when the lady can be at liberty to leave the conjugal dwelling and start housekeeping on her own account ! But let us hope that no such bad fortune is in store for the couple, who, with youth, good looks, and wealth combinod, ought to be supremely happy. Quite a novelty in weddings was introduced lately, when a yonng English lady was attended he Altar by 13 bridesmaids, who were dressed as peasant girls. The short dresses were of cream-coloured silk, trimmed with lace; aprons and fiockets of the same, puffed sleeves and ace mittens, high mob caps of lace. The bride's long train was carried by a little boy, dressed according to tha style of Charles I's time in ruby velvet. It wanted but the bride and bridegroom to assume fancy dress to make the show oomplete. Taking into consideration the way in which husbands often turn out (says Gipsey in Town and Country), Mepliistopheles would not be altogether an inappropriate character for the gentleman to assume, while Marguerite, or, perhaps, Katharina (from the "Taming of the Shrew ") would suit the lady ! , Lady Jane Gray's head-dress on the morning of her ill-fated marriage was of green velvet, set around with precious stones. She wore a gown of cloth of gold, and a mantle of silver tissue. Her hair hung down her back, combed and plaited in a way then unknown to ladies of quality. This arrangement 6{ the hair is said to have been devised by the beautiful Elizabeth Tynley. The bride was led to the altar by two handsome pages, with bride laces and rosemary tied to their sleeves. Sixteen virgins in jnire white, walked before the bride. Nortluunbealand and his family were remarkable on this occasion for the splendour of their costumes. Have your walls, as well as your furniture and carpets, artistic, appropriate, ami pleasing. Let your parlour be rich and elegant ; your hall dark and imposing; your library, quiet, restful, and, if desired, a little sombre, for the student likes that ; your boudoir, cheerful and cosy ; and your bed-chamber such as to invite a quiet, calm repose, not bringing nightmares of brilliant reds or yellows, but peaceful dreams ef gentle flowers and birds. Then you may, with the exultation peculiar to a woman, look over your household, and, no matter if you wish for many things you have not, you can still, with perfeot truth pronounce it a very "Dalace beautiful."

Napomsn Ill's widow derives her revenue from three sources — the product I of savings and speculations, the insurance I on the Emperor's life, and the real estate which the Empress bought in her own name when she was on the throne. She owns estates in Spain, Switzerland and Hungary. The Hungarian property was acquired during the present year, and is adjacent to the domain of Count Ziohy. Under her son's will the Empress acquires properties near Trieste and in Tuscany, as well as houses and grounds in Tolouse. Of the five daughters of Qeen Victoria, the Princess Beatrice, the youngest, will have soon remained the longest unmarried. The Crown Princess of Germany married at eighteen ; the late Princess Alice, of Hesse, was married when she was nineteen ;the Princess Helena married at twenty ; the Princess Louse, who had until that time remained longest single, when she married the Marquis of Lome, was about the same age that her youngest sister is, that is twenty-three. It is natural that there should be gossip and rumors about the wedded fate of the last quintette. Romance has not been absent from the stories told about her, but the truth seems to be that the Princess has chosen, up to this time, to be the confidant and companion of her mother the Queen, rather than to leave Windsor, Balmoral, and Osborne without any of the daughters of the widowed monarch,