The Coming Beauty.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1800, 19 January 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Coming Beauty.

Tn.',i;h were some new aspirants to " beauty" litinc, who pttiactcd much attention, at Ascot raets, says a wiiter in the Argonaut. Among them Mr 5. Fiancis Baling, Lady Isabella I'hnstcr's daughter, a tall, dark, strapping young woman of nineteen, much in tho stylo of the " Gypay Glaums," even to her prominent nose and manni'ii stiide; Lady Edith Curzon; Lady llermionc Duncoinbe, Miss Lane-Fox, and Mr*. George Powell. Though I have put Miv. Powell's name last, she should ically rank first, for I piedict that she is the coming beauty who is to outshadow all the othcis. Unquestionably, she was the naoft admired. But four-and-twenty, tall, glieht, with black hair and eyes, a maible white complexion and blight scarlet lips, she \<i a perfect typo of the style of beauty which " fashion" has lately decreed, shall in future be the fashion. Add to that classically chiseled features, the whitest teeth, a willowy figine, v, small, rounded waist, hands tlut take live and a half in ijlovei, and feet that wear one and a half in boots, and what more can you want ? Her dress was a shoit costume of embioideieci white canibiic, a small black straw bonnet tiimmed with white flowers, and black f-tocldngs with whits dots. Nobody I spoke to seemed to know much about her, till I met a friend in the Uifle Brigade who had como down on the legimental coach of the Blues. She -was* a Rfioa Walsh, before she maiiicd, lie told me, and her father a clergyman, who foi some joars was tha depoi chaplain of his battalion at Winchester. As sho it) destined to occupy a prominent j>lrico in the gallery of English beauties, alow othui things which he told me about her may be 01 mtciest to repeat in a geneial way. M\e ye.'irs ago, when but nineteen, she married Captain Powell, a ictired army officer of sixty, whoso income, from well invested funds left him by an aunt, and a pretty country place down near Southampton, made ample amend -3 for tho disparity of ages. Piior to h^i maniage, her beauty, handicapped by economical dressing and provincial-made clothes, failed to attract the notice it deserved. But once she got command oi the ancient captain's check-book, Kedfein's tailor-made crowns, costumes fiom Worth and Pingat, bonncN fiom Earington's, and boots from the Builington Aicado, soon -wrought such a change that she began to gain attention in tho surrounding country. Bui at last shf tiled of dazzling the eyes of the very young and equally old army and naval office±s she met at clock-yard and garrison balls at Poxtsraonth and Winchester, to which her aged husband occasionally took her. She had grown io have higher aspirations than the callow admiration and gouty devotion of beazdle-s subalterns and hobbling admirals. So this year she persuaded her husband to take her up to London for the season, and have her presented. At the second drawingroom, in a Yvoith-inade white satin couifcdress, which fitted her like a glove, she made her appearance. That she caught the Pi mcc of Wale's eye at once goes without saying ; and an invitation to the first state ball at Buckingham Palace, and cards of admission from Mr. Ponsonby-Fane, the Deputy Lord Chamberlain, to the royal cnclosuie at Ascot, seem but a natural sequence. "I wasn't at the ball myself ," added my fiiend ; "but I am told the way Wales ' went for ' her valsea was only equalled by Just look over theie ! only equalled by that, I should say." Following his nod and eye, I looked over to where Mrs. Powell's unhor&ed victoria was in position. Standing by its side was the Piince of Wale.-i, bending over the door in earnest conversation. Then he opened the door, and, helping Mrs. Powell out, the two sauntered slowly across the lawn together, with— l might almost say — the eyes of Europe upon them.

The Viscountess Folkestone's orchestra is this season's fashionable wonder in London. It is composed of twenty-one women and girls, among whom are four countesses, two viscountesses, and a marchioness. They play at aristocratic gatherings and to general audiences for charity. Their leader uses a baton like a professional in conducting, and tiains thorn to produce very fair music.

JliuiNCr habits aie now made jusfc long enough ior the front to reach the ground when the wearer stands, and the longest breadths measure but ten inches more. A collar of plain linen, with a small embroidered vine, gives the only touch of white to the dress, for the sleeves are too tight for cuffs. A black silk hat, with a curved brim, is the proper headgear, and the gloves may be either slate or tan color. A large nosegay is worn by women, who realize that the riding habit, even when tailor-made, is the most trying of costumes, and that only perfect beauty can afford to appear in it.