FIVE O'CLOCK TEA CHAT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 49, 6 December 1890, Page 15

FIVE O'CLOCK TEA CHAT.

’ OLLY : * Before Gladys arrives do let me make jjßrS'Ska one remark which she would not allow were she regjjJßKr here. * ' e,a : ‘ q u ' then, for I see her coming.' Dolly : * If the weathei is tine on the first holiday of the season it will be fine on all the others, and vice rerun. I have frequently ” noticed this, and ’ Vera : ‘ Hush, here she comes I’ Dolly (rapidly) : ‘ It’s such a charming book.’ Vera (aside): ‘I believe women are boin actresses. (Aloud) What book, sweet Dolly* I did not think you were fond of reading.’ Dolly : ‘ It is called “ Pearl Powder,” by Miss Edwanls, and is delightfully interesting. Gladys : ‘ That novel ! Why, the reviewers pitch into it unmercifully.’ Dolly : * I don’t care what they say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. That cynical old Lady Joan Carr, is very amusing, especially when she makes prim Miss Arden break the Sabbath (according to her views) by drawing up the blinds and letting in the glorious Sunday sunshine., And Philippa’s love story is very fascinating and pathetic.’ Gladys : ‘ That it is an interesting story I do not deny, but I have been enjoying quite a tieat in the shape of a good Irish tale, “ With Essex in Ireland,” by the Hon. Emily Lawless. It belongs to a class of fiction that is rarely successfully treated, and is well worth reading, as affording a fascinating picture of Irish life in the time of Elizabeth. Did none of you read her “ Hurrish ?” ’ Vera : ‘ Yes, I did, and liked it immensely.’ Gladys : ‘ The Nineteenth Century for August contains an article rather interesting to women—“ A Voice from a Harem. ” It is said to be genuine, and written by a young lady who was shut up in a harem for ten years. She cries out for the abolition of polygamy, which can only be brought about-, she says, by enfranchising the slaves. A Turkish girl, when she marries, usually brings to her husband's home ten or twelve slaves, and the children of these slaves are a continual grievance to the one lawful wife. So there is plenty of work for women to do in Turkey, the writer of the article suggesting that a few free schools taught by kind-heaited European women would do untold good.’ Vera : ‘Yes, far better let one's energetic sistersin England advertise for funds for such a work than as they are nowdoing, for a loan to enable the unwomanlike lady cricketers to exhibit themselves in ungraceful and unfeminine attitudes to mixed crow-ds in Australia and New Zealand. Stella : ‘ I hope they will not raise the loan.' Gladys : ‘ I am sure they will. Some speculator will seize the opportunity, as I think I said some weeks ago, and “run the ladies’ cricket show through the colonies,” as one gentleman expressed it.’ Vera : ‘ Is it not in that number of the Nineteenth Century that Dr. Bakewell, of Auckland, impeaches the loyalty of the colonies ?’ Gladys: ‘ Yes, and it is a shame that sueh an article should appear in an English magazine. However, no one who knows any thing about New Zealand will believe a word of it.' Stella : ‘ I fancied some lady answered him.’ Gladys : ‘ Yes, a Miss Weston wrote to the papers about it’ Dolly : Is she not an Auckland lady ?’ Gladys : ‘ I believe so. She wrote a novel, “ Ko Men,” and the English noticeshave been most unfavourable. The Literary World says : “ The action moves very slowly, for it is checked by floods of deadly and uninteresting small talk and again, “ it is far-fetched and improbable to the last degree. Miss Weston’s English is decidedly faulty.” ’ Vera : ‘ Let us hope, if she tries to write another novel, she will bear t hese harsh criticisms well in mind. She must comfort herself by the reflection that few writers succeed in their first venture. ’ Stella: ‘ I understand Rudyard Kipling is an exception.’ Gladys: ‘ Yes, but he had not only to write his first book, but plso to set up the type, print and publish it.’ Dolly : ‘ There is only one step, is there not, from literature to art, and I do want to call Vera’s attention to a most delightfully artistic name that I saw had been bestowed on a poor little baby in the North Island.' Stella : * I suppose it was a Maori name.’ Dolly : ‘ The unfortunate infant will doubtless in his school days wish that it had been. Fancy calling one child Michael Angelo Corregio Reu bens !’ Stella : ‘ Poor little pet. He is sure not to be able to draw a line. ’ Gladys : ‘ I see the popular Toole has cabled home that he is not going to marry Mrs Ward or anybody else. He calls the circulation of the story “ a thundering shame.” It does seem hard that so many people have marriages arranged for them of which they know nothing until their attention is called to them in the newspapers.’ Stella : * What is the new Governess of Australia like ?’ Gladys : ‘ Do you mean Her Excellency the Countess of Jersey ?’ Stella: ‘ Yes; I thought I was giving her the correct title. ’ Gladys : ‘ Margaret Elizabeth, Countess of Jersey, is the eldest daughter of Lord Leigh, and is closely connected with all the great families of England, her mother being a sister of the Duke of Westminster.' Dolly : ‘ Victoria will feel proud of all these aristocratic relations. ’ Gladys : ‘ Lady Jersey has a most charmimg voice and manner. She is small in stature, but bright and vivacious, and has made two remarkable political speeches, holding her audience on each occasion in rapt attention, their expressions of delight at the close being “ loud and long.” ’ Vera : ‘ Then the advanced women of Australia and New Zealand may welcome her as a valuable ally.’ Gladys : ‘ She will undoubtedly use her great influence to help the cause of oppressed women wherever found. She is also a good mother, writes plays for her children to act, a charming and efficient hostess, enjoying society thoroughly, and at her summer residence, Osterley Park, “receiving” every Saturday afternoon, where her kindness and attention to her numerous visitors has made her very popular. She also shares her husband’s taste for agriculture. Altogether

she should be of the greatest help to the Earl of Jersey in his Australian career. She is unfortunately very ill just now, though I trust recovering.’ Dolly : ‘ I was sorry to read that the Prince and Princess of Wales are still anxious alaiut the health of their eldest daughter. ’ Gladys: * The Duchess of Fife is in the Highlands, and is much stronger. She got thoroughly drenched and chilled at the meet of the Four-in-hand Club, which caused her illness. The Queen was very much annoyed at hei careless ness in iegard to her health. ’ Vera : ‘ We are all glad to ~ee that our Countess has presented Lord Onslow with a little New Zealander. A small boy remarked : “ I snpjiose he'll be the Governor soon.” and when informed that it did not descend from father to son. he observed : “Oh ! they’re not like the Royalties then.” He is only six years old, and forgot Lord Cranley’s existence. I hope Lady Onslow will accept our hearty congratulations. ’ Stella: ‘ I regret to have to tell yon, fair Dolly, that your artistic led-gold hair is no longer to be the fashion. Madame Sarah Bernhardt is alleged to have placed her tresses in the hands of the coiffeur to change them to ebony black ; also large quantities of hair from China (they grow black hair there) has been sent to the Parisian hairdressers.’