CLIPPINGS FROM SOCIETY PAPERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 50, 12 December 1891, Page 686

CLIPPINGS FROM SOCIETY PAPERS.

BENCH ladies are just now reading with great avidity a book of counsels on the art of re/Ao maining young. An elderly belle, who is as fair to look upon to-day as seventy years ago, gives the following advice to ladies w-ho go ““ much into society :Do not sleep too long or too little. When you are going to be up late at a ball, try to sleep for an hour or so during the afternoon. (In returning home after the ball, jump into a really hot bath and remain for half a minute in the water ; immediately- get into bed after being rubbed with a hot sheet or bath-towel, and then drink a small cup of bouillon, and half a wine glass of Malaga (a strengthening wine much used abroad, and too little known in England). Do not rise before ten o’clock the following morning, when ring either for a cold bath, or sponge all over with a large cold sponge, which is even more invigorating to the system. A cup of coffee and piece of toast, without butter, to follow. On the same authority, we are assured nothing is so conducive to health as to wear a narrow piece of fiannel from the nape of the neck down the length of the spine, tied with ribbons round the throat. ‘This will keep colds, bronchitis, and phthisis in abeyance.’ I fancy I can hear my readers murmur, ‘ The remedy is worse than the disease.’ Apropos of hygiene, the custom would seem to be gaining ground of ladies, who are socially hard worked, giving themselves over to complete rest for a whole day in the course of every week or ten days. This rule, Mme. la Baronne S. assures us in her little book, is faithfully adhered to by many English beauties, and among others by Lady Londonderry.

rpHE following story-cf the young King of Servia has just I come to light :—Alexander, it seems, had passed his first examination in mathematics cum laudc, when he began to reHect that it was not becoming for a king to solve mathematical problems when he was disgusted with science, as the youthful king then felt he was. At this critical moment’the Russian plenipotentiary sent in his card, and inquired whether the Prince felt inclined to join the FrancoRussian alliance ? ‘With all nry heart,’young Alexander replied, • provided the allied Powers will take care that I : — (1) Be released front learning the irregular Greek verbs : (2) That I am not any more bothered with trigonometrical problems; (3) That I am allowed to read novels during the hours devoted to the study of Cicero; (4) That I be dispensed from knowing the facts connected with historical dates. Finally,’ he said, ‘ I want to be absolved front undergoing all trials and examinations relating to nry studies, for I shall probably have trials enough waiting me if I join this alliance.’ Si non <■ re-’o < ben trorato !

\T Dantzig, the otlicers of the Ist Regiment of Hussars have been presented ’by the ladies of the city with a set of table-linen, comprising a table cloth ten yards long, and twenty-four serviettes, made of the best German tlax. The tablecloth is embroidered with four large beautifully executed damask rosettes, the two outer rosettes being flanked to the right ami left by replicas of the historical

kettle-drums and trumpets of the regiment. In the centre of the outer rosettes is embroidered in white silk the monogram of the regiment, ‘F.W.R.,’ overlapped by the lut perial crown. Death heads, the emblem of the regiment, and the star of the black eagle fringe the cloth at regular intervals, whilst alrove is a deep border of laurel-leaves which give the whole a most effective appearance. Indeed, it is asserted that such a magnificent table-cloth as this was never yet seen. The serviettes are a replica of the cloth, of course upon a greatly reduced scale. The Emperor, to whom it has been submitted, has ordered a duplicate cloth to be made for the Royal table, and also a counterpane for the Imperial couch, only the latter is to be worked on satin ground in coloured silks, with the colours of the regiment.

fI'HOSE who make it their business or pleasure to chronicle 1 the movements of Royalty might at least take a little pains to be accurate. A paper states that Prince George of Wales and Princess Maud are amongst the family party at Fredensborg. The news will surprise them as much as an iten. not long ago in an imaginative journal did the Prince of Wales, who, upon asking the Princess if there was any news, was told : ‘ Yes, you have a bad attack of gout.’ ‘lndeed,’ said the Prince, with a laugh, * I’m sorry to hear that.’

[ADY HENRY SOMERSET, the popular president of J the British Women’s Temperance Association, is going to Boston, in America, to present the great petition, signed by about a million of women, against the present liquor traffic. As a speaker she is the finest woman orator we have —clever, logical, impassioned and eloquent. Few are aware of her extraordinary artistic power. Brought up in an atmosphere of art, her father, the late Lord Somers, having been a great connoisseur and authority on these subjects, and an artist himself, she inherited from him and Lady Somers, talents which, had she devoted herself to art, would have resulted in great things. She wrote and illustrated in colours, some years ago, a book called ‘ Our Village Life.’ Lady Henry is also an exquisite needlewoman, and has designed and worked many beautiful embroideries. No one has better taste in arranging a room, planning a garden, or decorating a house, and she is also a woman of indomitable courage and pluck.

LAST winter, when the fire broke out at Eastnor Castle, she was entertaining a par ty of over two hundred friends in the Long Library. Her son came up to her ami whispered that the adjoining room was full of smoke ami Hames. Without a word she got up and left her guests, rang the chapel bell, summoned the household, fitted the hydrants and hose, and sent to Ledbury for the fire-engines, then returned to her friends and told them what had happened. She kept perfectly calm and cool, directing everyone, and by her wise judgment the fire was subdued.

rpHE absurdity of a woman haviag no vote was never L more apparent than in her case. Lady Henry has large estates in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and most of the town of Reigate belongs to her, as well as the Somers Town estates in London ; she pays rates to a large amount, and yet has no voice in making the laws on the subjects in which she is so deeply interested, while the most ignorant labourer on her estate can exercise his right to vote.

MOST of our readers will be interested in Miss Daisy Cornwallis West. The beautiful daughter of a beautiful mother, Miss West is well-known in Society, and being as amiable as she is charming, is a universal favourite. The news of her engagement to Piince Hans Heinrich of Pless, the eldest son of Prince Pless, has excited much kindly interest, and the young couple will be launched upon their new life when the time comes with the cordial good wishes of countless friends.

MISS CORNWALLIS WEST was the most talked-ofnew beauty at the fiist Draw ing Room this year. Curiously enough, although she is so pretty, she is not a bit like her mother, being very fair. Prince Hans is very tall, very fair, and decidedly good-looking. He has made himself very popular over here, entering keenly into all that goes on. He was elected a member of the Coaching Club this season, and drove a wonderfully smart team at the opening parade in May. He is also a very good leader of cotillon—for he led one with the Baioness Alfred von Oppenheim at the ball given by the latter last June, moreover, lie has done his share of entertaining, for he gave a ball at the Savoy Hotel some six weeks ago, when Mrs Hwfa Williams was good enough to play the part of hostess.

FEW of those visitors to the Isle of Wight who have observed a gigantic barge stationary at the end of the jetty in the Osborne private grounds, are aware that this defunct vessel serves as a sea bath for any members of the Royal family who may desire a dip in the briny. By an ingenious arrangement the water can be made to rush in and fill the boat, thus forming a spacious bath, which is as convenient as it is safe.

APROPOS of bathing, I cannot help alluding to the eccentricities of bathing costumes, which generally make the morning the most amusing part of the day at a fashionable watering place. Our ideas on the subject are much more elementary than those of our neighbours across the channel, w hose maillot invariably consists, liesides the actual diess itself, of silk tights, corsets, shoes, ami a hat, for a Fienchwoman never dreams of dipping her head. Added to this it is de rigueur to possess a cloak in which to walk to and from the water’s edge. Some weeks ago I saw the robe de mer of a dainty Parisienne friend who was starting to inhhle the ozone at Trouville. It was an ideal costume. A very full tunic of thick guipure lace was pleated on to a tight lining of scarlet, and confined below the waist with a wide red silk sash. The sleeves were huge puffs of guipure tied up with red ribbons. Scarlet silk tights and trunks and pointed shoes of ecru linen finished the costume, excepting a long red peaked cap on the head. An Eastern burnons enveloped her on the way from her machine to the waves.