CLIPPINGS FROM SOCIETY PAPERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 186

CLIPPINGS FROM SOCIETY PAPERS.

AM very glad to hear that the publication of interesting stories and so on in Latin is in a fair way to be realised. Mr Henderson, of Red Lion-court, to whom the public already owe several capital publications, will bring out in October a humorous magazine, called

‘ Post Prandium,’ in which current jokes from the illustrated papers will be repeated with the text rendered into colloquial Latin. I wish so capital a project the success which it deserves. AN approaching marriage is announced which may possibly have serious consequences for a future generation of readers and playgoers. The daughter of Ibsen is said to be engaged to the son of Bjbrnson, the Norwegian novelist, whose views of life are not dissimilar from those of the author of ‘ Ghosts ’ and ‘ Hedda Gobler. ’ Who knows what dramatic and literary terrors may result from the union of these two families ? The imagination positively reels before the prospect of the possible foundation of a race of pessimistic playwrights and novelists, all believing it their special mission to carry on the amiable work of their progenitors, and to preach the grim gospel of self-love, self pity, and general dismalness and despair ! There is enly one hope left to us, and that is that the Ibsens and Bjbrnsons of the new generation may be more cheerful or less gitted than their respective ‘forbears.’ If not, the outlook for the coming generation will be gloomy indeed. RAPID strides are being made in funeral reform, and the vulgar habit of wearing ‘ deep ’ mourning is undoubtedly on the decrease. Whether we shall ever anive at a stage when outward and visible signs of mourning are altogether dispensed with is more than doubtful, but we are unquestionably learning to have the courage of ouropinions in these matters, and the ‘no flowers’ announcement has now been succeeded by the ‘ no mourning ’ intimation in the obituary columns. Though we may not like to altogether give up our black gowns in sign of our bereavements, few sensible folk now approve of crape, and certainly the less parade made at such times the better for public taste. \ r Ol' know that Mlle. Helene Vacaresco, who was said to I be engaged to the Crown Prince of Roumania ’ Well, she gained the affection and confidence of the Queen, who is the famous ‘ Carmen Sylva,’ and resolved to be the future Queen of Roumania. But when King Charles heard about it, he was very wroth, had the lady dismissed from Court, and is now trying to marry his son to the eldest daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh, pretty Princess Marie. IT was at first proposed to devote the £7OO collected for a J wedding present for the Earl and Countess of Dudley towards a silver model of Dudley Castle and Hill, but Lord Dudley has intimated that some other present would be more acceptable. It is always a case of *to him that hath shall be given.’ Now, that £7OO would be infinitely more appreciated by poor people than by the noble and wealthy family who are to receive its equivalent in some useless present. Here is another instance : Lord Alington, who is shortly to be married to Miss Blundell Legh, has presented hisyfanece with some wonderful jewels, one diamond tiara alone being valued at about £9,000. IRE may now drink tea with easy consciences. Sir II Andrew Clarke calls tea a ‘blessed beverage,’ only he stipulates that the teapot must not stand long before its contents are consumed. BY-THE-BYE, of course no one uses belladonna for the eyes ; they are too sensible. But some may, so read this true and sad story. A girl friend who was for some reason extremely anxious to shine at a ball to which she had been invited, purchased some belladonna ointment to enlarge the pupils of her eyes. Having, like the unlucky lady we lead of, put on overmuch, she became so dazzled and blind during the dance that she had to return Imine. After two days of great pain the sight was restored, and doubtless this young lady has learned a lesson she is not likely to forget. It is to be hoped that the prosecution threatened against the shop where such dangerous preparations are sold will not be allowed to drop. It is clearly expedient that, one should die commercially for the safety of society at large.