Men and Women.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXII, 28 November 1896, Page 109

Men and Women.

A LADY who has had a lengthy experience of matrimony says that the first year of married

life is by no means the happiest. There are constant jars and frets in settling down to life together. There is the finding out of each other’s tastes and habits, the process of getting into tune with each other, which is always attended with many discords. How often during that, first year does a young wife secretly wish she could go back home to mamma ? How often does a young husband from the depths of his inmost soul, wonder whether, after all, marriage is so infinitely superior an institution to bachelorhood ? But get that first year safely over, and then the good time begins to dawn. The young people begin to settle down into each other’s ways ; they have learnt to give in on some points and to forbear in others. The angles are getting rubbed off and smoothed down ; the surfaces are getting polished ; the notes are in tune, and then begins the harmony. Love itself begins to take another aspect. It loses all its uncertainties, its tremo'S, its doubts, its excitement. It grows steadier and clearer, and a thousand times stronger and better worth having. Trust is built on experience, and the daily lessons of life bring people close together, and keep them there. Talk of the first year of married life ! If mine had ended there I shouldn t have thought marriage such a delightful thing after all, I can assure you The rumour is abroad that Dr. Jatneson is to wed, on his release from imprisonment, Georgianna, Countess of Dudley, said to be a beautiful peeress. The Mr Coote whom Lady Burton made one of her literary executors is the man on whose advice she acted in destroying the erotic ‘Scented Garden,’ for which she had been offered She also, as is not generally known, committed to the flames another manuscript valued at / 1,600 for the same reasons. A bathers’ hop is the latest American idea. When the wealthy girls of Bath Beach, a seaside resort, come out of the water—wherein they will be accompanied by their gentlemen friends-they will put on dry bathing dresses and have a dance. Teetotalers are ‘ funny ’ people, says the Liberty Review, whether they are total abstainers or not. What a magnificent sense of humour they have got! A report of a speech made by Sir Wilfrid Lawson at Cardiff reaches us. and we have had a difficulty to pick out the baronet's speech from the ‘ laughters ’ and ' loud laughters ’ with which it was punctuated. Here is a short sample taken at random : — * The Trade was the worst of trades, conducted by the best of men. (Laughter) He had no objection to fleas —(laughter) - but he strougly protested against the way they got their living. (Loud laughter.) Some of the Tradeorganssaid he was an idiot. (Laughter.) It was alleged he was employed by Satan. (Laughter.) He protested against this sort of thing. It was a libel upon Satan. (Loud Laughter.) Then, again, he had been described as a man with an intellect rotting for want of a little stimulant. (Laughter.)’ The Czar (says Truth) cares nothing for shooting, and never goes out, except upon quasi State occasions, when he is obliged to take a gun as a matter of form. The Emperor has no pretensions to be even a tolerable shot. Open a book at random, and select a word within the first ten lines, and within the tenth word from the end of the line. Mark the word. Now double the number of the page and multiply the sum by five. Then add twenty. Then add the number of the line you have selected. Then add five. Multiply the sum by ten. Add the number of the word in the line. From this subtract 250, and the remainder will indicate in the unit column the number of the word, in the ten column the number of the line, and the remaining figures the number of the page. The Czar is said to have a striking resemblance to the Duke of York, and to be endowed with modesty, sense, and charming manners. One of the greatest banes of ijueeu Victoria's existence is the enormous amount of original 1 poetry ’ sent to her from all parts of the world. On the birth of the Royal grandson nearly half a ton of manuscript verse was received at Windsor. It may not be generally known that George Washington died the last hour of the day, the last day of the week, of the last month of the year, of the last year of the last century. One of the proudest moments of a girl’s life is when she receives her first engagement ring. She is so pleased with the jewelled circlet that one cannot but participate in her pleasure. Even the most stately maid melts into a state of undisguised simplicity while the thing is a novelty. How often does she take occasion to pull off her glove to reveal its daintiness, and the action is so suggestive that the most unsuspecting per-

son is made aware of her intentions Then what a patting of back hair is necessary at this period. Never was coiffure so constantly needing a smoothing hand to coax it into shape. And nobody knows better than she how well the pretty jewelled baud looks on the slender white Unger, its beauty enhanced by contrast with the soft brown hair.

The woman whom men like as a friend is a woman who never dreams of complaining to them of trifles ; she keeps her troubles to herself, and has early learnt that most necessary virtue—silence on much that she sees and hears, which gives men confidence in her. and they appreciate her friendship. As a rule there is not much sentiment about a man's woman. She is practical and philosophical, and her nature is generally one quite above mean jealousies and spiteful * tittle tattle.'

Too few wives realise that novelty and variety are as attractive to a man after marriage as before. The same gown evening after evening perhaps, the same coiffure year in and year out. may not exactly pall upon the taste of a devoted husband, but he soon ceases to look at his wife with the same interest as theretofore. After a while she will miss the fond little compliments that are so pleasant to receive, and one of the most potent of her womanly weapons grows rusty from disuse.

Unusual facilities for matrimony are offered at Americus, Ga. Justice Graham, while walking on the street one evening lately, was approached by a negro man and woman, who asked to be united, and he joined them in the solemn bonds then and there.

Mr Ruskin’s well-known shyness and dislike of seeing visitors has greatly increased of late years. Even during his daily walks, which he indulges in with unfailing regularity at eleven in the morning and three in the afternoon, in company with his attendant, he is so averse to being stared at, even by the casual wayfarer, that he will turn in the first gate he comes across.

A Swiss lady doctor has been lecturing on ‘ The Sins of the Toilette,’ against the wearing of corsets, gloves, and long skirts. She made such an impression on her audience that at the close a hundred ladies subscribed their names to a pledge to renounce the corset, to wear gloves only on a ceremonial occasion, and to have their dresses a foot from the ground.

It is not generally known (says the Daily Chronicle) that there is quite a little history attached to the walkingstick which Her Majesty has found it necessary to use during the last four years. The staff is formed oi stout British oak —which is as it should be—and was originally made for and presented to Charles 11. by a Royal citizen of Worcester, who secured it from a famous oak tree. When the Queen first used it it only had a plain gold top. but when in after years she required something to give a firmer ' grip ’ to support her better, there was added a queer little Indian idol which formed part of the booty of Seringapatam, and ever since no other stick has been used.