Men and Women.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XII, 20 March 1897, Page 346

Men and Women.

want of a man of culture and fashion like the ;[ late Mr Augustus Lumley (brother of the recently diseased Lord Savile) is (says a London Society paper) much felt by hostesses who, in the present time of county balls, desire the appearance of dancing men at these gatherings. They are, indeed, as scarce as palm trees on the Riviera. Mr Lumley, in the good old times, could always furnish the requisite article at short notice, for he kept a list of presentable male votaries of Terpsichore, and, with the greatest good nature, vouched for their power of dancing to the many ladies who entertained. Mr Lumley was very particular, moreover, as to their character and appearance, though not as to their worldly possessions, which he always averred did not concern him in the least. One piece of advice he constantly gave to his young friends, and that was, • Always wear good trousers’. And he himself set the example. The following is an official list of prices current on the Buluwayo market for the week ending November 28th, 1896, for articles of daily consumption : —Flour, per bag, Z’7 5s ; salt, is per lb ; coffee, 2s gd per lb ; milk (Milkmaid), 27s per doz ; rice, is’6d per lb ; butter (Esbesden), 3s 6d per lb ; candles (Price’s), i6oz box, 40s; bacon, 3s 6d per lb ; paraffin, £7 per case; matches (safety), 10s gross ; stout, / 12 per case ; brandy (Hennessey ’s XXX), Z 7 ; meal (Boer), per sack, /14; tea, 3s6dper lb ; cocoa, 7s per lb ; sugar, is4d per lb ; pearl barley, is 6d per lb ; lard, 2s 6d per lb ; oysters, 22s 6d per doz : kippered herring, 30s per doz ; currants, is 3d per lb ; lime juice (Rose’s), Sos per case ; beer (English), /12 10s per case; gin (London), £4 10s. Princess Henry of Pless has sent an appeal to every English woman married to a German in the German empire. The Princess wishes to collect from her fellowcountrywomen a sum of money to buy a handsome present to give to Queen Victoria on the occasion of the close of the sixtieth year of her reign. Hundreds of English women have responded to the appeal, and the sum collected is likely to be a large one. More English women are married to Germans than to members of any other foreign nation. A secret society for the encouragement of elopements has been discovered in Chicago. Its members are the pupils of a large high-school for girls, and they call themselves the Elopement Club. The influence of the society has made itself manifest in the number of elopements which have been the talk of Chicago, and which, indeed, led to its discovery. The club has an elaborate constitution, absolute secrecy is enjoined on the members, who are limited to seven. As a vacancy occurs a new member is admitted. The Czarina has been greatly influenced by the English method of country-house life. She has retired to a little secluded mansion in the Peterhof Park. There the young pair live exactly as the Prince does at Sandringham. There are (says a writer in one of the magazines) the same cheery, informal English breakfast parties. Along the wooded drives the Czarina herself takes out the Imperial baby, the Grand Duchess Olga, and sits amid the shade and greenery with her little daughter in her arms. An interesting experiment is about to be made at Washington. A mothers’ club is to be organised. Rich women and poor will meet at the same club, and work side by side for the common good. ‘ The object of the new movement is to interest mothers, and, for that matter, all men and women, in the questions most vital to the welfare of their children, not only from a physical and moral, but spiritual standpoint as well.’ At the sociable meetings of the club the best plans for the raising and development of children will be discussed, and the ideas of those who are giving the subject some thought be read. Instructive books will be at hand for the mothers to read at home. The club will have no class lines drawn. Lady Randolph Churchill has gone into racing. It appears that she is a partner with R. J. Lacey in the yearling Florentine, which they have leased for the season to Lord Cardross. Her ladyship is not the first of her rank and sex to enter into competition upon the turf. The late Duchesse of Montrose was well known in racing circles, where she operated under a masculine name, Mr Milner. No important race meeting was complete without her presence, and her doings were as much discussed as those of any masculine stable-owner. The latest Parisian baby sends out a miniature card in blue or pink tints with the following inscription ‘ I have the pleasure to inform you of my entrance into this world on the day of , and to add that mamma and I are very well.’ Another runs : ’I am very pleased to be able to announce to you my happy arrival in this world, and I hope to enjoy my life in it very much. Mamma and I are well and papa is delighted.’