Boudoir Gossip

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 12, 16 September 1908, Page 69

Boudoir Gossip

Who First Played Le Diable? We have been told that it was invented, ages ago, by the inhabitants of India, China, Japan, and Russia; I have even heard learned persons declare that “Diavolo—of a sort - ’ was well known to the Pharaohs and their followers. I think it likely that Le Diable was known to the ancient Egyptians; "Dia.volo —of a. sort,” but not the sort known to us, in the guise of a fashionable game, at the present day. It is possible that this most fascinating game may be quite old; at any rate, it is certain that it was a rage in Paris in the years 1812 and 1818. I have been looking through a collection of engravings of that period, and have found many illustrations of “ La Jeu de Diable,” in which the sticks are exactly the same as those used at the present day, except that—in some of the pictures—the stick held in the right hand is represented with a forked end. This is an interesting and Curious form of stick, and I have had a sketch made from an old engraving i nwfrith the exact shape of this “fork” will be plainly seen. Tlie fork is specially interesting, because a high authority on “Diavolo” has asserted that the game owes its peculiar name to it! In many old paintings we find demons depicted carrying forks —of the same form as that in the sketch — in their hands, and it really is quite likely that this explanation of the name is the correct one. Everyone seems agreed that Diavolo originally came from China, not in its present form, but as a curiosity, and it is more than probable that the first Diavolo “set” was a thing of much beauty and value. In the days of the First Empire the Parisians played this game with a'most exactly the same “sets” as used to-day—with two small exceptions: first tire fork, which appeared on some of the sticks then used, but not on all, and, secondly, the shape of some of the diavolos was different. In the present day they are always made flat at either end, but in the days of Napoleon the Great the ends were sometimes made in th shape of cones. r do not see the reason for this, for certainly the “diavolo” with flat ends is more easily manipulated, but it is very possible that the original “Chinese devils” were made with ends shaped like cones.

In one of the sketches which accompany this article we find a dandy of the Restoration period instructing a fair lady in the mysteries of the game, much — apparently—to their mutual satisfaction. The gentleman's position somewhat resembles that of a man about to lead out his partner in the Washington Post, but the position is exactly the one most practical and suitable for anyone who wishes to teach a beginner how to spin the diavolo correctly. It is of very little use to tell anyone how to obtain the correct, and perfectly even, spin; much better stand directly behind and work the armsuntil the action is fully realised. As everyone is now “playing the devil,” it may seem superfluous to explain the A.B.C. of the game, but much time, and loss of temper, will be saved if the absolutely correct, even spin Is learned before any attempt is made to throw diavolo into the air. If the spin be not correct, it is quite impossible to catch it on the twine, as instead of steadily twisting round it will dance about and, of a certainty, fall to the ground. It looks very difficult to catch diavolo when he has been sent up high into the air, but, in reality, it is not more difficult to catch him in that way than when •he is thrown but a little way up; the one important thing to be r emembered is to point the extreme end of the stick in the right hand directly at the falling diavolo, and to drop both hands immediately the touches the twine. It is absolutely futile to try to catch the spinning devil on the twine; he must be allowed to slide down swiftly from the point of the stick. I have been immensely amused to see, from some old engravings, that in the days of the First Empire the Parisians played this game in the house. Several quaint old. pictures show a party of four playing in, a drawing-room, and, without a specially vivid imagination, one could quickly realise the destruction to ornaments, looking-glasses, etc. So great a hold has “Diavolo” taken on the people of France that new rules are now made in many hotels to the effect: “Visitors are requested not to practise diavolo in their rooms”! These rules are quite necessary, for I have seen fathers and mothers of families stealing away a “set” and taking it up to their private rooms "for a quiet practise!” The next thing we shall hear of is the “diavolo headache,” brought about by the sound, overhead, of a constant and

steady thud—thud—thud! Diavolo fall! very heavily, even when it is not thrown up very high, and in French hotels where, in summer, there are no carpets the. sound of his regular fall might indeed become wearisome! ® ® ® Home for Children. A temporary home for children has been established in Paris by a Swedish woman, Madame Andersson, who personally conducts it. Here children are eared for while their parents are out of work or unable to support them owing to illness. The parents are supposed to contribute a little towards their keep, if possible, though the home is mainly supporteel by rich patrons. When the parents are able to keep them again the children return to them, or if they are not able to maintain them they are apprenticed to trades or are given situations.

Are Manners Out of Date? It is a common saying that manners, in the old-fashioned sense, are out of date. Courtesy is a “ baek number,” a fit accompaniment for fancy dress, in keeping with powder and patches. Many people think themselves too busy to take time for good manners, and women, unfortunately, are the worst offenders. Mothers do not teach their sons to be gentle and courteous with all women, at home as well as abroad, and girls seem to fancy that men will like them better if they are hail-fellow-well-met with them, to the sacrifice of old-world deference. The man who has been brought up among women who neither expect courtesy nor resent the absence of it, will soon drop the surface politeness which, he felt obliged to assume dining his courtship. He will backslide into the casual, unintentionally rude behaviour which marked his conduct at home. He will monopolise the most comfortable chair; he will take all the waiting on which he can get as a matter of right; he will read the paper all through breakfast, and expect to smoke all-over the house. A reasonab'e, practical woman will not break her heart over this, but will tell herself that be meaun no harm, and that his bad manners are the fault of his bringing up. But the thin-skrnned, sensitive woman ■will bitterly resent the change in his ways, and there will be distressing scenes which might easily be avoided ny the gentle courtesy which thinks and feels for others.

What is the Standard of Beauty ? "Beruty itself,” as a well-knowf authority o>nee saij, “is no concrete fact It is at most an expression of the taste of the majority, which differs in every locality. China and the South Seas will no more accept our Venus than we can delight in blackened teeth and nose rings.” This is very true, and it is equally true that everyone may set up a standard of beauty for himself, for there is no such thing as a rule of beauty, and every age has its chosen types to admire. About the end of the eighteenth century a certain vivacious type of face was very much admired. It looks down upon us to-day from the canvases of Romney and Greuze. This, in turn, gave place to the more insipid and characterless smile of the early Victorian era, the small, delicate features, long slender neck, sloping shoulders, and mincing ges-

ture. This was the type that played * harp and wore a wreath of roses. In or about 18(50 crinolines became larger, and Leghorn hats took the place of bonnets. In the early seventies a revolution in hair-dressing took place; the smooth bands and curls went out and chignons eaine in. Then later on the daring ones of the earth began to wear fringes, waists became larger and shoulders broader. It was no longer considered elegant to faint on the slightest provocation or indulge in fits of “the vapors.” The harp went up to the lumber room, ami girls became frankly “fast.” © J O A Vegetarian A recipe sent in by a reader, who found it so much appreciated as a eupper dish that she thinks other readers may like to try it. Required: Two large Spanish onions. Half a pint of white sauce. One hard boiled egg. Salt and pepper. One ounce of butter. . Cut the onion in thin slices and boil in a little water till tender. Then, strain off the water, add pepper and salt to taste, and the butter. Chop the egg finely, mix it with the white sauce, put the onions in a piedisb, pour the sauee ever, and bake in a me* erate oven till brown.