ODDS AND ENDS OF FASHION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 20, 6 September 1889, Page 3

ODDS AND ENDS OF FASHION.

Dbae Elsie, — The latest announcement of the Americo-European matrimonial market is the engagement of Miss Gwendolin Caldwell to the Prince Joachim Murat, grandson of the famous Marshal and sometime King of Maples, and of Caroline Bonaparte. It is hard to believe tnat Miss Caldwell has been dazzled by rank and title. Better things might have been expected from a yonng lady who had given such a proof of a superior mind as that given by Mies Caldwell in the princely donation made by her a few years ago towards the foundation of the Catholic University at Washington. She and her two sisters, you know, were joint heiresses of the late Mr. Shakespeare Caldwell, of Virginia, who left a fortune of somewhere about a million of money. Prince Joachim Marat, who has the reputation of being a spendthrift, will form a striking contrast to his wife's father. She will be the Prince's second wife, by the way, his first having been a daughter of the Duke of Wagram, and three of whose children survive her. All of them are married and settled in life. But the Prince is ever so much older than Miss Oaldwell. He was born at New Jersey, where his father had taken refuge on the overthrow of the First Empire, and his mother was an American — by name Miss Caroline Fraser. He was brought to Europe in 1849, when the tida of fortune had set in favour of Prince Louis Napoleon— afterwards the Emperor Napoleon 111., and be waß then fifteen years old. Miss Caldwell is in her 26th year ; so you may calcnlate the exact disparity in the ages. It is, nevertheless, to be concluded that the match is one of mutual affection. In matters of this kind they say, aud we mast admit, dear, with some appearance of truth, that the common sense of no woman is to be relied on. — By the way, a fashionable wedding that has actnally occurred is that of Mr. John V. Dalhgren, son of the late Admiral Dhalgren, U.S.N., to Miss Elizabeth Drexel, daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Drexel, of New York. The wedding dress is said to have cost £1000. It was of rich white satin, trimmed with point d' Aletcon of a fabulous age and immense value. Besides sprays of orange blossoms fastened with diamond pins,a tiara of diamonds was worn over the rich lace veil. The four bridesmaids wore dresses of white moire and point d'esprit lace, white felt bats with ostrich feathers, and carried crepe de lisse fans. The presents were magnificent and of great price. But do you think the betrothal ring given by Luther to Catherine von Bora— was a lucky gift to be presented by a Catholic bridegroom to his bride ? They say this ring had been for more than two hundred years an heirloom in the Dahlgren family. The family museum and there the jar of some pickled pnake, or the hand of same heathen mummy, would, I should think, be a fitter place for ie than the finger of the bride. But Mr. Dahlgren included it among the bridal gifts. Absit amen, as people who talk Latin say.— The wedding-dress of the lovely Lady Cynthia Duncombe, daughter of Lord Feversham, and sister of the equally lovely Duchess of Leinster, the other day, was somewhat of a departure from the ordinary rule. It waß of white and gold brocade, over white silk muslin aud white satin. The fastening of the veil, was, to match tbe dresß, of gold. The bridegroom was Sir Richard Graham, of Netherby, who is brother of the Duchess of Moo trose,— that is the younger Duchess— not the old lady, famous as " Mr. Manton "on the turf, and otherwise known as " Bob," who, a year or two ago married a man quite young enough to De her grandson. But then perhaps her Grace waa of an opinion once expressed by a French lady of her rank, who declared that for & bourgeois a duchess should never be more than thirty years old. The youth whom she married was a commoner.

The engagement of the Princess Louise of Wales to Lord Fife has given me to all kinds of gossip. It is said the Ministry ha>e recommended Her Majesty to insist on the renunciation by the Princess of her right of succession. As it is, should the deaths of the Princes Albert Victor and George occur, her Hoyal Highness would be heiress presumptive to the crown of England, and it would never do for a subjact to occupy the place of consort of a reigning queen, or to be father of a future king. The marriage is regarded as Morganatic, and it is urged that the usual rule followed when there is any possibility of accession to the throne should be observed, and all rights regularly renounced. Marriages of consanguinity, so common in the Hoyal Family, enn hardly be said to have an exception in that alluded to. Lord Fife is grandson, on his mother's side, of the Countess of Errol who was a member 4 *of the FitzClarence family. It is said in some quarters that his Lordship is the lineal descendant of the Macduff of Shakespeare, but elsewhere this descent is denied, and a much less ancient orgin assigned to the House. The Karl is mnch older than the Princess, being in his fortieth year, while ehe is only twenty-two. He has long been on intimate terms with the Prince of Wales and his family, and passes for a sufficiently good fellow, being aho a fair landlord. It is said that the engagement was formed between the couple, the other day at Ascot. Btories are told of a horror entertained by the Princess towards German princeHogs, such as it has commonly been the fate of the Royal damsels of England to wed, but this horror does not seem to extend to the sisters of her Royal Highness, of whom it is eaid the one is to marry the Landgrave of Hesse, and the other the Hereditary Prince of Hobenlohe Langenbuig. Another rumour is to the effect that the Royal family were lately much annoyed and disappointed at the match made by the German Emperor for a sister of his wife with Prince Frederick Leopold of Prussia, a man of great wealth, for, after all, there are German princes who are not the paupers that the whole race are regarded, with some reason, in England m being. It js said Prince

Leopold was looked upon by the august personages concerned, as a certain futur of one of the Prince of Wales's daughters, It is added that the failure of the hope waa manifested by these august personages with even less disguise than might have been made by less exalted people, But all this is, of course, matter of gossip and, perhaps, idle speculation. Cariosity, meantime, is expressed as to the style of dresa to be adopted by the Royal bride when she is emancipated from the control that has invariabiy arrayed her in similar costumes to those of her sisters. Is it not to be hoped there will be sufficient gallantry in Parliament to comply with the request for a Royal grant , and give the Princess enough money to gratify her emancipated tastes?

The visit of the Shah to Be gland has been the oscasion of an uoosaal stir in the great world of fashion. Among the principal fttes given in his honour were a state ball at Backingham Palace, a garden party at Marlborough House, and .a command night at Coven t Garden Theatre, each and all of which were of sparkling brilliancy. The ball, although carried out with great splendour, did not seem to hare. man y attractions for his Majesty, who did not stay there very long, and, indeed, he is said to feel in some degree shocked at the low dresses of the ladies, whioh do not accord with his Eastern ideas nf propriety. His Majesty's own attire is an object of envy to many fair dames from the magnificent jewels with whicb it is adorned. An emerald worn in the belt is especially wonderful from its sine.— At the garden party the Scotch pipers took the Shah'e fancy very much. It is desired in some quarters, dear, that be should form a large band of them in Persia, and employ, at a sufficient remuneration of course, all the available talent in that line to be secured in Great Britain. The Shah brought none of bis wives to England with him this time, because, they say, last time those of them who accompanied him quarrelled, and had to be sent home. It, however, can hardly be the shrillness of their scolding that offends his Majesty's ears.— Nothing could exceed the brilliancy of the scene at Covent Garden on the night he was there. There was a large attendance of the Royal Family, the Prince and Princess of Wales doing the especial honours of the occasion to the visitor. Her Royal Highness wore a dress of crimson and yellow brocade, with a blue velvet opera cloak, and was almost from head to foot a blaze of diamonds. The young Princesses were, as usual, all attired &imply and alike, this time in white. The Shah, beside his numerous suite, is aocompanied by a little boy of some five or six years old, a favourite whom be has adopted and whom he takes with him everywhere. The child is attired quite as splendidly as is his Royal patron. A great many stories are told of his droll behaviour.

Shirts are a good deal worn by girls out of doors, both white and coloured, those with little tucks being much affected. Petticoats are becoming scanty, and parasols show a tendency to grow small. Hettie.