MISS MASHER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3630, 1 March 1883, Page 4

MISS MASHER.

Perhaps during the hist dozen years scarce one half-dozen Indies here below have "cut such a dash, made such a splash," as the song goes, in a certain section of society, as Miss Masher.

With a well-born but chronically impecunious pujjn, a mamma notoriously unfortunate iv matrimocial tactics, unci with five elder (and plain) sisters already in the field, this clear girl "came out" .some do/on seasons ago with, as she said herself, plaintively, " everything against her." Having , a naturally tine flow of animal spirits, a decided talent for repartee, unfathomable violet blue eyes, and a delightfully piquant ■;/<■.: rctron.suc. Miss Masher elected to make her first "plunge for a pearl" as an apt pupil in the then "fast" .school of the period. During several seasons she pushed herself well to the front of this "set" and the violet-blue eyes, the piquant w:z retrousse andherinimitable " cheek" were ever well to the fore at the happy huntinggrounds of liurliiigham, "Lord's," Ascot, Goodwood, Cowe*. and innumerable "At Homes," "Big Dinners," "Small and Earlies," "Parks," and" Rows." Nevertheless, despite all the ad vantages of our young friend's conversational fireworks, her undoubted chic (and cheek), the violetblue eyes, and the dainty rctrutmi, Miss Masher did not " go off." And, en pKuxaut, this is most frequeutly the case with these comets of society ; but too often does the rocket of feminine pyroteclmy, aspiring to distance all her friends with a brilliant and swift ascent, come down to her level again, a burned-out, used up little stick. But Miss Masher was not going to give in yet; if one " line of business " wouldn't pay, why, she would go in for another. And she did. Season after season our young friend tried her prentice hand at all the various "ropes" known to and so successfully practised by other rival candidates in the matrimonial field. Alas ! 'twas all in vain; and towards the of last season the poor girl confided to a Mutual Friend (who shall be nameless) that she was , about to "throw up the sponge," and subside into that last refuge for uumarriagcable spinsters of the period— an hospital nurse. 'But the Mutual Friend, deeply moved by this tad spectacle, pondered muchly, and then, into those pink shell-like little ears, poured words of wiedoni. " My dear young- friend," said the M.F., "there are many things which go to endear a would-be -wife to a would-be hubby.

There are, par exempte, deeply violet-blue eyes, dimples, and a captivating m< z retrousse. Now, these are all very weU—while they last. But, my dear, many—too many—of the hubbys that would be know that they won't last! •'Now. mark this —The nearest way to many would-be husbands' hearts is— through their stomachs. Believe me, the ' Open Sesame ' to much matrimony is comprised in two magic words —Clever Cuisine. Listen, then, to another and quite novel ' line' for you—Take a dozen or so lessons of a first-rate French cook, and then—set up a School of High Art Cookery for Gentlemen pupils." With tears in the deeply violet eyes, the dear girl blessed the M.S., and took her departure. She also took his advice. -:jc- -*- -&- -/: % '*' *^ To behold Miss Masher—as .1 had the felicity of doing the other day—her sleeves well tucked up for the judicious display of a pair of bedimpled snowy arms, divers rings and bracelets glistening on her wrists and dainty fingers, in the very act of tossing a pancake for the instruction and edification of the students at her now famous " School for High Art. Cookery," in B'rii's-strect, W., is a sweetly refreshing—not to say even deliriously delightful —spectacle. At least so Sir George thinks, for I am assured, on the best authority, that before another month is out our fascinating cook will become the happy possessor of the mansion in Easton square, a big balance at the London and Westminster, diamonds galore, and. as my Lady George, the owner of a devoted if somewhat too gastronomically inclined hubby. To the highly desirable arrangement indicated above there is only one drawback. But 'tis a, terrible one. Fur, when our dear Miss Mnsliei- "becomes -Lady George, and gives up the High Art Cookery School, what will become of nil us gastroinically disposed: , Alas ! Oh, alas!-~Judy.