WHAT THE WORLDS SAYS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1149, 4 June 1880, Page 4

WHAT THE WORLDS SAYS.

[b? atlas. J The rumor chronicled last week of the approaching contract of marriage between Prince Leopold and Miss Maynard is said to be unfounded. Such an alliance would have been popular, and a beauty who has L30,000a year is not a bad match, even for a Prince of the blood royal. The Maynards have always been a popular family in Essex, and the bright presence and winning smile of the heiress of that ancient house are ever welcome at Dunmow. Easton Lodge, near to Dunmow, which is Miss Maynard’s property in (her own right, is one of the finest mansions in the County, and is no mean rival of Audley End—but without its wealth of artistic treasures—or Down Hall. The late Viscountess Maynard, the grandmother of the new beauty, for many years distributed L2OOO per annum among the poor in the neighborhood of Easton. Miss Maynard attained her eighteenth birthday last December; and it will be remembered that the occasion was celebrated by a magnificent entertainment, which cost an enormous sum, and was one of the most brilliant affair which has been known in Essex for a generation. Flowers were brought from Nice, and a suite of temporary reception rooms was erected for the occasion. Accounts from Washington state that a class of entertainments is now greatly in vogue there which are likely to be inrtodnced here during the coming season. Those are called Leap-year Balls, in compliment to the bissextile character of of the present year. Their novelty consists in their being given by the fair sex exclusively, Those only of the uglier portion of humanity who have made themselves sufficiently popular are Invited, and even when thus honoured they have to wait patiently till asked to dance. They are taken into supper or left hungry and faint as caprice decides. Bouquets are or not presented to them, and altogether their individual popularity is severely tested. They say they like it ; but my information came from one likely not to have suffered from the arrangement. I fear if the fashion reaches us that there will be much heartburning in some quarters and ankle-aching in others. Imagine the way in which the Marshal of Ceremonies and others we know wonld be besieged by engagements for the cotillon. On the whole, being past forty, I hope Leap-year Balls will not become popular here. A horrible tragedy was nearly enacted tho other day at Gibraltar, just when the Himalaya was about to weigh anchor off the new Mole. In the excitement of the moment a pet dog fell ito the water, when a large octopus rose to the surface and gave chase, making greedy grabs at it with arms quite two feet long from end to end. When the enemy was about to close on its victim, a sailor fresh from foreign parts appeared on the scene, and, dragging from his much-tat-tooed breast a rival pet in the shape of a marmoset, sent it to the rescue in a basket. The little creature, half-cat and half-monkey, must have been acquainted alike with its duties and the English language, for it did not seize the octopus, but, laying hands on the dog, was safely hauled up, to the disgust of the enemy and joy of friends. Altogether it was a pretty bit of byplay, _ when tender hearts were sobbing adieux to brown hands waving affectionately from every porthole to the military strains of “ Auld lang syne.” One of the largest private banka in the City has lately been a sufferer from the ingenuity of a former clerk. The successful financier, after about three years’ service at the. private banker’s, obtained an appointment at a Colonial bank which kept an account with the private firm. Through the familiarity with the system of each bank he was enabled to defraud his earlier employers to the extent of some six thousand pounds. Further, it is reported that he has raised money amounting to several thousand on the security on bills now in possession of a joint-stock bank. There is excellent reason for suspecting complicity. Detectives, instructed by the solicitor of the Bankers’ Association, are hunting for the quarry, but at present the scent is not particularly strong. Young ladies who promise one and the same dance to two or more gentleman have sometimes a good deal to answer for. The other day at a certain ball in Dublin an instance of the kind occurred. Two gentlemen, claimed a young lady for a dance promised to each of them, as their programmes proved. Neither would resign his claim, and an the lady making her selection, the rejected candidate called his successful rival - a cad. The epithet provoked a blow, which the lady, acting as peace-maker, received on her eye and nose, causing the latter organ to bleed profusely. By a strange and melancholy coincidence, Colonel Pickyard, the brave and gallant soldier who died ten days ago at Cannes from a brief attack of illnessviolent congestion of the lungs—was buried on the very day which had been originally fixed|for his wedding day. His marriage to Miss M’Neile, daughter of Sir John M’Neile, who also died within tho last few months, had been fixed to take place that day. This young lady has lost her father and affianced husband within the short space of three months. The very wreaths which were to have been used at the wedding became funeral garlands to be thrown on the coffin, and the bridal veil and dress were lying ready to be put on by the now widowed bride. Death was caused by the rupture of a blood-vessel on the lungs, and the poor young bride sat up three [hopeless days and nights watching the life slowly unking away.