WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 396, 23 May 1910, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

BACHELOR HOSTS. (By an American Hostess in M.A.P.) Thoug.li the bachelor host lias existed far many yearns past ae an integral part of tiie social machine, his activities as a 'host have been, of recent years, greatly on the increase; and, moreover, lie now iu ni'jny instances no longer seeks the assistance of a sister, cousin or aunt to aid him in entertaining iiis guests. There is tin atmosphere of good fellowship, freedom, and 'Uncoiivenlioiiality about an entertainment given by a bachelor that makes it always, to my mind, particularly enjoyable. The rules of precedence are by one notable bachelor entirely ignored,'and yet,this scorning ot etiquette is so delightfully and tactfully done that it never gives offence to even the most punctilious of dames. i have seen processions go in to dinner at the establishment of this most entertaining 01 bachelor hosts the sight oi which would, no doubt, make Mr. Arthur Walsh, for the correct observance of the rules of precedence at Buckingham Palace, shudder. I have seen a Duchess walking out last, ano. an untitled lady first; but as our host genially remarked, he always let .matters whicJi he did not understand to settle themselves. Bachelor hosts are growing in numbers. There is Mr. Alfred de Rothschild, Prince Arthur of Connaught, Prince Francis of Teclk, Lord Hugh Cecil, and many more. Prince Arthur of Connaught is, as a rule, very mucn to to the lore in iielping to entertain guests at large State receptions. At the Windsor Garden Party a few years ago, he helped a lady—l think it was Lady I'arquhar, mlho had arrived somewhat late—out of fHather an awkward situation. She was entering the gardens by a .private gate reservea for the use of the Royal Family, when she was stopped by a soldier, who informed her that she could not pass that way. Their Majesties' guest was rather taken aback; she iknew, of course, that the King would not object to her making use of his entrance, and it was a long way round to 'the other. However, at this juncture Prince Arthur appeared, who, of course, knew Lady Farquhar well, and he ait once ■ordered the soldier to let her pass, The most interesting (bachelor in' Society is, no doubt, Mr. Arthur Balfour, but he does not entertain much except when at Downing Street, and then, of course, his establishment is presided over by his sister, so that 'he can scarcely be reckoned a bachelor host when he is assisted bj so delightful a hostess.

Mr. Gillett, Mr. Kenneth Howard and Mr. Augustus Lumley .were Teally the pioneers of bachelor entertainments. The two latter are no more, but Mr. Gillett survives, and although he carries now more than sixty years, lie is as actively hospitable as ever. Mr. Gillett and this friend Mr. Tminley were, I believe, the originators of tihat exclusive institution the Bachelors' Olub, where the former has given so many successful entertainments in the way of dinner parties and afternoon receptions where the company were amused and instructed by lantern lectures and exhi bitions of radium.'

Mr. Gillet must, by the way, hold a record as a giver of -wedding presents. I don't believe there has -been a marriage of any social importance during •the past -thirty-five or forty yearns unmarked by Mr. Gillebt's presents to both bride and'bridegroom. Yet, with all his popularity, his cleverness anid tact, I do not think Mr. Gillett.quite occupies the place 'which Mr. Howard or Mr. Lumley held in Society when I first came to England; -indeed, there is no bachelor host that does so; perhaps because there are more of them than was the case a quarter of a century ago and each has now his own particular circle of friends. Mr. Howard was a sort of universal adviser ;to Society hostesses; they came to him not merely 'as guests, but in quest of his counsel and aid in all sorts of matters. If a hostess were short of dancing men, Mr. Howard would manage to supply them, and .with equal readiness he was able ito find someone to fill up a vacant place at a dinner-table at the shortest -notice.

I was told rather an amusing story, by the way, about Mr. Carnegie and a certain very well-known 'bachelor divine. The former was at a lundieon-paTty some little while ago with the clergyman in question, and the conversation turned upon success in life. "The fact is," observed Mr. Carnegie, "if a man fas not made his pile before thirty ihe is a failure." "In that case,'' replied tbe Rev. Dr.—, sadly, "I must ■be a colossal failure."

I ihave been speaking so far of elderly bachelor hosts. There are, of course, young; 'bachelors in Society, officers in the Guards, "F. 0." clerks, young foreign diplomatists, and others who entertain a good deal. There is one member of a foreign Legation in London, rather more wealthy than most attaches, who entertains very regularly on rather >a peculiar system in iiis delightful flat in Mayfair. He sends out invitation .cards for a, series of dinner iparties at the beginning of each season to each of which some twenty guests are bidden; 'he may not always be able to present .himself at .these entertainments, and wlhen ihe is absent a perfectly trained servant informs 'his guests of the fact, to wihoin he offers his master's apologies on whose behalf he begs them to regard the establishment as their olwai. Of 'the 'guests .are the .particular friends of the atecibe in question, and generally manage to make themselves exceedingly comfortable and to enjoy tliemselves thoroughly in such circumstances. The difference between the juvenile 'and elderly bachelors in Society is considerable. "Many of the former are very eligible, and so, of course, are many of Hie latter; but then it is generally understood that they are not going to

marry, and itihough an odd one may occasionally surprise Society by doing so, they are not regarded by the hostesses with marriageable daughters in at all the same light as the young bachelor who may be heir to, or 'actual possessor of a title and fortune. One exceedingly eligible young .bachelor whom I knew well, who married a couple of years ago, was given the free rim of dozens of houses at wtaich he had a standing inTifcation to luncfh aiiid dine whenever .he (pleased. One hostess, when she and her family were away from town, used actually to keep her regular staff of servants at her house in order that this gilded youth might find the house comfortable did he dwnce to take it into his head to come and dine there. OVERWORKED MOTHERS There is a .movement about to .be started in Christehureh (writes Maud E. Faur, in .the Lyttelton Times) and the other centres of the Dominion to enlist tho laid and sympathy of the medical .profession on behalf of overworked and tired mothers'. It is obvious that many women out here labor under very grave and distressing difficulties in the utter impossibility of getting domestic helps. The matter is .by no means unimportant to the health and well-being of the country, and it is time that something definite- should be dome. The people who can afford to pay 'high wages have not the same difficulty of obtaining maids. But what of the mothers of large or even medium-sized families in poor financial circumstances? Here we have a condition of (affairs absolutely distressing. The demand for maids far exceeds the supply, therefore they go to the mistresses who give the highest wages, and the mistress who can afford to keep a leas competent maid for lower wages.and quite unable to obtain help.- Not only are they suffering, but the little children who are most exhausting to women's 'vitality are also suffering. For Hie mother who is so often worn out .by sleepless nights from a little baby has to work just ias hard ctomg the day to keep her ihome in <#<«fc and she has not the time to give toFthe upbringing of her young family. A mother's wonderful love will bear 'anything and everything for her .children, but if life is made too ihaoid. for 'her, if the strain reachea breaildng-point, then indeed is her very existence threatened. Can nothing be done for those over-burdened .but precious members of the community? it seems to me that tlhis is emphatically a HMork for large-hearted women w eatae up and cairry out effectively—the relief of aTOrrWwjd: roottertwQcl. CouM not an association of women be foinmed to work in conjunction with the Government in arranging some practical scheme to obtain domestic helps from the thickly .populated districts of northern Europe? The association could then get lists of the. most distressed mothers, .making it a point of honor that they are the first (relieved when more maids are obtained. % YOUTHFUL PIANISTS Early this year two piano recitals on ttlie same day were given in Chicago—one 'by Teresa Garreno, and the other by a young, girl of fourteen. The wellknown writer, W. L. Hubbard, in reporting this double event, 'humorously starts (his 'criticism as follows:—"Two youthful •pianists appeared yesterday. One was 'heard in orchestra, the other in music hall. The youthful player in Orchestral Hall called forth the greater manifestations of deligiht, but this was only the natural and the expected. For this youthful pianist, who has 'been many years playing in public, was Teresa Carreno. The .world has honored Teresa Caroieno for seasons many, and with every reason for doing so, for she is the strongest individuality 'among all the women pianists of the present and past generation, her woman nature and artistic spirit are the biggest and .broadest of amy. of her sisters, and her mastery of the ikeyboai'd is so supreme that its stands shoulder to shoulder with that of the foremost pianists of the world, ■of all time, iregardlessi of sex. For years she has been one of the most prominent figures in the 'Concert world, a figure unchangingly enthroned among the best —and yet she returns to us to-day, a pianist to wihom the adjective youthful ■man' with all justice be applied. She is yowMul in body, in mind, and in spirit —the ipensomifieation of the eternally young in soul. The years but add to her outward charm, and but found and beautify more and more her wonderful gifts as an artist. ' ; LADY KINNIARD A link with the past is broken by the death of Lady Kinniaa-d, who died recently, at the age of ninety-three (remarks the St. James' Budget). Her grandmother was Lady Bessborough, sister of the beautiful Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire, whose portrait was painted by Gainsborough. When Lady Kinnaird was a little girl of three Lady Bessborougih had an anxious time in her Cavendish-square house owing to the mobs wiho championed. Queen Caroline during her trial in IS2O. Lady Bessborough wrote to her niece. Lady Granvuie, in 1820: "They are all safe in. Sonic mob broke in with the Queen, but not much, and the soldiers 'have cleared them from the door steadily and gently, so 1 hope all will he quiet. I have not slept « wink, for, though our habitation is perfection, they chose to put up the barricade all night, and worse, un coq niatineaux has been crowing since three o'clock." Lady Kinnaird's aunt, and her grandmother, Lady Bess'borough's, only daughter, was the wayward and beautiful Lady Caroline Ponsonby, who married Lord Melbourne, Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister.