WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 268, 22 March 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). MISS AMY CASTLES INTERVIEWED. J had a brief chat with Miss Amy Castles to-day. She told me, during a pleasant cluit, that she is the eldest of seven (three girls and four boys), and when very young she started her musical career. The latter part of her musical education she spent with Madame Uouhy, the great Paris teacher. Her sister Dolly, she went on to say, is at present acting principal boy in the Drury Lane Theatre. Her youngest sister El-| sie, who has just finished her musical education in Paris, has accepted a position in grand opera with -I. Williamson's company in Sydney. Before she leaves New Zealand for Australia, Miss Castles will give her two last concerts in Auckland and Rotorua, and after a short rest in her home in Melbourne she intends journeying to Italy,j there to take up grand opera, hut not to remain many months, as her great ambition is to get back to London. —"Eileen." THE "PASHA" SKIRT. LATEST FASHIONS IN WOMEN'S DRESS. London, February 3. The "Pasha" skirt has, after much hesitation and careful deliberation, besn accepted by the best-dressed women as the new fashion. There is a panic among the petti-coat makers, for if the "Pasha" skirt becomes as popular as the hobble skirt, there will be a slump in the price of petticoats. The "Pasha" skirt derives its name from the fact that it is a short divided skirt, falling over a pair of very loose and baggy trousers, reaching to the ankles—the kind of nether garment that a Turkish pas.ha wears. Its use dispenses for the time being with silken : frills and flounces. Suffragists have been j heard to declare that the "Pasha" skirt is the first step towards the equality of the sexes. "Pasha" parades have been the afternoon enjoyment of women of fashion for the last week. Motor-cars, landaus and broughams have been stopped outside the establishment of Messrs Viola, Ltd., in Albemarle-street, and from tliem women in conventional everyday furs and frocks have passed into the mirrored showrooms, where the trousered mannequins walk with wonderful grace 1 throughout the day. The "Pasha" has been met with frigid eyes gazing through lorgnettes; with eyebrows raised in mild disapproval and lips turned downwards at the eprners. But bolder people have ordered "Pasha" dresses at £3O a-piece, and have been the most striking figures at receptions, and those who came to murmur incredulously generally stay to place an order I for the new fashion. - The first sight of the "Pasha" thrills the spectator. What would our grandmothers have said of a minx walking in ill-concealed baggy trousers? Nevertheless, the new fashion, though opinions may differ about its beauty, is declared, by those who have worn the skirt, to have brought about a new comfort into the lives of women.

At present only evening dress "Pashas" are being worn, and there are some very beautiful, designs. The four principal gowns shown at Viola's are:

A gown of lapis-lazuli blue in taffeta, with ccintnre of multi-colored stones, tlie very low decollete of fine lace being veiled to the neck in a shade of chiffon with embroidery pendant also veiled on the neck. The pantaloon, showing where the skirt is divided, is of the same shade of chiffon, the border of the skirt being finished by a tiny bead fringe. A robe du bal of rose satin, the divided skirt having a border of crushed roses. The over-dress of glittering steel, and emerald net is caught on the bodice by a bunch of roses, on which a dainty jewelled butterfly is jesting. A gown of black ninon, with deep copper and jet broderie and fringe, worn over pantaloons a la Turque of black satin.

A gown draped in iris blue charmeuse. opening in the front over chiffon pantaloons, which are held at the ankle by huge black satin bows. The whole of the drapery is edged by a steel fringe, and the upper part of the bodice is draped in pink chiffon and strands of diamante.

Most striking of all, however, is the outdoor "Pasha." This is the dress that brings the lorgnettes to the eyes of the dowagers. It is more frankly trousers than the others. The coat is of blue serge with reliefs of cherry and Paisley, reaching down to the calf of the leg. Tlie rest of the garment is composed of black satin "Pashas," which fall loosely over the ankles, round which they are lightly kept by elastic bands. Nobody lias ye't worn one of these in the streets, but it is destined to become as popular as any of the passing fashions of women's dress. CZAR'S COUSIN'S ROMANCE. IN LOVE WITH AN AMERICAN LADY. Anothc- proof that Paris is taking the place of far-off Reno, in Nevada (U.S.A.), is seen in the approaching divorce of Mrs. George Lee Thompson, junr.. of Philadelphia. Mrs. Thompson is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Fnllerton Phillips, of Philadelphia. Mr. Phillips is prominent in the business circles of the Quaker city. Another of his daughters married a son of the late A. J. C'assatt, former president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and secured a divorce. Mrs. Julie Phillips Thompson, pending her divorce, is stopping with her mother at a Paris hotel. They spent the summer at Dinard, and Mrs. Thompson was admittedly the reigning beauty of the Brittany 'resort. Andre de Fouquieres describes her as "looking like one of Friar Angelica's Angels." She is very popular in the Russian set and figures prominently at all the Grand Ducal entertainments. Indeed, it can be said on almost Royal authority that this beautiful woman may be the first ever to wed a member of a reigning family in Europe. The hero of this Imperial romance is the {.rand Duke Alexander Michaelovitch, second cousin of the Czar of Russia, whose sister, tlie Grand Duchess Xenia. he married in 180-1.

Grand Duke Alexander is 43 years old and has lived many years in Paris,

where he is well known in aristocratio circles. As lie makes no attempt to conceal his admiration for the fair American, he has furnished a genuine and most unusual sensation to society. Indeed, the Grand Duke's desperate infatution is the talk of all places where fashionable Parisian society congregate?. Mrs. Thompson was entertained the other night by the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Cyril, and is frequently seen at tlie Ritz and other fashionable restaurants with Alexander Michaelovitch.

Unfortunately the Grand Duke recognises the fact that many obstacles stand in the way of his happiness, divorce not being recognised by the Russian Church, even if the Czar would consent to it. So all he can offer is a morganatic marriage of the kind the Italian Court tried to force Miss Elkins to accept. These morganatic marriages, generally contracted in some foreign countrj', are not unusual among the Romanoffs. Grand Duke Alexis, who died last year in Paris, left a morganatic wife. His brother Paul married in the same way, and lives in Paris. More to the point is the fact that Grand Duke Alexander's eldest brother. Grand Duke Michael, married mor;- tnntically the Countess of Torby at Sun Reno in 1801. She and her husband mak'i th"ir home in England, where she is a great friend of Queen Alexandra and a great social favorite. Indeed, all morganatic marriages with Russian Royalty have led to a high social position and ultimate recognition. Meanwhile the beautiful Phildelphian has dethroned all of last year's beauties and has conquered the most aristocratic society in Paris. THE LADY AND THE PASHA. SENSATIONAL PARIS LAWSUIT. Paris, March 10. What is expected to prove a sensational suit was commenced yesterday, when Mrs. Cornelia, McKee initiated proceedings for the recovery of £IOO,OOO worth of stocks and bonds from Nedjiin Melham Pasha, a favorite Minister of Abdul Humid before he was dethroned from the Turkish throne. Mrs. McKee is said to have given the securities to the department for safe keeping. LADY TENNESSEE COOK. A VICTIM OF BLACKMAILERS. Washington, March 10. As a result of blackmailing letters she has received, demanding the sums ranging from £2OOO to £OOOO, Lady Tennessee Cook is lying seriously ill at the Congress Hotel. A rigid investigation is being made by the Washington police authorities and the officials of the British Embassy. Lady Tennessee Cook is well known as a writer on social questions, WIFE WHO TURNED ■SERVANT TO HUSBAND'S MISTRESS. Paris, March 12. M. Planchon, a wealthy baker, has become infatuated with a woman other than his wife, and by the use of threats and acts of violence lias terrorised his wife to such a degree as to compel her to play the part of a servant to his I mistress. The woman thus introduced into the house rode in Planchon's carriage, wore his family jewels, and remained in bed while breakfast was brought to her by Mine. I'laiiclion, who finally complained to the police. ■ EXTRAVAGANCE A PASSPORT. Mrs. Asquith's epigrammatieal remark, in the course of her evidence in the West trial in England, tliat "extravagance is a passport to society," has been generally accepted as a compliment to London's smart set. It is, in fact, a splendid invitation to the "nouveau riche" to try to enter society by a lavish expenditure of money, and will doubtless encourage the fashionable modeste to "play down" to the tastes of those who crave for notoriety. Thus the head of an exclusive dressmaking establishment in London declares that £IOOO is by no means an unusual sum for a lady of fashion to spend on frocks in a year, and added: "As a lady cannot be expected to appear more than three or four times in a particular dress, which might cost anything from £lO to £OO, one can soon run through a thousand guineas." Then, again, the more costly a particular fur becomes the more eager is the extravagant lady to have one, and a first-class chinchilla coat may cost £ISOO, while a few twentyguinea hats do not last long. TEACHING OF COOKERY. In New York tlie girl w.ho wants to learn something of cookery can do so without any expense to herself. In one public school in each borough domestic' science is taught on four evenings a week to those who are not able to attend the day classes, and who wish either to keep up their knowledge of cookery or to learn from the very beginning. Many grades—socially .speaking—attend these classes, and in order to make them worK harmoniously trouble is taken to see that girls of approximately the same social position should make their pies and puddings together. The cooking mistress adapts tlie lessons according to the particular requirements of the different classes. A large number of the pupils at these cookery classes are brides-elect. In many cases they know practically nothing beforehand, and the classes begin with the first principles, and combine bread and cake-making, with lessons in laying a table and serving tea. coffee and cocoa. Tlie brides-elect are said- to represent the best and most enthusiastic pupils. 1