WOMAN'S WORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 335, 23 June 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD.

(Conducted by "Eileen")

NEW ZEALAND GIRL BECOMES A COUNTESS ROYAL (iIFTS. London, April 28. New Zealand has given a distinguish-ed-looking daughter to English society in the person of the new Countess of Hardwicke, who was Miss Nellie Russell (daughter of the late Mr. Jaines Russell, of Auckland, and of Mrs. Kussell, of Langton House. Palace (kite), whose wedding to the Karl of Hardwicke took place yesterday afternoon at St; Peter's, Eaton-square, one of London's most fashionable churches. It is a dramatic fact to announce, but the marriage was solemnised within only a couple of minutes of the time limit—since the words, "I pronounce that they be man and wife," were said at two minutes to three, and after three o'clock no marriage may be celebrated in the Anglican Church. The delay was occasioned by the late arrival of the bride, so that the opening "sentences of the service—conducted by Prebendary Storrs, vicar of the church, and the Rev. Campbell Yorke, cousin of the bridegroom —were not said until 2.50. The young New Zealander made an extraordinarily handsome bride, as all those who knew her in Auckland will realise. She is considerably above overage height (in iact, is several indies taller than her husband), fair and slim, and in her lovely wedding gown of white and silver and old lace, and witn a great sheaf of white lilies and ferns in her arms, she made a stately picture indeed. THE SERVICE

was fully choral, and the bridal party were preceded down the- aisle by a band of choristers, the first, of which held an elaborate cross of gold, mother of pearl,] and precious -stones. The bride's gown; was of ivory satin charmeuse over a petticoat of silver brocade, and with a long, square court train of rich satin, which was bordered with wide bands of silver embroidery, Brussels lace, and a large true lovers' knot in silver. She; wore a wreath of orange blossoms with her Brussels lace veil, and her only ornament was a diamond and pearl necklace given to her by her mother. Three bridesmaids only were in attendance, .and these were Miss Sydney Russell (sister), Miss Sylvia Morris (cousin)',and Miss Rosamund Attwood, daughter of Lady Tulloch, in dresses of chalk white chiffon, trimmed with lace over white satin, and stiff flat bow shashes; their large hats, black tegal straw, l>eing trimmed with clusters of crimson rambler roses. Each carried a black wand on whioh a large cluster of crimson carnations was itied with crimson velvet, on the ends of which were raised little wreaths of white heather for luck. They wore jabot brooches of aqua-marine, presents from the bridegroom. The Earl of Hardwicke was attended by his brother, the Hon. Bernard Yorke, who acted as be--', man, and the bride wag given awiy by her mother. The service opened with the hymn, ,"0 Father all creating," and after the marriage and psalm Stainer's Sevenfold Amen was sung, then an address given by the officiating clergyman. After the address came the hymn, perfect love," followed by the Benediction and the hymn, "May the Grace of Christ our Saviour." While the registers were being signed the anthem "Love Divine, all love excelling," was exquisitely rendered by the choir. Among those present at t-ke church were—The Dowager Countess of Hardwicke, in black satin and old lace, with a Wack toque trimmed with black and white ostrich plumes; Lord and Lady Ravensworth, the Dowager Lady Loch, Lord and Lady Biddulph and the Hon. Violet Biddulph, the Dowager Lady Ellenborough, Lady Ellenborough, Lady Agneta Montague, Lord and Lady Abinger, Lady Eardley-Wilmot and the Misses Eardley-Wilmot, Sir Alexander and Lady Tulloch, Colonel and Mrs. Arthur Yorke, Lady McFarlane, Lady Seymour, Sir Ernest and Lady Northcote, the Hon. John Biddulph, the Hon. Alfred and Mrs. Yorke, Lady Robinson. Sirs. Cosmo Bevan, the Hon. Mrs. Mallet, the Hon. Mrs. Eliot Yorke, Mrs. Patrick de Bathe, the Hon. Sir William Barrington, the Hon. Mrs. Yorke Bevan, Mr. Be van and Mr. Cosmo Bevan, Miss Russell, the Hon. Claude Yorke, Lady Markham, Lmma Lady Tenterden, Captain and Mrs. .lolm Boyd-Oarpenter, the Hon. Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. Baden-Powell, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Nathan (Ndw Zealand), etc. After t.ie conclusion of the ceremony an informal reception was held by Mrs. Russell at Langton House, Lord and Lady Hardwicke leaving, later, for Hamble Cliff, Southampton, which the Hon. Mrs. Eliot Yorke has lent for the honeymoon. The bride's going away costume was of cream charmeuse de soie, trimmed with lace and with an Empire blue belt. Over this she wore a coat of white satin, witu ) cuffs, hem and wide collar of skunk. Her J hat of 'black tegal straw was ornamented with two large blue feathers. THE PRESENTS. ■ Several hundred beautiful gifts were showered on the bride ami bridegroom, the most important being the following: From Princess Louise, Ducliess of Argyll (to the bridegroom), an antique 'bureau, some table china, a cupboard and bookshelf ; from the bridegroom to the bride, a diamond necklace, a pair of pearl drop •ear-rings, a sapphire and diamond ring, and a sapphire and turquoise ring; from the bride to the bridegroom, <a silverfitted dressing-case; Mrs. Russell, a dia--1 mond necklace, with hanging pearl drops; the Countess of Hardwicke, a-i 1 pearl and diamond tiara; Laura Countess ' of Wilton, a diamond brooch; Miss Sydney Russell, a pearl and sapphire ring; •| Lady Ravensworth, a diamond and sap--1 phire pendant; Lieutenant Neville White, 1 R.N., a bracelet; the Hon. Mrs. Eliot 1 Yorke, ruby and diamond pendant; the Hon. Bernard Yorke, diamond and pearl . stiuls; Sir Charles and Lady Rivers Wil- . son, two gold baskets; Miss Russell, sil- [ ver tea-kettles; Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Browning, a pair of gold bowls; Lord . and Lady Ellonsborough, silver toast rack: Lord and Lady de Rothschild, a pair of silver centre-pieces; the Hon. Lionel de Rothschild and Mr. Leopold de I Rothschild, cheques; Mr. and Mrs. Mit- j ' chison, a diamond and emerald plaque 1 and diamond chain; the Earl and! I Countess of Ranfnrly, a knife-box; r. j

Battersea, a pair of screens; Major the Hon. E. St. Aubyn, a pair of gold, spoons; Mrs. John Gordon, an emerald and gold clock; the Hon. Mrs. Walrond, leather handbag; Lady Biddulph, of Ledway (aunt of bridegroom), a gold-mounted dressing-case; and iiirs. jvorillard, a gold cup. • GIFTS OP HEIRLOOMS.

Many of the relatives, it was noticed, were m mourning or halfmourning for the Hon. Alexander Yorke, C.V.0., uncle of the bridegroom, who died last month, and whose will, just proved, may be interesting to New Zealanders, as it will now affect the newfymade Countess. After directing that souvenirs of him "of a substantial and valuable character" should be given, free ox duty, to numerous persons, including the Duchess of Albany, Princess Christian, Princess Louise Augusta (Schleswig Holstein), Princess Beatrice, Prince Alexander* of Teck, Prince Alexander of Battenberg, the Banee of Sarawak, Sir Fleetwood Edwards, Sir Arthur Bigge, Gladys Countess de (Irey, Lady vSusan VorKe, 'and other friends of mine whom they (his executors) think cared for me sufficiently to lvave some keepsake," to the Baroliess Adelaide de Rothschild, of 11 Hue Berryer, Paris, <- as a souvenir of love an devotion," the silver box bequeathed to-him by his mother, with the Judgment of Paris engraved on the lid, Mr. Yorke, who was one of the most popular memi>ers of the Royal Household, gave instructions that "all souvenirs of Queen Victoria (to whom he was groom-in-waiting), such as letters, prints, photographs, and . other articles are to devolve as heirlooms with the HardwicKe Earldom, for in days to come they will have £ome interest for the family.-'

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S INFLUENCE.

The Lady has an article on "Women's j Influence in New Zealand," signed by' "E.-8.M." The writer says: "The women of New Zealand are now, after a long struggle, in the happy position of having acquired a definite and important share in the active life of their country. From the first they had the help and co-operation of leading men, who considered that the work and intelligence <jf women were most valuable, and though there was much opposition to 1 feminine claims for a wider life, it was J eventually overcome, and women were I admitted by degrees into the political and intellectual spheres. Their influence I in this part of our Empire is probably 1 more direct and iar-reaching than any- ' where else. The ,\ew Zealand Parliament was the first in the world to recognise the political equality of men and women, and in 1S!)3 women were granted the right to vote at all elections for member- of the House of Representatives, the qualifications being the same for both sexes. Women may not, however, be elected as members of the House of Representatives. The University of New Zealand can also claim the glory of being the first within the British Empire to grant women degrees. The result of these measures has been a widening and deepening of women's influence in all spheres of life. New tasks and wider duties claim the time which many women in other countries devote to amusement. That these responsibilities have not lessened women's love for the home is proved by the fact that the marriage rate is higher in New Zealand than in any European country except Hungary; while the infant mortality is the lowest in the world, and strenuous efforts are being made by women's societies to reduce it still" further. In a shoi t article it is impossible to enumerate all the ways in which New Zealand women show their patriotism and keen sense of Imperial needs. Their devotion at the time of the Boer war will low remain in the minds of us all. A inent is making itself felt throughout the country for the greater efficiency of the defence forces of the Dominion, and meetings of women have been held for the purpose of emphasising the necessity of steps being taken to form a thorough system of land defence for the country, and to support the preponderance of British naval power. They have also a League for the Promotion'of the Trade of the Dominion, whose members pledge themselves to buy only homemade goods Several political societies have been formed to supply correct information on subjects which come up for discussion at elections, and one of the moving spirits in this direction has been Lady Stout, who has done so much towards fostering publie spirit and enthusiasm for Imperial questions among, the women of New Zealand. The Society for the Protection of Women and Children, of which Lady Islington is president, is so highly thought of that the Government pays it the compliment of consulting its committee when any questions dealing specially with women's interests come before Parliament, and its advice is generally acted upon."