WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 66, 8 September 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). WOMEN'S DUEL WITH KNIVES. i:KMARKAI!LI<: SCKXES IX ROME. AX OLD QUARREL Hardy lias such an exciting duel been {ought us that which took place between two young women of the criminal classes at the entrance to the Villa liorghese, a short distance from the palace of Queen Margherita. The principals in this extraordinary combat were Angelina Fabiani and Pasqualma Xobili, respectively '2O and 24 years of age, both natives of the Abruzzi, and they were assisted in the duel bv nine men, three on one side and six on the other. The quarrel began as far back <a,s May, 1!)10, when Fabiani, having "stolen" Xobili'.s lover, the latter revenged herself by stabbing her rival. Xobili went to prison, and as soon as she was released she -swere to get even with Fabiani, chiefly because, contrary to the custom among criminals, she had revealed the name of her assailant. She came out of prison- on duly 12, and immediately began her search for Fabiani. Her industry was rewarded when she met Fabiani and her lover in the Piazza Colonna. Compliments were exchanged, and in the end Fabiani's lover struck Xobili, who thereupon challenged her rival to a "rustic duel." The challenge was accepted, and the duel was fixed to take place at nine o'clock in the evening at the entrance to the Villa Bor- . ghese. At the appointed hour the combatants and their respective "suit4s" were on the spot. They .faced each other for a moment, holding long knives in their hands. A particularly gross insult from Fabiani stung Xobili to fury, and boundling forward like a tigress she plunged her knife up to the handle in Fabiani's i abdomen. In spite of the terrible wound this inflicted, Fabiani continued the battle, and the two women slashed blindly at each other.

'Meanwhile the seconds or supporters of the two infuriated women were becoming anxious to take part in the battle. This friends of Xobili were with knives; those of Fabiani with cudgels. Soon the cudgels were whirling in the air, dealing blows on backs, arms, and legs, 'while the men with the knives sought in vain to get to close quarters with their opponents. Xobili clenched with Fabiani and bit her severely in the right wrist. Then her cavaliers, finding that they could not overcome their adversaries' cudgels, gave up the contest and rushed oil' along the Via Vineto. Fabiani's supporters gave chase. While all Ibis was happening not a policeman had appeared in sight. While Xobili was washing her face at a neighboring fountain two agents came up and arrested her, as well as her supporters, who had returned. Fabiani was taken in

a desperate condition to the hospital, where at first she refused to say how she had come by her terrible wounds. But finally the whole of the drama came to light, and Fabiani's supporters were also arrested.

WOMAN SPY. SOLDIER LOVER'S DISCOVERY. SEARCHES lIER BOXES. Investigations by one of her admirers have resulted in the arrest in Austria of a beautiful young woman, who is alleged to have acted as a spy in the service of the Russian Government.

A few months ago Fraulein Trombecka, who is the daughter of'a Russian engineer, arrived at Przemsl, a garrison town in Austrian Poland, describing herself as a teacher at the hotel where she was staying. It was noticed that she made no great- effort to secure work, although she had Mime pupils, including several officers, who took lessons in languages. The new teacher's great beauty and vivacity soon made a great impression in the dull garrison town, and the fact that Fraulein Trombec.ka moved into a. luxuriously furnished ilat met with but little comment. It was known that her friends consisted almost entirely of officers, and she was frequently seen walking with one or other of them in the neighborhood of the fortifications. A young lieutenant, however, became suspicious at her great interest in military affairs, and although he was in love with her decided to keep watch. One afternoon he called at her flat, and 011 hearing that she was out told the maid that he would wait a while.

A thorough search in Fraulein Trombccka's room led to his discovery ot a whole mass of incriminating evidence. In the folds of linen and in the lining of her dresses he found plans of for-tre.-ses. road maps o (lie neighborhood, and military plans, lie carefully replaced every garment, and, telling the ma.id that he could not wait any longer, hastened to inform the military authorities of his discovery. Fraulein Trom beck,i was arrested oil her return, and once in prison made no attempt to deny the charge, admitting that she wa-. a spy employed by the military authorities at Warsaw, in Russian Poland.

EATEtf BY ALLIGATORS. YOUNG WIFE RESCUED FROM HUSBAND'S FATE. The tragic experience of a young English bride, whose husband was eaten by alligators ill the flanges, was related at Plymouth when the P. anil O. liner Malwa arrived from India. Among the passengers was Mrs, Livesav. who was married three months ago at Oawnpore. where her husband was stationed. A month ago she had arranged to leave for Cardiff to see some friends, anil a picnic was arranged a farewell gathering. Mrs. and Mrs. Lives<ay. with several others, started down the Ganges in a double-decked boat to reach the. scene of the picnic by water. The weather was beautifully fine, and the party was in the happiest of moods. Xear the landing place ail accident occurred, the boat suddenly turning turtle, and the occupants being tlirowu into the water. A terrifying scene ensued, as at this spot the river is infested with alligators. Within a few moments the animals were plunging among the si niggling men and women, several of whom disappeared. Mrs. 1 Livesay was rescued by a colleague of her husband's, Mr. J. R. Scott, but Mr. Livesay and three others were not seen again, and were, it is presumed, eaten by the alligators. Mr. Livesay, who was a merchant and a native of London, was 20 years of age. His widow is a year or two younger. DOOM OF THE STAGE LOVES. MOXKV REPLACING ROMANCE AS .MOTIVE OF DRAMA. Cupid will have cause to weep during the coming autumn theatrical season. The little god of love, hitherto so powerful a factor on the stage, it seems will he eclipsed. Mammon is to oust him from his fiivwril position in the drama. Coming p'avs will be more and more about The impassioned love scenes, the fond moncv and less and less about love.

embraces, the proposals on bended knee —these will, in the future, be seen very little on the stage. j Sutl), at least, is tlio prediction of a '■ Loudon 'theatrical manager who knows something alwut the coming programme of new plays to be produced in London. The tendency of modern plays is much as was prophesied by Mr. Charles Krohman some months ago. .Mr. Frohinan .then said: —

Old-time plays are passing away. In the main the love story will disappear. From now onward we shall have plays dealing with brotherly love, plays with a sense of responsibility to the race." 'This is just what is happening at the present day," he said. "As one be' hind the scenes, I can foretell a great change in the stage play of the future. "Kxcept with lower-class drama th>! 'palpitating' love interest will die out. There will be very little melodrama except in a restrained, cold sort of way.

"Soon the most dramatic moment in this class of play will when the villain or the hero silently stalks out of a room and shims the door! "Mr. Charles Frohman overlooked one important thing in his prophecy—the dramatic possibilities of money and the growing hold it is obtaining in the imagination of playgoers.

''Money, money, money! The millionaire is gradually ousting the g6ntle, languishing heroine. Ways after the style

of 'Brewster's Millions' are becoming more and more popular." MONEY REPLACES LOVE.

"Money, success, politics—these are the keynote of the coming play, and it must be remembered that the fashions of the theatre follow the fashions of real life—they do not lead them.

'•Modern men and women are becoming harder, more practical, more cynical

"And, as everybody knows, the wise theatre manager must eater for the taste of the public. It is the people who are changing the style of the modem play, not the playwright." An actor-manager expressed the opinion that tlie phase may be but a temporary one,

"The undoubted tendency at the present time to "cut" love scenes from plays is one which, in my opinion, will not, last," lie said. "Plays in which an old man is the hero will lie seen in London within the next few months.

'The old man in such plays acts as a sort of good fairy to young, inexperienced people. . lie never makes love, but acts in a grandfatherly sort of way to eyervboily. His mission, maybe, is to teach the audience something to make the self-conceited, self-centred young men and women think."

AUTOMATIC HOUSEKEEPING. The Sydney Morning Herald thus describes automatic housekeeping:—To begin with the cooking. First, all dishes are cooked in aluminium vessels on a gas stove for a few minutes, then popped into an oak chest packed with insulating material and lined with steel, where they remain till dinner-time, when they are quite cooked in their own juices. No attention is needed once the food is in the chest, and toughness is an impossibility. l'lates and dishes are also kept in this box, which is simply a modernised version of an old Swedish idea. In .Sweden a newly-married couple invariably receive among their presents a large wooden box lined with felt, and closely packed with hr-y. Food made very hot and then placed quickly in the box and covered with more felt and hay will retain its heat for about six hours, and meantime cook to perfection. To return to the automaton of my English friend. Breakfast is cooked on the table, and cooking devices adorn the sideboard. Among them is an eggsteamer, a ehafing.disli, a coffee percolate!'. and an electric radiator for making toast. Rooms are swept and dusted by an electrically-worked vacuum cleaner, and floors are washed by the aid of a self-wringing mop. Dishes are washed and dried by machinery. In a large cupboard is an automatic gas hot-water heater, from the tank of which small pipes extend and circle 'round the walls and meet again in two large pipes, one of which carries oil' the water to the kitchen sink, the other to the l>athroom. Each morning the gas burners are lighted under the tank. After about ten minutes the water becomes heated, then the burners lower themselves autoI matically to mere pin-points of llame. When the tank is emptied it refills itself witfi cold water, and the burners come up again of their own accord and heat the water once more. A porcelain anthracite stove heats the sitting-room in winter, It makes no dust, and only requires stoking every twenty-four hours.