WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 116, 2 October 1912, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by ''Eileen.") NOTES FROM LONDON —— "'IP CATCII OF THE SEASON. "

ANGLESEY'S CHOICE UNPOPULAR

Lady Marjorie Manners' betrothal to the Marquis of Anglesey is vivaciously chatted about in London society as Lady Marjorie's "very clever stroke of business." The Marquis has settled on her £25,000 a year. He proposed and was accepted at the "Hundred Years Ago" ball.

Lady 'Marjorie left to visit the Crown Princess of Sweden (who, ,as Princess Margaret of Connaught, was a elmm and just about her age). The Marquis followed on his steam yacht, taking the Earl of Shrewsbury along.

The chagrin of the most gfominent debutantes at Lady Marjorie's "capture" of "the catch of the aristocracy" was strikingly shown at the rehearsed of I the Elizabethan tournament. A whole row of them were together, full of fun, laughing and joking at everything, and when in the middle of the performance the Duchess of Rutland and Lady Mar-; jorie walked in, there was a sudden, absolute silence among the "buds." Lady Marjorie passed within five feet and all regarded her with a stony stare, while she looked intensely pleased with herself. A few matrons congratulated her, but none of the girls, who had to endure the sight of Queen Alexandra sending specially for her and kissing her in congratulation. For three years it was common talk that Anglesey found favor in the sight of Princess Patricia of Connaught. At the same time the attentions of her brother, Prince Arthur of Connaught, to Lady Marjorie caused repeated rumors of their imminent betrothal. But royal exigencies intervened, and for the last two years Prince Arthur has been rarely seen with any of the Manners girls. Lord Anglesey, who is 27 years old, has been the quarry of every aristocratic match-making mother ever since he inherited his eccentric cousin's titles and fortune ill 1005. The Duchess of Port: land, who is more exclusive than royalty even, condescended to cultivate him for her daughter, Lady Victoria Bentinck, 'and there is much grim amusement *t the chagrin of the "super-Duchess" on finding that the Duchess of Rutland — whose tastes are Bohemian, whose manners are easy-going and whose closest friend is Lady Tree, wife of Sir Herbert ( Tree —has made the catch of the season ' for her daughter, who will be 29 in December.

the Countess of Dudley also had an appropriating eye upon Lord Anglesey for lier eldest daughter, but all these schemes have been rudely shattered. The three daughters of the Duke of Rutland are the best known to the public of any titled family, and 110 week passes that they are not photographed for the illustrated papers. Simultaneously with the announcement of the engagement, a photograph has been published showing the three girls in a group at Mrs. West's Venetian masque, in which Lady Diana is posing in the attitude of a* ballerina with a high kick, while Count Potoki is bending down pressing his hat against Lady Marjorie'a skirt, as if to prevent her from imitating her sister's example. The sceme U altogether suggestive of the Moulin

Rouge. Lady Diana Manners is the most beau-tiful-looking creature of the whole set, and if Anglesey had fallen in love with her it would have been more intelligible, for Lady Marj one is rather plain in appearance, although very talented and amusing in an unconventional WEiy. Lord Anglesey is a good-looking fellow, quite unspoiled by fortune, lives very modestly, devoting himself to sport, trarelling, and the theatre. He bought Anthony Drexel's yacht Margarita two years ago, re-named her Semiramis, and spends some time every year in cruising. Last year he chartered the vessel to Mrs. William Leeds.

The Marquis' health is not robust, and though he entered Sandhurst and prepared for a military career he has not followed that profession. He has visited America several times for hunting purposes. Lord Anglesey's present income is £IOO,OOO a year, and when his estates are freed from the liabilities left by his predecessor he will have more than £250,000 annually. Lady Alexander Paget, his mother, strongly disapproves of his choice, thinking he might have made a much better match.

A WISE SCHOOLMISTRESS. There is a very interesting paragraph in the Gentlewoman, describing the methods adopted by the headmistress of one of the most successful girls' high schools near London. All the girls arc taught to cook and be useful in the house, as well as to go in for all kinds of games and sports, including swimming, fencing and hockey. The type of girl this headmistress aims at is one who will make before everything a good wife, but who also will be able to stand on her own feet and earn her living if a, suitable husband does not come along. Above everything, this headmistress detested the hard, "mannish,j" superior type of girl; and with this an increasing number of parents will heartily agree. A QUEEN'S TELEPHONE.

King Alfonso's consort, Queen Vietoria of Spain, known formerly as Princess Ena, is the possessor of the most costly and artistic telephone apparatus in the world. She has been presented by the National Telephone Company with a handsome set of instruments, which occupies a business-like position on her desk. The silver base is in the rococo style, with Hercules pillars, on which rest a bow and a cupid at each end holding up the receiver. The Eoyal coats of arms of Great Britain and Spain figure large in the design, and beneath the receiver are raised models of a Spaniard and an English girl telephoning to each other. The man is leaning 011 the Spanish arms, and the girl is resting 011 the British lion.

WHERE WOMEN DRESS AS MEN. Women in France, as, in fact, is the case in many other countries, are not allowed to wear male attire. A law prohibits it, but on certain occasions, says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, even the law has its exceptions. Madame Dieulafoy, the wife of a well-known Parisian, is the only woman who has the right to wear the clothes of the sterner sex. But to do this she had to obtain a special authorisation to that effect from the Prefect of Police. Someone has had the curiosity to enquire at the Prefecture on what grounds such permission .can be given. The police officials were very reticent on the point, but they admitted at last that there was only one reason which was uniformly valid, and that was if the woman had a beard. Any application stating that the applicant wishes to wear male attire because she is troubled with a beard is at once granted. "But when was the last application of this kind made?" the official who gave the information was asked. "Xot in my lifetime," was the answer. "But the rule holds still. It is one of the regulations of the Prefecture. Any

woman who can grow a beard has «. right to wear the culotte." Ifc seem* that the regulation dates back to the Reign of Terror.