SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 141, 26 May 1883, Page 148

SOCIETY

[Contributors sending in reports of Sails arid Parties, with names of guests and description of ' dresses, will receive remuneration at the ratepaid : to regular correspondents for matter inserted.^ . Professor Tucker lias taken Mr A. V. Mac- - donald's house in Parnell for a year. Miss Aickin, of Mount Eden, is to be married : . next week to Mr Oarrick. ■ ' 'wfcuMiss Veifcch is said to be the author of " Angus Graeme," a Scotch novel which, has just appeared anonymously. Two Bengalee girls from' the Bethune School have secured the Bachelor of Arts degree at the Calcutta University at the first attempt. Mrs D. Cruickshank entertained a select unmarried party at her residence, Reinuera, last Monday evening, and a most enjoyable evening was spent by all present. A very handsome silver tea and coffee service, • with silver salver, has been presented to Mr Blan- - chard Jerrold by a few of his political and literaryfriends, in recognition of twenty -five years of literary and journalistic services rendered by him to the Liberal party. An Indian rajah, who, having more pocket money than be knows exactly what "to do with — a paltry £16,000 a day — has ordered a musical bed, at a cost of £2,800. When bis highness lies down it commences to play operatic airs, whilst ' four figures gracefully fan him. A very amusing novelty has been introduced in Paris, the " talking " quadrille or lancers. An amusing dialogue is kept up between the dancers somewhat in harmony with the movement of the figures. Of course the words are written 1 beforehand, generally by same amateur poet, and are ' learnt by heart. A variation of the talking . quadrille is the sotiper parle. ' One of the prettiest debutantes at Her Majesty's Drawing-room was Miss Knight, daughter of the Lord Mayor. She was presented by her stepmother' the Lady Mayoress, who was in turn - presented by Mrs Gladstone. Miss Knight looked charming in a pearl white satin petticoat, a train and bodice of satin duchesse most artistically arranged with tulle, lace and clusters of flowers and pearl ornament's. Prince Leopold, only son of Prince Frederick Charles, of Prussia, now seventeen years of age, is to learn the trade of a locksmith. His smithy. is installed in one of the rooms of the town , palace, and is a miracle of completeness. One of his father's servants, himself formerly a journeyman locksmith, initiates the princely apprentice", into the mysteries of the trade, to which he takes so kindly as to be frequently seen in his blouse, hard at work, as late as 10 p.m. Most of the Paris ladies of fashion who have passed their premiere jeunesse are wearing whiAf* wigs of a very juvenille make. In many casi^Sne effect is certainly pleasing ; but it will be difficult , in future to fix the age of one's fair friends, and the fashion will probably occasion many awkward mistakes. Baby must now have its visiting-card — a revived fashion, by the way, of thirty years ago, the roots of which then failed to strike deep. The orthodox size is one and a half inches long and three quarters of an inch broad, or as nearly as possible a quarter the size of what one's stationer terms a ' gent's ' visiting card. Master or or miss is used as a prefix, and the lettering, which is very small, is from an engraved copperplate. A curious fact about Zola, who professes to work only from direct observation, is that he observes very little. In his previous works he has been helped out by the observations and notes'' made by his pupils — half-a-dozen young men headed by Paul Alexis and Ceard. This time the el eves have abandoned the master, finding thathe did not give them credit enough for their effort's.' : In reality the matter for material observation in the subject, of An Bonhenr des Dames was very limited, and of moral observation and study of character there is very little. The wonder is that the book should be so terribly long. Readers of English papers have no doubt observed that in the majority of divorce cases lately ■' decided by Sir James Hannen, the petitioners have been wive 3. This shows-pretty clearly that' English wives will no longer put up with then? husband's little gallantries. But it is a great.' shame that a man must add either cruelty or desertion to his adultery before his wife can get rid of him. If women had made the laws instead of men, no doubt adultery would have been made a capital offence — that is to say, on the part of the men. Not one women in a hundred proceeds against her adultrous husband, simply because women think twice before breaking up their homes and losing thehvpositions. If every woman who had a good case for a divorce were to petition, marriage would be of a very temporary character. In fact, it would be on something less ■ than the three years' system. A very nice party was given on the 15th inst., V at the Bridge Brook, Mangawai, by Mr and Mja - Boldero, in honour of their eldest son's twenty-^ first birthday. The visitors arrived between 2 acd 3 p.m., and amused themselves with outdoor - games until 5 p.m., then all sat down to a de- ' licous tea, which was very tastefully daid out, '■'■ after which they amused themselves with all, sorts of parlour games finishing with a dancel? The. following are the dresses most noticeable :— '■'',• Miss M. Tye, black and violet ; Miss Swinhey,' pink sateen, cream lace, and maroon easti. j< . Miss Green, wine-coloured dress, trimmings.to match ; Miss Tutin, black cashmere, very tastefully trimmed with crape and jet ornaments;' Miss Wharfe, wine-coloured dress and- fjtue j^ Miss Boldero, cream and blue; Mrs Sturchjf black; Miss M. Henderson, grey cashmere anjH maroon sash j Miss Spraggon, grey cashmere^H Miss Faithful, navy-blue; Miss L. BbWeroS brown costume cloth, trimmings to match.^^fissS Garret, pink sateen and cream s'as^f^^Mni?. Boldero, grey cashmere, black velvet Ms&pMm&--Miss Anderson* blue. '■ '•' '' ' '"' :^Pj££f %%■ [Later [Society, news , will ' be found xn : M&M' \: Mention column.] ' . '<_'■) . '' ■ , . " •' . ■■. ■' •'•'' . '^W*\,-''