THE LADIES

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 230, 7 February 1885, Page 14

THE LADIES

The , rumour that Miss Mackaj, the idaugliter of the Bonanza King, is to be married to the Prince Oolonna,"is authoritatively denied. She bucked at the hurdy- ■ gurdy and the monkey. I "Don't you think my beau very close?" asked Miss Brown, of Parnell, of Miss Smith, of Newmarket. " Oh, no," replied Miss S., gushingly, "he came to see me the other evening and sat at the other end of the sofa." She had been to the Blue Bibbon shivoo, and she , remarked, quite affectionately : *' ; John, I've brought home something that'll jnake your mouth water." " Will it ? " he retorted in an angry tone. " Then take it away, woman ; I don't want my mouth to ■water. It's too thin. If you can give me something to make my mouth liquor or beer, trot it out." - At 'the Newmarket Eailway (Station a younggeint. remarked to some pretty girls in the same carriage that " it was a dreadful bore to wait so long at such a dreary station." ** Yes," replied one fair rose ; "it is simply horrible when we have no one to talk with." He* "Well, that's very complimentary to me, . certainly." She: "Oh! I beg your pardon; I didn't mean to be personal. I meant it was horrible to stay here when we had no one nice to talk to !" P.S.— Eather a sharp thorn from so sweet a rose. The number of divorce cases set down for hearing in France is , exceedingly heavy. , There are two hundred original petitions, ', and no less than iive hundred and sixty petitions to transform judicial separations into divorces. At the same time, the number of demands for judicial separations has increased, because a separation for two years is in future to^ constitute a divorce ; and it can be obtained at less cost of litigation and delay. It is characteristic of the French capital that the scenes witnessed weekly on the morning when petitioners have to make their apI '* pearance, are' to be the subject of a picture for next year's Salon. Only the glitteriug sheen Of a woman's golden hair ; »v Only the dazzling radiance Of a woman's face so fair ; Only the dangerous music ■That rings in her tones so sweet, Till the minutes seeni but seconds, And the seconds all too fleet ; Only the softest pressiire Of a woman's hand so white ; As we glide through the mazy dance, That drives me crazy quite ; Only the soft compassion That beams in her beautiful eyes ; . Only ! ah, me ! — that it should beOnly a pack of lies. Sentimental parasols are in fashionable use this year. .They are to their carriers what fans are to the belles of Spain — implements, of devastation to male hearts. After a general discussion of the question at issue, ...during which i$ was abundantly set forth that inanimate articles can be employed effectively in flirtation, and- greatly to the xelief of facial expression— besides possessing , the advantage of being non-committal — the .following, code of signals and significances : were adopted unanimously: Opening the parasol quickly, with, the point upward— •You interest me. Closing in the same manner—l am not favourably Impressed by you. Opening with ■ the point downwardAcquaintance would not be disagreeable to ane. Closing similarly — Any advance wonld •■ be repelled. Closed and carried over the • '- right shoulder — Beware of observers. Closed over the left shoulder— Wo are watched. devolved slowly while open — I like you. ■devolved rapidly— l love you. Used as a cane — You may walk with me. Laid across ■ the lap— You may sit by me. Carried under 5 the right arm— Yes. Under the left arm— '■"■ISo. Swung point down in front— Kindly salutation. Moved perpendicularly while held open over the head— Good-bye. Ee- . volved open behind the back— You may follow me. . The question of what is to bp, done with our girls is exciting some concern at Home. '■ In one week more than 1400 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 years of age under.went the ordeal of a ' competitive examina- ■; tion, to fill some' 20; vacancies as telegraph ' 'learners' that! may occur during the next 12 \~,?&6?tsh I#s/fc June, it is t stated,, more than girls,,, of ages ranging .from 18 to 20, ;' competed, for.a similar number, of vacancies „n a s, ..female clerks; son that /all the depart-:)j-in,ents.;of-. th.eiPost Office in which women „„a re.,, employed are- besieged by an r army of I 1 i- applicants;; t : Another point for consideration -; is- that ,the ; girls already employed 1 as clerks .:.■: necessarily displace an almost 'equal number of young men, and thus. the matter becomes more complicated the farther we examine it. • ; 3tf6 : li doubt 'it is very excellent for English .girls to be placed in ; a' position of self--xeHancevaiidindepeiidence, j^d that they '''should ; b'e -niade '.'to .realis,e;" f s6me, of: , the ',/ responsibilities , of life • jbutis.it. quite certain ' s ttta£ op. the whole' they are , better • off' than n , i( when 'their parents, „kept, them : at home and ,„, tfeorfpugliily trained.them in, domestic duties, '■' while their brothers went, out in the ..world, found reftdy:ejnployinent, and earned endugh j. ... ■ i 'H