LADIES' COLUMN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 3

LADIES' COLUMN.

The following story is from Withernsea, in Holderness, and ib vouched for by persons of the highest standing in the neighbourhood as quite true in all its particulars. In 1867 there resided at AVithernsea, whether he had gone for the benefit of his health, an elderly gentleman named Gilmour, a member of a well-known city firm of merchants, and shipowners. Mr. Gilmour was in the habit of walking on the sands; and on a particular morning of that year a young lady at Withernsea was accompanying her pupils in their customary promenade, amongst whom was a young lady of the name of Duggleby, a granddaughter of Mr. Bird, of Holinpton, who, with two of her companions, was walking a short distance behind Mr. Gilmour, when his stick fell from his hand, and the accident being quickly observed by the young ladies walking behind, Miss Duggleby hastened to render assistance, and in a charming manner handed to Mr. Gilmour the recovered article. Mr. Gilmour was struck with the appearance and manners of the young lady, entered into conversation with her, asked he? name, her residence, friends, position, school, and several other matters, all of which were replied to with ease and becoming modesty, leaving on the mind of the invalid an impression that (as it proved afterwards) was not to be forgotten. Mr. Gilmour drew from his purse money, and wished the young woman to accept it for the purchase of some trinket in remembrance of the occurrence, but this Miss Duggleby declined, and, bidding adieu to the invalid, rejoined her companions. Three years have passed. Who can depict the surprise of Miss Duggleby when, at the close of the year 1870, she received a formal announcement from the executors of the will of the late Mr. Gilmour^, that the- testator had bequeathed to her the sum of £100 per annum ; that he, having a son and a daughter educating in a first-class seminary (both son and daughter being handsomely provided for in his will), the testator had further provided that Miss Deggleby should proceed to London and enter the same establishment with his own daughter, and be educated at his cost. Still further, he bequeaths to her a valuable diamond ring — all in remembrance of the kindly act on the Withernsea shore. The son and daughter endorse the wishes of their father, and as an earnest of their good feeling, send for her acceptance a gold pencil-case and a gold brooch. Miss Duggleby is requested by the executors to be prepared on the Ist of May of this year to proceed to London and join the daughter of Mr. Gilmour, to enter upon her studies. Let us hope that the future career of this young lady may be happy, and her manners always as attractive as when she stooped to aid the failing health of the Withernsea invalid. Dr. Dio Lewis, in his book, "Our Girls," says :—": — " lam astonished that a young woman who is ambitious of a clear, fine skin should drink tea. It is a great enemy to fair complexions. Wine, coffee, and cocoa may be used without tinging the skin ; but as soon as tea-drinking becomes a regular habit, the eye of the discriminating observer detects it in the skin. Tea compromises the complexion, probably by deranging the liver. Weak tea or coffee may be used occasionally, in moderate quantities, without noticeable harm ; but I advise all young women who would preserve a soft, clear skin and quiet nerves to avoid all drinks but cold water. It is an excellent plan to drink one or two glasses of cold water on lying down at night, and on rising in the morning. If you have good teeth, and can help the food into your stomach without using any fluid except the saliva, it will in the long run contribute much to your health." Quality-Ladies : The influence of a fine house, graceful furniture, good libraries, well-ordered tables, trim servants, and, above all, a position/so secure that one becomes unconso'iqus of it, gives a harmony and refinement to the character and manners which we feel, even if we cannot explain their charm. Yet we can get at the reason of it by thinking alittle. " All these applicances are to shield the sensibility from disagreeable contacts, and to soothe it by very natural and artificial influences. In this way the mind, the taste, the feelings grow delicate, just as the hands grow white and soft when saved from toil and incased in soft gloves. The whole nature becomes subdued into suavity. I confess I like the quality -ladies better than the common kind, even of literary ones.- They haven't read the last book, perhaps, bat they attend better to you when you are talking to them. If they are never learned, they make up for it in tact and elegerice. Besides, I think, on the whole^ there is less self-assertion in diamonds ttian in dogmas. I don't know where you will find a sweeter portrait of humility than ih Esther, the poor play , girPM king Ahasuerus; yet Esther put on tier royal apparel .when she v went before her loud. I have no doubt shewas a niore graciqiia and agreeable person than ©eborah. who judged the people, and wrote th« '-story of Sisera. The wisest woman you talk with is ignorant of something that you know ; but an elegant wooian never forgets her elegance.