LADIES' COLUMN. INDIAN SOCIAL LIFE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 226, 30 May 1872, Page 8

LADIES' COLUMN. INDIAN SOCIAL LIFE.

The following is an extract from a contribution supplied by Mrs. Bo wring to the " Eastern Experience " of her husband, Mr. L. B. Bqwring, late Chief Commissioner of Mysore and Coorg. In this style does Mrs. Bowring cleverly describe the morning calls upon a new-comer, whose husband occupies a high position — who is in fact, the real King of Mysore : — <: Scene 4. — Missus can see I and soon gets out a smart bonnet, and in bustles with a rustle Mrs. Chatterbox, who is anxious to see Mrs. Commissioner, and to have something to talk about. 'Ah, yes, she knew the house in dear old Sir — 's time. He was her father's brother's mother's first cousin, once removed. She came to Bungalum as a brido, she won't say how many years ago' &y. Having had her chat out, she departs. Enter Mrs. Alleyes all curiosity to seethe alterations. Mrs. C. feels that no great exertion is needed on her part in the conversational line. Mrs. Alleyes takes it all in. ' New carpets ? handsome !• Sofas covered ! water-colours, embroidered table-cloth' Alleyes shall write for some to-da.y. And so that is the fashion ? tassels ! nothing new in the hair line? Good-bye. ' Exit Alleyes and enter Mr. and Mrs. Pump, who let down the buckets at once. 'So sorry to hear that Mr. B is going away to H — ?' Mrs. Com- J missioner replies that she knows j nothing about it. ' When is the Rajah to be invested with the Star of India ?' Mrs. C wonders when also. ' General — will be down here soon, no doubt.' Mrs. C. thinks it very possible. Buckets drawn up empty ; and Pumps desist and depart. Enter Mrs. Smalltalk. 'Have you. heard of Mrs. Brown ? What do you think people say of poor Mrs. White, because she took Colonel-Blackbird home from the bandstand ? And as to Miss- Fickle, well, really ! I xlon't know what to say !' She then departs. Enter young Jackanapes of the ,11th with his bosom friend De Courcy Plunger. ' Haw ! dull place, Bungalum ! horrid slow place ! nothing for a fellow to do ! no balls this year ! wish they were in a jungle, rather than in a half-civilised

place like -Bungalum.' One cackles while the other brays. D. G. exeunt both. Follows Mrs. Affirmative, and then Mrs. Negative. Shut vp — two o'clock." THE COMING WOMAN. (To be read exclusively by gentlemen). BY ELIZA S. TURNER. " What will the coming woman do To plague, perplex, and interfere with us ? Will she forbid the festive chew And gay spittoon, for ages dear with us ? Will she invade, with lifted nose, Retreats where female foot ne'er went till late? Barroom cosy and court-room close, And force reluctant man to ventilate ?" Brother, and so I hear. "Will the dear haunts where manhood played At euchre bold and frisky seven-up — Haunts where so oft our reason, strayed — To conversation- teas be. given up ? Must we then all go home to dine ? And must a friend in soda pledge his mate? How shall the comjng man get wine At all. if she's allowed to legislate ?" Brother, the case looks queer. " Speak, O friend, has the woman's sphere, The soft-soap rainbow sphere we kept her hi, Burst and vanished, and left her here With the world at large to wield her sceptre in ? Is she up to our little game ? And can she bind us, in reality, Down to the precepts, much too tame, We've preached to her for pure morality?" Brother, the worst I fear. "Friend of my youth, I can no more ; - O fly with me this land iniquitous. Nay, fur I see, from shore to shore, The enfranchised female rise übiquitous. Partner in purse she'll claim to be : Locric of business she'll outwit us in : Lostfrom life is the death-latch key • And lost from earth .the whole male citizen." Brother, the end is near.