household.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1624, 30 November 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

household.

WIVES OP FAMOUS MEN.^ „ > Recent books of biography, notably \\Car-: lyle's Beminiscences" and tho " Memoirs ,of Mmo. De Bemusat," have afforded a fruitful topic of conversation in the relations of women to famous men. In the case oflCarlyle, it is hardly possible to withhold some amazement in reading his remarks about his wife. John Stuart Mill spoke of his wife with a similar admiration, only to be compared with the exaltation of spirit in which fond parents sometimes speak of their children. Mr. Yates intimates that Carlyle lacked some of the domestic graces, and this theory partly explains the " Beminiscences," so far as they deal with Mrs. Carlyle. But neither Mill nor Carlyle seem to have reasoned much about what they were saying. They had a similar experience, and, by a common mistake, they magnified the object of their affections beyond reason. They seem to have thought their wives women of genius, because they themselves — men of genius — fell in love with them. They never outgrew this subjective stage of affection. In the case of Carlyle, it was felt with the greatest intensity after the death of its object. It is remarkable that Goethe, who knew women so well, is happiest in describing the sentiments and actions of young women, such as Margaret, Claerchen, Iphigenia, and Dorothea, while his practical relations to women were, to say the least, more curious than admirable. He possessed, in a rare degree, the talent of winning the affection of girls— although Charlotte Buff, the most spirited girl whom he ever wooed, resisted him steadily, and gave her heart deliberately to his rival. Perhaps Goethe illustrates better than any other writer the fact that literature deals rarely with the love of matured men and women for each other. It describes youthful affection in most all its phases; frequently it alludes to matured love as a reality; but what author describes a love which begins at twenty, retains all its cavly charm, at the same time becomes calm, and deep, and saturated with reason, and reaches its golden heights at forty and fifty? Yet such an experience is, fortunately, not excessively rare, and the ripened love of forty means just so much more than love's first blush as the beauty of a matured woman is superior to that of a girl, however pretty. The difference between a violet and a perfect orange holds good throughout the economy of nature and human reason, as well as human sentiment. The malioe of Mme. de Bemusat — or was she unconscious of what she did ? — tells us with astounding detail of Napoleon's relations with women. He began with indifferent, women, then addressed himself to the daughters of noblemen, and finally married an Austrian Princess. This alone shows how superficially the great commander judged the soul of women. Deeply engrossed in his military and political enterprises, not bred to friendship to men, he looked upon women as if they were simply human animals, to be judged by the economic and social services which they could render. Hence he hated them when they had what most fine women have— self-possession«and a spirited tongue. After describing one of his preposterous adventures, De Eemusat justly exclaims : "Bon Dicu! Quclle facon iV aimer T Napoleon tried to conquer women precisely as he attacked a battery. What wasthe effect? Consternation, confusion, indignities. Many women would have admired and loved just such a man as Napoleon was, with all his glaring faults, but the very homage with which they received him was destroyed, root and branch, by his insolence, his gaucheric, his everlasting suspicions, his impertinence, and his -jruelty. He may have appreciated the nicety of affection ; he never understood its slow growth, while Schiller's first love-let-letter expresses the exquisite hope that the sentiment which he has experienced and excited might be permitted to grow — as the grain grows in the fields. What are the noblest gifts which noble women can bestow on men ? Lord Beaconsfield declared, that all his successess gave him full satisfaction, only in so far as he could lay his laurels at the feet of his wife. Women themselves are rarely aware of the supreme charms they exert, not only upon the imagintion and sentiment of men, but also upon their intellectual talents and their reason. Schelling, perhaps the most inspired writer in the whole literature of Germany, began to write when he saw his wife ; when she died, he ceased to be an author. The profundity and the marvellous depth of a woman's affection are notorious. A father can cast away bis daughter, a mother is forever the safe refuge of a graceless son. Ycfc almost all great men have tried to reach the very extreme of love, which they had tried to excite, by allowing perhaps a brief month for that growth which-Nature has prudently and beneficently distributed over decades and the better part of a lifetime. A (famous rhyme says of the passionate and uncertain lover that— Either he fears his fate too much, Or his desert is small, Who dares not put it to the touch To win or lose it all. Win or lose what ? Is the one word " yes " all ? Idle dream 1 How many an altar has witnessed what was thought a religions " yes," and within a few months nature herself revolted at the aberration of human rashness. And does nature make mistakes ? The finest examples of affection that began slowly, but grew for fifty years, proceeding from unconscious sentiment, through deep passion, fiery ordeals if need be, and honest reason to fine maturity and Nature's perfection — these examples are not found in literature, however fine, but in the silent homes of Christendom, wherever men and women can obey nature, and, at the same time remain loyal to the State, dutiful to society and the servants of high interests which endure. Life is, after all, fairer and finer than literature is. But the finest examples of human happiness are not in the famous novels, nor in recorded history, but those who lead an inner life as well as a visible existence. Luck? There is such a thing ; but no one can afford to wait or search for it, while all the noblest and enduring interests of life involve the activity of a lifetime. Is a fleeting passion love ? The youth protests it is. When his little heart burns, he thinks" the world is on fire. But where is the fuel to keep his very small fire going? That which is expected to last fifty years requires a strong foundation, constant vigilance, no small amount of labour ; and that which is desired to live forever must rest upon everlasting foundations.

Ladies select with care the colour of the lining of their parasols, so as to form an eff ectivef ective background when the fair one lays it "carelessly" over her shoulder. A correspondent of Progress, who has delved into the [ mysteries of the subject, writeß that if chosen wisely the lining brings out all the points, not only of the complexion, 1 but of the hair and eyes. Brunettes are best suited with a shrimp (sic) pink, and blondes with a Nile green. Much thought is required to decide which colop will do always — when the lady is flushed, when she is pale, etc. All sorts of odd' handles are used for parasols. They are of cherry, ash, or twisted willo\jr, in simple crutch or straight-cut fashion. Those of whangeewood coiled,, to form true loveknots. Some have a champagne cork for a tip. There are unique boxfwood i handles, that have knobs formed, of the- nana-ifoot ,in 'itsitfatural'ehape.''A large/ribbon-bow must, ,be fastened to all handles jusj;\b t o^e where "the 'tiiand grasps 4jhe Btick. ' - " V; „ ' ' ' "*"", . V''

men that these poor* girls imagine they can attract by this ugly masquerade ?"

Sponge underclothing is the very latest, BOtoe Gennarrgehiuß having recently invented and (patented *a line of underwear manufactured from this porous' substance. Ik' is r}O\v claimed, that'ii can], be more easily cleansed v thah woollen goodsyand, being more flexible, does not chafe the skin so much. It is a bad conductor, and tends to keep the temperature uniform. One who wears this underclothing is not liable to take cold, for it absorbs the perspiration without checking it." After the mineral and vegetable impurities in the sponges have been sufficiently beaten by a heavy hammer to admit of being readily washed 'out, the sponges are dried and pared with a sharp knife. These parings are then sewed together. The fabric is prepared without the use of the poisonous dyes, which, as incorporated in cloth underclothing, sometimes prove very deleterious to the system.