The LADIES’ WORLD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2569, 2 August 1909, Page 3

The LADIES’ WORLD

ITEMS OF SOCIAL INTEREST,

It is almost essential in these days for the wife of a politician to be a good public speaker as it is for the politician himself. Mrs. Winston Churchill, it is said, joined some debating societies after her marriage, and Lady Granard, however the accomplishment was acquired, proved herself an excellent orator at the Liberal bazaar which she opened at Muswell Tim. A becoming devotion to her husband’s party was revealed, and she- speaks in a clear voice that has just enough—the veriest shadow —of American accent to lend it piquancy. In connection with the arrest of four visitors at Geneva, said to be Englishmen or Americans, having in their possession jewellery and precious stones of great value, a remarkable story is published., It is stated that a German princess, whose name the police are anxious to keep secret, recently lost jewels valued at nearly ~-±O,OOO whilst travelling between San Romo and Lugano. The lady discovered her loss at Lugano, and the Swiss Government offered a reward for the recovery of thb jewels. The men under arrest are suspected of having been in the train in which the princess was robbed. It is .alleged that some of the precious stones found in their possession and taken from their settings correspond with jewellery missed by the princess. The Japanese Ambassador has a charming wife and daughter to take out. It is about eleven years since their Excellencies left England, after having spent some time there when Mr. Kato was Japanese Minister, and Madame speaks English quite well still, though she is somewhat out of practice. Miss Etsako Kato is 19 and an only daughter. She is most attractive-looking, full of fun, and,- like her mother, dresses charmingly in European style, though she has by no means abandoned hot - native fashions. Both mother and daughter win friends everywhere—they arc so pleasant and pleased with everything. Their ways of looking at things sometimes strikes their English acquaintances as very quaint. For instance. jewellery, however lovely in itself, does not attract them. They will ask what is the history of a. lady’s jewels, and if they hoar there is none, they will &ay: “I wonder why she wears them if (she only bought them.’’ As a child, (Juoou Williolmina had somewhat delicate health, and, so it is said, rather a difficult temper. One day her governess had to rebuke her for a sudden-outburst of rage, and told her she would never be a good queen if she could not control herself. “What rubbish!” cried the little girl, indignantly. “Just think of Queen Elizabeth of England; she was a magnificent queen, and her temper was ever so much v/orse than mine.” On another occasion the little Queen was sent by her English governess, Miss Winter, to draw a map of Europe as a punishment for some naughtiness. Her small Majesty did as she was bid, but in her own way. To_be revenged on her governess she drew Holland abnormally large and made England almost microscopic. Among the many gifts received by Queen Williolmina for her child was a very interesting one from the Duchess of Albany, her mother’s sister.' It is a baby’s enamelled hath, with apples and oranges painted round the rim by the duchess’ own hand. Sober Swedes have been quite chocked lately by the “un-lieard-of gorgeousness” of_their King and the gentlemen of his Court at a recent ball at the Castle of Stockholm. The unheard-of georgeousness consisted in the wearing of colored dress coats; but had they appeared in war paint and feathers they could hardly have caused more astonishment and disapproval. The newspaper corresponding to our “Times” actually wont so far as to describe the colored dress-coats as “a lure of the Prince of Darkness!” Why should funereal black be the orthodox evening wear of wellbred "men ? It is certainly not picturesque. and it often causes embarrassing mistakes, guests being mistaken for waiters, and vice versa. Quite apart from the aesthetic considerations, it is desirable that a change should be made; but although the wearing of colored evening suits has often been advocated in England, it has been left to Swedes to put the idea into practice. Now that the fashion has been inaugurated, it is to be hoped that it may be found worthy to live and flourish, even in puritanical Sweden. The release from the fortress of Peter and P'aul of General Stossel brings to another stage the tragic life of one of the most conspicuous figures in the Russo-Japanese war. Stossel entered the fortress a hale, stalwart, and healthy soldier : Jie lias emerged’ a broken-down old man. Thirty years ago Stossel was a lieutenant in the 2nd Rostoff Grenadiers. His indifference to dress and card parties made him somewhat unpopular, which on occasion materialised by the tarring of his uniforms by a certain officer. Stossel did not wait long for vengeance. The next night- he entered the officer’s quarters and took away all his uniforms, giving them away to an old-clothes man. In ’despair the unfortunate officer came to him to beg his clothes back, but Stossel, attired in a brand new uniform, met him at the door, and handed him his own tarred garments, saying that they would he better than nothing, and the' Grand Duke Alexander would inspect the regiment at ten o’clock. Thus arrayed, the officer appeared on parade ground, where he was soundly rated by the angry Grand Duke, and' sentenced to five days’ imprisonment.

A LADY CHAMPION

Even in these days, when woman’s place in sport is a recognised condition of affairs, it is not often that one comes across a, woman who excels as all-round champion of sports,, like Miss Lottie Dodd, who during her teens came out as a champion tennis player, winning the All England Ladies’ Championship Singles, repeating her success on four occasions. Turning her skill in games towards playing hockey, Miss Dodd was selected to play for England in two international matches. She next began to win her reputation*as the best woman skater at St. Moritz, where, she not only passed with honors the tests for ladies, but the more difficult tests for men. To these triumphs Miss .Dod has added more than the /usual proficiency at billiard-playing, while she earn'd off winner of the second prize for archery at the recent Olympic games. Moreover, she is, a Ballminton champion, and Excels in golf and Alpine climbing, so establishing a record it ,would be difficult, if not impossible, for any other woman to* beat.