Although we are but half-way through September the shops present quite a winter appearance. Linens and, muslins have been packed away and their places are filled by silks and velvets, furs, and bright-hued woollen materials.
As has been the case for the past few years all fashionable garments appear to be built solely for the woman who is abnormally tall and equally slight. Imagine a short, or even a fairly tall but somewhat stout, lady, in a' pelerine bodice, a skirt held out round the hem with whalebone, and_ sleeves cut after the pattern of our old friend the leg of mutton—only with all the fullness at the wrist. One has but to add a hat of the cart-wheel type and the picture is as complete as it is unbecoming—and yet this is what we are told is la mode. Next week will witness the first production of "The Flood Tide"? at Drury Lane, and it is said that the dressing of the piece has been entrusted to Messrs. Ruscell and Allen who may be trusted to make the most of their opportunity. There is to be an upriver scene, a fashionable race day at Kempton, and of course an opportunity for the display of evening toilettes. Mrs. Tree is to be Mr. Arthur Collins's leading Society lady after the 1th one will know exactly what to wear and what to avoid. Of one thing Lam h-wever certain already, for street wear the short skirt will be almost universally seen. It is perhaps not so graceful as one which is slightly trained, but nearly everyone adopted it for country wear, and the comfort of it was too much appreciated to be easily for-then.
An Old Fashion Revived. it is about twe the "jersey Inlies' wear, Tennis 4 ble they were bought them for themselves, pulling them on over their heads in maseutine style. Tu company with the tam-o'shunter the sre-appeared. Seaside drapers quite " Inrge trade in them this year and I have also seen a few in town but they have little resemblance to the friend of by gone days. The "jersey of to-day is little else but a knitted Itussian blouse, it has turn down collar and tun back cuffs and is generally adorned with plain gilt buttons: personally think it a very second-rate looking garment, more in white accompanied' by a ter to match. Comfortable it muy be but never chic. I hear we are to see numbers of them during the coming ter as manufacturers are confident of their popularity are turning them out as quickly as possible. We shall see, but to me they only appear suitable for 4 country wear and then only in the morning.
Pigs in Clover" by Frank Danby is judged by many critics to the most clever novel of the year so far. I have only recently found time to read it but certainly to me it appears that the author a wonderful -pethaps an unusu. wonderful Keeper has proved great success she is think put the plot.
Karl Althius sees her in Capetown and immediately falls in love with her. She ready left her husband and he wishes her to join him but she declines snying that she does not love him and is happy only in her work. Sorrow. fully he leaves her and later on sends his adopted brother Louis to see her on} matter of business. The natures of the two men are totally - different. Karl! through force of circumstances adopted Louis when a boy and is consequently considerably his senior. At one time both were extremely poor; now Karl is a millionaire and shares his fortune with his brother who is extremely handsome but equally unscrupulous. Of course Louis likewise loves Joan and unfortunately she; returns his affection and consents to give! up her vocation and everything else for his sake. They yo to Englad and, when she is about to become a mother he deserts her and marries the daughter of a Cabinet Minister. Karl likewise comes to England. He is a Londoner by birth but has lived for years in South Africa knowing nothing of Joan's position or Louis' pertily. He tries to find her, because her husband has died and he wishes again to try his luck After much fruitless search he eventually discovers her in " nursing home in Islington ill and in want. Her baby hss been born but has died. Gradually he learns the truth, and again offers her marriage by means of which ko can give her a home and a brother's protection. Being too weak to see plainly all that: is entailed she consents and after a time when her strength has somewhat returned they goand live in Park Lane where he gives her everything he can think of which could give her pleasure. "Women who have Toved as she loved cannot forget and of course after a tue she sees Louis who is living in London with his wit. The two women become acquainted and Aline (Louis's wife) is much attracted by Joan, 1 has to go to Capetown on bus ud after he has gone Joan and Louis meet. She knows she loves him as ever and to escape temptation commits suicide. It is "li utterly sad and one wonders how anyone so. sweet and goo as Joan could fail to see through such a worthless person as Louis and yet one knows such thines can be and are done every day. Mrs. Frankax—F auk Danby is bat a nom de plume of " clever woman author—must have studied charact very deeply and most successfully throughout the work one always feels that everything: ight have happened just as There are men and women of all her types to be met in the world though think Karls" would he hardest to find. Piss" in Clover are of course the mill who started life as errand boys or coster mongers, T think like the title least of any thing in the book as if one takes it seriously it is distinctly ill-bred and satirically if is not. particularly clever.
President Loubet on Queen Alexandra, During the visit of France's president to our sheres he of course had an opportunity of seeing something of our Queen and he appews to have been greatly impressed with her wonderful personality, Toa interviewer from "M.A, P." he that she made him think of a Queen of old France and referring to her'm ner of wearing her clothes, he said: "We have women in France who ate probably hetter dressed, but_none who possess her supreme elegance, She is royal fom top toe.
a time of revolution were she to show herself ab a window every soldier's heart would heat the faster, each man would be willing to die' for her." Fortunate y we don't have revolutions here but it is pleasant all the sume to know that M. Loubet carried away such " happy im:
sion of our gracious Queen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.