SEEING LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 247, 19 October 1939, Page 12

SEEING LONDON.

Raid Refuges In

Many Large Stores,

(By JOAN LITTLEFIELD.)

Some London stores are closed, but others are carrying on bravely in the hope that even women in uniform will want to wear pretty clothes sometimes, and that when men from the Front begin to come home on leave it is up to their womenfolk to look their best for them.

Each store has an air raid refuge. One, in Bond Street, has installed an "entertainment squad" in its shelter, who are in charge of games, books, gramophone records and other devices for amusing "guests." Gas and electric stoves are installed, and there is a cupboard filled with tea, cocoa, butter, coffee, biscuits, tongues in glass and cases of mineral water, on the principle that there is nothing like food for soothing troubled nerves. nursing squad is in charge of the first-aid equipment, and workers and customers in all departments can be simultaneously instructed by radio telephone to go to the shelter. Decorating Gas Masks. One of the first war problems of the well-dressed 4oman waa how best to carry her gas mask. The Queen has hers in a business-like khaki knapsack, whidli she slings over her shoulder, but several people, including Mrs. Kennedy, wife of the American Ambassador, and Lady As tor, have theirs in black velvet cases, with straps and piping of green or red. On top of the ease is a pocket with sections for a purse, lipstick, compact and ordinary handbag. Though many men and women are still carrying their mask* in the cardboard containers supplied' by the Government, I have seen them in haversacks, rucksacks, camera cases and gaily coloured shopping bags. One store is supplying neat cylindrical cases of cardboard, which can be colored with material to match or contrast with one'.s coat or suit. v New Make-up.

Paris has, of course, devised a makeup which allows a woman to look her best even under the strong blue A.R.P. lights. The rouge «tnd lipstick are a purplish red and powder and nail varnish have been evolved to match.

Furs are dyed in the moat extraordinary shades, ermine, for example, in jade green, orange-pink and the maroassite ermine that shades from grey to black. Short coats ere made of these erminea, witile a smart lining Is pale blue rabbit. There are coloured sequins on fehort fur capes and large handbags made of far are slung over the shoulder on long straps. Braided wools also make smart bags and glovea.

When the children were evacuated from London in the days before war fcqpan their favourite marching song waa "Hf !Ho," the dwarfs' -song from "Snow "White." All the "Snow White" eongs are pycrving popular with the new Army, too. The mechanised army, however, prefers a waltz, and lorry load* of territorials go by singing that one day their prince will come. "The Donkey's Serenade" is popular and Strauss waltzes are also heard, there being no objection to German music in this war.

In London bar parlours and clubs, especially among the older folk, the songs of the last war are being sung again—"Roses "of Picardy," "Pack Up Your Troubles* and "Tipperary." That celebrated lady from Armentieres has also been resurrected and holds her own with Bing Crotvhy dirges and Deanna Durbin liltings. ,

Meanwhile, Noel Gay, who composed "The Lambeth Walk," has already written a marching song that may become the new "Tipperary." It is called "The Girl Who Loves a Soldier," and its first printing is already sold out. Strictly speaking, it is pre-war, and was designed for the new militiamen a couple of months ago. It took Mr. Gay five weeks to write and is, he thinks, the finest military song he has written. The refrain is as follows:

For the gjrl who loves a soldier Is the girl who adores a parade;. And she loves 'to see ber soldier flay his part In the grand cavalcade. For the girl Who Joves a soldier Is In love with the rlffbt kind of man ; When he says, "Fall in, my darling"— Well, she falls in his arms while she can,

—(N.AJf.A?)