ASCOT SUNDAY ON THE THAMES

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 186, 6 August 1913, Page 8

ASCOT SUNDAY ON THE THAMES

Ihe season on the Thames culminates with Ascot Sunday. Here youth, beauty and fashion are to be found if anywhere in England. And the strong m.-.gnctism of the river centres about Boulter' 3 Look, which affords a suitable setting for one of tho brightest and'prettiest scenes in Europe. The reason is this: Everyone on Ascot Sunday wants In see everyone else, and this can only be done on the river by everyone making for one particular spot. Some time or other, somehow or other, those on the rivtr glide onwards to Boulter's Lock, and in the fullness of time pass through it. But in the passing there is time to observe and look around, time to compare notes, as it. wore, for the river at Boulter's is so thick wilii boats that it looks for all tho world like a pond strewn with water lily leaves. From the banks you hardly see the light upon the rippling water, and so near are you to your neighbour that you may put out your hand and touch his boat. Soulier's is tiie great clearing-house of the Thames, and as a point of honour you must, willy-nilly, pass through it. Xo one dare avoid this place—not even those for whom the kindly Thames has provided innumerable sheltered .spots for prettier things than boating. Wherever you look you will see colour and beauty in the women, grace and strength in the men. whose white UanneU—cool to look upon as the water itsoif—harmonise with the rainbow-hucd and flimsy dresses of tho women. Little skiffs, floating like corks upon the water, bob in and out among the larger craft, puuts with cushions all agleam in the suniight—Uio craft of unsurpassable gTace of movement—fflidf onwards, and motor launches, lite little floating drawing rooms, toot and spurt upon their way. Then there comes a time when do boat seems to move at all, when everyone appears to have made up his mind to remain at Boulter's for ever. Glancing from the throng of boats towards the little neck of water at the lock, you say it is impossible that they will all go through. H seems as impossible as that they should pass through the eye of a needle. But as you watch the pageantry of the passing the last boat goes through. This year Ascot Sunday was a day such as is all to infrequent in an English summer, and our illustration conveys some idea of the animated scene at the famous Boulter's.