A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 134, 8 June 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

FASHIONS FOR MEN,

BLACK BEETLER TO A KING,

(From Our London Lady Correspondent.)

Until quite recently there used to be an old bow-windowed pastrycook's shop off Coventry Street, over the antique portals of which, appeared the engaging "Muffin Maker to the Royal Family." But it is news to me that. bo comparatively recently as the latter Georges, there was in London a humble tradesman who was, by letters patent, black beetler to tlie royal palaces. A descendant of that worthy fellow still carries on the good work in London, and if he no longer has royal patronage, he has at least profitable clientele at the West End. It is his function once a month, at a set fee, to visit the basements of Mayfair mansions and scatter seeds of insecticide. Nor is he lacking clients in the modern ferro-concrete mansion-flats of the blessed. These breed beetles freely owing to the central heating.

TROUSERS FOR TENNIS! A "well-known West End store, which caters more for the masses than the select few, is this week showing tennis trousers for women in one of its windows. At meetings of committees of suburban tennis clubs, the wearing of trousers by girls has been under consideration, and in many cases; it has been decided that no objection shall be taken. It looks, therefore, as though trousers might be worn fairly freely. If this is so, it will be largely due to the Riviera fashion of the last few months, which, following the Lido craze for pyjamas, has been extended to tennis trousers. These have not been worn only by women anxious to attract attention, but also by some of the most respectable visitors to the South of France. It is the latter who set fashions that Suburbia follows.

TRYING IT ON ADAM. Amongst-other symptoms of a levelling up of the sexes, I note a new departure in masculine fashions. Women Lave long been dressed en suite, and now the decree is that men must be also. Adam is to be lined up with Eve in the matter of hi 3 overcoats. The emart man must now, whenever he orders a new suit of clothes, order also an overcoat of the same e!uth to match. This must needs be expensive for the man of moderate means. But there is a marked difference in the situation. "Whereas women meekly conform, and their dressmakers are adamant, men are allied with their tailors in opposing the en suite fashion. This is because tailors know well that few men will 1 follow so extravagant a fashion, and that the only effect will be fewer orders for new suits. But one West End tailor has made eleven en suite outfits since March, began.

THE ENGLISH ACE. I am sorry to hear that Mrs. Godfree after all' is not likely to be seen at Wimbledon this year. It is extremely doubtful" whether ghe will appear even in doubles, and it is practically certain that she will not challenge Helen Wills for the singles championship. It is the more disappointing because there seems no one at present able to take her place and put up a fight for England against the bevy of brilliant young players from abroad who will take possessftn of the famous courts this summer. At her best, Mrs. Godfree would have made a good stand against all-comers, but her health is so indifferent that she will, probably, feel .it better not to play this year. ORDERING A CHEF. A friend has discovered how highlypaid chefs are found and engaged. He was invited by an American visitor, who has rented a Mayfair mansion for the season, to accompany him 011 a chef hunt. To my friend's great surprise they went, not to a registry office, but to interview the manager of a famous old-fashioned grocery business. Hβ produced a list of about fifteen "free lance" chefs whom he was able personally to recommend. The salaries ranged from £900 a year to £1500, which apparently were not the maximum salaries earned by chefs. The manager explained that, 'unfortunately, none of the really famous chefs was free to take a temporary post this year. My friend made one discovery. A woman, however much she may earn, is always a cook, and never a chef. Even the cook employed by the Duchess of York, who was paid £10 10/ a week, could not in correct parlance call herself a chef.

GIFTS FOR THE KING. People are still, sending all kinds of charming gifts to the King. I am told that not a day -passes but some presents are received at Craigwell House, and the bulk of the letters sent off by private secretaries are • expressions of thanks. The Queen has been very touched by the homeliness of the gifts which Sussex folk have sent to His Majesty. Flowers from country gardens are received every day. Sometimes they are choice blooms which have been coaxed along with infinite trouble, at . other times they are annfuls of daffodils or boxes of spring wood violets. Pots of home-made preserve from Sussex fruit, a special kind of bread, and a delicious home-made cake have all been among the presents received. In shop windows in places round about Bognor and Aldwick one constantly comes across a Royal letter of thanks which the Queen has sent to the donor of some gift. PRINCESS MARY'S COURT GOWN.

Princess Mary so rarely allows any descriptions of her dresses to leak out before she appears in public in them, that it was a. little surprising to hear all t!.>s details of a lovely g ,<\vn she chose for the first of the Royal Courts. The Queen helped her to choose it, and eaw the first fitting the last time they were in town together. It is" of the most beautiful gold tissue and lace. The tissue was specially woven, and is extremely fine, and the gold lace which was being used for the train had been worked into a. dainty pattern that it looked like the most beautiful filigree. The princess is very fond of green for evening wear, and this gold Court gown was mounted on very pale green satin, and lined with green chilFon to throw up the beauty of the lace train. ■ :