A MAID IN MAYFAIR

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

A MAID IN MAYFAIR

MIDNIGHT FROCK PARADE.

COSTLY FLOWERS,

'(From Our London Lady Correspondent.)

One of the latest accomplishments of the Prince of Wivles i 3 conjuring. A member of his suite tells me H.R.H. has long been fairly efficient at some hand tricks, especially "palming," hut has never pretended to attain the professional entertainment standard. But he has unusually sensitive fingers for some of the simpler forms of prestidigitarianism. All the. princes at one time or another have essayed <to emulate tlie conjurer, who, incidentally, is always included in the programme for parties at •which they are guests or hosts. They naturally tried their luck at some of the tricks, and the presence of the little Princfcss Elizabeth in their midst has revived a few "disappearing" tricks for her entertainment. Some of the Prince of Wales' most successful tricks, however, involve the art of balancing, and at this he has achieved quite remarkable proficiency.

REELS TO THE RESCUE,

Lately it has seemed as though. the dance vogue "which has been such a remarkable feature of post-war life with all classes is on the wane. A famous London dancing mistress tells me that if 'a slump is actually averted it,will be thanks to the Duchess of York. Owing to her vivacious and graceful example, backed by her tactful persuasion, Scots reels are now a feature at all smart dances. in the West End, and are now becoming exceedingly popular in more democratic haunts as well. The Duchess has managed to coax not only the Duke, but the Prince of Wales and his brothers to learn the steps, and their enthusiasm is adding to the strength of the revival. Scots reels may, indeed, be the salvation of one of the healthiest and prettiest habits that have survived the war's cynicism. But these fascinating oldtime movements greatly puzzle some of our foreign tango experts. MANNEQUINS AT MIDNIGHT. Mornings, afternoons and eyenings were so very full of "dates" before the Christmas holidays that women find it difficult to fit in visits to their dressmakers. So a well-known Society dressmaker. arranged a midnight parade at one of the big hotels, and after their lunch, tea, committee and dinner engagements, and possibly a theatre, women ■were able to sink into comfortable chairs in the Palm Court and watch frocks for dinner and dancing being displayed. The programme was very well arranged. Folk who came from the theatre found supper awaiting them at 11.30, and the mannequins began to parade between the courses as soon as the clock struck 12. There was dancing for those who summoned energy to indulge in it, and the significant announcement appeared on the invitation card "Extension of license until two a.m." THE LONG SKIRT. If'the new long dresses look untidy in a ballroom and are troublesome both to their wearers and the men who dance, at least they look very attractive in a drawing room. There is such a . contrast between the short, flying frocks of last winter and these graceful flowing gowns in which women walk so quietly and with so much dignity. Some of the smartest hostesses have "gone the whole hog" in to them. Not only do their-skirts touch the floor hut they trail on it for several inches. The tall ones carry- off the length attractively enough. Lady Londonderry was at a party a night or two ago in a long red lace gown, and, lovely; as she has lcSoked from time to tin:" in black velvet, ivory satin, and other fabrics, she has never been, quite so picturesque a figure as, in these geranium colour draperies which swept round her, and from which her head and .shoulders rose so attractively. \ , BLACK AND WHITE. ! Lady Oxford was a very attractive ■figure at a recent entertainment. Lady Oxford wore black -satin, almost entirely unrelieved. Her long, slinrneckl&ce was of jet, so were her earrings and bracelets, but she carried a vivid red feather fan ' and had on' red shoe 3. In striking contrast was the other hostess at the party, Lady Lavery, who looked more , beauti,ful than usual, if-''that were possible, in her favourite white satin.- An oldfashioned fichu of lace was draped about her 'shoulders, and a spray of white flowers fell from one shoulder almost to her waist. Her dress was short, too, as was Lady Oxford's, and her lovely titian hair was quite unadorned. She looked exactly like her pictures as she eat at.the dinner table listening with a quiet .smile to the conversation' of her neighbour. UNIQUE PORTRAIT ALBUM. • Sir. Eric Dnimmond, the genial and tactful Secretary-General of the League of Nations, has been making one of his lightning visits to London. Sir Eric possesses what is probably. a unique volume of photographs. It bears rio sort of relation "to the once familiar family tome of Victorian days, the production of which was a sacrosanct, draw-ing-room rite, when visitors called, and in° which a fearsome photographic art attached!, an aura of relentless sartorial obsolescence even to the most debonair / elders figuring therein. Sir Eric's album is filled with the portraits of all the most famous people who at different times have visited Geneva in connection with the manifold activities of the League. I believe, there is' scarcely a single absentee from this remarkable gallery, and every photograph bears its authentic-autograph. This must be one of the most valuable collections of its kind in existence. •• BUSY FLORISTS. I had to send so-ine flowers tp a friend In a nursing home, and was much impressed by the prices paid before Christmas "for fine bloSms. Roses w;ere-10/-a dozen, violets 3/9 a burich, and lilies of the valley 4/% Yet the . assistant assured me that the autumn and early winter is the, London florist's, busiest season, and that during, the springs when everyone is in town, there is not the amount of- business done that might be expected. This, she thinks, is due to the fact that many-society people own country houses, and have garden flowers sent up from their oWn gardens. While I was iri the sh6p t heard four women place orders for flowers, each order being for more than, £3, and the assistanfc .aspnred that .an order of that summer would be quite t} lev ? JL., a ' « this-,-time of. the year wSW 1 "ders -ery