LONDON GOSSIP

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22318, 4 February 1938, Page 8

LONDON GOSSIP

Lord Hewart's Record On The Bench NEW GRANDSON TO EARL BALDWIN CrtOK OtTS OWS COBEESPONDBin.) LONDON, January 7. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Hewart, whose wife was formerly Miss J. Stewart, of Wanganui, celebrated his sixty-eighth birthday yesterday. By March he will have held his position for 16 years, which is a record for no other Lord Chief Justice of England has occupied his position for so lon* The nearest to approach this period is Lord Alverstone's term, from 1900 to 1913. Lord Hewart regards his record as a mere trifle. "I have merely completed the first 15 years of my term, and am now in the first year of my second period of 15 years. The third 15 years P will be the real testing-time" he is reported to have said this week. Lord Hewart believes that regular concentration is good for a man and is the reason why many Judges live to a good old age, although he added that their working life is rather unhe "Judges have to be .strong menmen of robust constitution who have led a healthy said And they must go on leading a healthy life apart from their work; they must or fly would not last. The fact _ is that a man must be pretty tough if he is to get through that work at the Bar which leads to the Bench I think lam pretty tough. When I was in the House of Commons I worked 14 hours a day, but I somehow survived. It is natural for me, now—| I and for all Judges—to -work. hard. I First "Baby Baldwin" A record of another kind is the arrival this week of the first boy born to the male line of Earl Baldwins family. The baby is the child of Lord Baldwin's younger son, the Hon. Windham Baldwin, whose taste is for business rather than for politics. He is a director of the Great Western Railway, with which his family was first associated 37 years ago. Lady Baldwin is naturally proud of the first "baby Baldwin" among her nine grandchildren. The other eight, six of whom are boys, are the children of her daughters, Lady Diana KempWelch, Lady Leonora Howard, and Lady Margaret Huntington-Whiteley. Lord Corvedale, heir to Lord Baldwin is a bachelor. Mrs Windham Baldwin, before her marriage in August, 1936, was Miss Elspeth Tomes of Lossiemouth, youngest daughter of the late Mr Tomes, a New York banker. Since the mode sems to be for records, yet another can be mentioned. Mr Lloyd George and Dame Margaret Lloyd George will celebrate their golden wedding on January 24. They were married in 1888. Fifteen names are to appear on a nresent to be given them in commemoration. The givers are eight grandchildren, three "inlaws," and the four children, Major Richard, Major Gwilym. and Miss Megan Lloyd George, and Lady Carey Evans. The nature of the present is still secret. Duke of Windsor's Cap

An interesting loan to the London Museum is a tiny white cap that looks as though it was specially made in the nineteenth century for some favourite baby doll. It belonged to the Duke of Windsor, and has been lent by Queen Mary. The cap is composed on top entireiv of elaborately arranged loops of narrow, white baby ribbon, mixed with fine white hand-made lace, so that the cap, from a distance, suggests the stiffly beaten whites of eggs. Attached to each side of the cap is a long, white satin string to the under chin. The Duke wore it m 1894 when he was only a few weeks old, but he must have outgrown it quickly, as the ribbons are unqrumpled, and still look almost new. Some of Queen Victoria's lace was worn this week, when the baby daugh-

ter of the late Earl of Londesborough was christened It was lent by- ■ the Marchioness of Cansbrooke. the baby s aunt, who mounted the lace on satin, and made it into a robe for the christening of her own daughter, Lady Iris Mountbatten. 18 years ago The lace was given by Queen Victoria to her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, who is Lady Iris's grandmother.

The Duke's Tango Few people know that the Duke of Kent is a musician. Lately he has written a tango, which is said to be one of the best dance tunes composed for vears. The Duke keeps his accomplishment private, and exercises his gifts only in front of his own family and a close circle of friends. The piano is his favourite instrument, and when he was in the navy he was always the life of the wardroom with his playing. The Duke can also play the violin and the banjo. The public will not be allowed to hear thejßoyal dance tune, as the Duke has had only a limited number of copies published for private circulation. Abbey's Loud Speakers

Loud speakers have been fitted in Westminster Abbey, and in future services will be audible to everyone in the abbey. Previously services have been almost inaudible in certain parts of the building. The new system is believed to be one of the most efficient and up to date in the world. Six microphones and 70 loud speakers are incorporated. The microphones are installed at the altar, the pulpit, by the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and elsewhere. Every effort has been made to make the loud speakers as little noticeable as would be compatible with their efficiency. Those which cannot be concealed either have been, or are to be, painted a colour which will blend with the stonework. Order of the Bath

It has been noted that no fewer than 46 members were added to the different ranks of the Order of the Bath in the New Year's honours list. The Order was originally instituted in 1399. It lapsed for many years, and was revived in 1725 by Sir Robert Walpole. Horace Walpole, in his reminiscences, mentions his father's policy in reviving the Order: "It was an artful bank of 36 ribbons to supply a fund of favours instead of places. He meant, too, to stave off the demands for Garters, and intended that the Red should be a step to the Blue, and accordingly took one of the former himself." Quater Centenary of EngUsh Bible It is now nearly 400 -ears since the English Bible was first placed in every parish church in England. On June 19, which is to be regarded as a special thanksgiving Sunday, the quater centenary will be celebrated throughout the country. In London the King and Queen will attend a service at St. Paul's Cathedral. Henry VlH's command in 1538 that the English Bible should be placed in every church for the benefit of parishioners was a sign that the great change in religious outlook was firmly established in England.