GREAT FREE SHOW

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 239, 6 July 1931, Page 7

GREAT FREE SHOW

Londoners See the “Debs.” FIRST COURT OF SEASON (By. Nellie M. Scanlan.) Dominion Special Service. London, May 25. Fickle weather favoured the First Court’of the Season. But who cares about the weather in England? ' Outside the Palace there is as much excitement —inore in fact—than there is within. If some day the ukase goes forth that debutantes’ carriages (they still use ; the word .on all official occasions), must not take up. position in the Mall, presentation at Court will be robbed of half its ] thrill. Tf tberg, were no rule at all, we : would possibly find debutantes dressed and curled and ready in the queue, each year getting earlier,.like theatre; queues, until they were there before breakfast. '■ Manoeuvring' for Position.

Six o’clock tis . the hour, before which they : may not start queueing up in the Mall, but between half-past five and six o’clock, in a blaze of daylight, you inay I see Rolls-Royces, Daimlers, and other motor aristocrats, with a glimpse of i plumes and flower's and satin and tire glint of jewels,, driving round and round, (manoeuvring for position. They are ready. to turn in to the kerb at the head of the Mall, as soon as Big Ben strikes six. His booming note is like the starting pistol. In half an hour, the line of cars extends the full length of the 1 Mall, and those who have been delayed by hairdressers or photographers or some other contingency find themselves parked in the Horse Guards' parade, where, the tail of the queue curls round upon itself. This incredible performance is repeated every year. No one knows why. Buckingham Palace, unlike a theatre, will not hang, out. a, sign ,“Standing room only” or “House ,full.” If you are bidden to Court, you Wil! get in. But the rush to be among the first in' ! the queue has led to this three-hour wait,' sitting in a motor, surrounded by thousands of curious people, .who frankly discuss your dress and your complexion and jewels, and even stand on the ruuning-board if they get a chance, for a closer inspection. It is one of London’s greatest free shows. New Zealanders Presented.

On the day before the First. Court, Lady Wilford had a reception for the nine debutantes from New Zealand, whom she was presenting. It was quite a big party, and in spite of threats of rain, a few smart summer frocks had come out for an airing.

The debutantes at this Court were Misses Patricia Allen, Nancy and Valarie Beere, Kathleen Cameron, Esme A'Court, Isabelle Lorigan, Marie Moffatt, Sybil Nathan, and Mrs. Leland Snell. Misses Nancy and Valarie Beere wore lovely frocks of parchment satin, Nancy with a train lined with pink velvet, and she carried a pink feather fan, and Valarie dressed exactly alike, except that she had substituted blue velvet for the train and the fan was blue also. Miss Marie Moffatt, who comes from Awapuni, Palmerston North, wore apricot satin and carried a bouquet of orchids. Miss Moffatt, by the way. has been getting quite a lot of publicity in the London papers as the first Maori Princess to have been presented at Court. She gave a party at the new Dorchester Hotel after the Court, whejl she entertained a number of her New Zealand and English friends. Mrs. Leland Snell, who was accompanied by her husband, wore a gown of pale pink chiffon and lace, with a train of the same materials. I also saw Mrs. Matthew Holmes, of Wellington, who was presenting her second daughter. Mrs. Holmes looked very beautiful in silver grey satin, and, like many of the handsome matrons, carried the plumes with greater dignity than their debutante daughters. Miss Holmes wore a charming frock of white satin, and a Victorian posy of pink and white flow•ers. Startling Figure. One of the startling figures of this Court was the Sultana of Jahore. the

Scottish wife of the Sultan. Until her comparatively, recent marriage she was Mrs. Wilson. With her Court dress of; rose pink, she wore the priceless. State jewels of Jahore, which had been brought to England specially, under guard, for the occasion. . Nothing, however, can eclipse Queen Mary when dressed for Court No one. can wear jewels with ■ the regal dignity that has made her outstanding, even among the greatest beauties of the East: or the West. ‘ ■ ■»-.■