CORONATION OVER

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 147, 23 June 1937, Page 16

CORONATION OVER

LONDON MAKES THE PACE

(Nelle M. Scanlan.)

The Coronation may be over, but London is-still making the,pace socially, and only physical exhaustion puts a period to our activities. The inability to be at two places at one time has a' limiting effect, and now that the buses start once more tomorrow our mobility will be increased. As it is. "going on" from one party to another is a typical London habit during the season, but this year we go on, and on, and on. Gorgeous summer weather came in with this week, and we rushed from furs and hot bottles into our airiest clothes, a quick transition that caught many unprepared. We are beginning to wonder whether it was not more difficult to get about town in the thundery heat than in the actual cold and rain. However, there is no pleasing everyone. We have longed for the sun and the summer, and now it is here, and the buses are coming back to town, there is general rejoicing. When you remember that most events

are from three to seven miles apart— that is, town events—(it ' may mean thirty to a hundred miles to a country garden party); these are vital considerations. We went to Hampton Court, that grand old palace on the banks of the Thames, now a museum in part, and where the widows of men who have rendered distinguished service to the State, and are not left well off, dwell in apartments, "by grace and favour of the King." One of the best seasons to see the gardens at Hampton Court is when the tulips are out, and this week they are at their best, and so are the ancient chestnut trees\in Bushey Park that adjoins it. Their white flowers, and the pink ones, too, stand up like candles on a vast Christmas tree. INDIAN CONTINGENT. The Indian Contingent to tne Coronation has been in camp at Hampton Court, and there was a garden party, at which Sir William Birdwood reviewed the Indian troops. It was not a good day, a bitter wind and snivelling ram, but summer was with us next morning. The Indians, tall, distinguished soldiers, many with beards, some grey-beards, wore their most gorgeous uniforms and turbans'. ' Some of these amazing head-dresses had fans of crimson and. gold on top; others were bordered with fringe;- gleaming gold and coloured tissues were swathed and tied with flowing ends, and every regiment had a different colour and design. Field-Marshal Birdwood is undoubtedly the most popular veteran soldier. Small, alert, and with the most enchanting smile,' he has- none .of the assertiveness associated with most small men of importance, nor the pomposity of the great or near-great. He is so simple, so-friendly, so charming to all that his visit was a delight. As he walked down the ranks of the Indians -he had a word with each man: spotting the medals on his breast, he chatted . about old campaigns. 'The gardens at Hampton Court are a most suitable setting for such Oriental splendour as was' on parade, the fountain playing, and beds of tulips as varied and stately as the soldiers themselves. Nowhere in the world are ,to be found such wonderful'tulips; they grow more than three, even four feet high, and the blooms are often as large as a breakfast cup, and every known colour is now to be found m this flower. The little Knot Garden was gay with tiny flowers, and the sunken' garden, offering the- greatest attraction at the Palace, was a blaze of colour. Even the great wistaria vine, its trunk so large you could scarcely span it with your arms, was coming into flower. Under the chestnuts in Bushey Park, where we had tea, the deer were grazing in friendly proximity. - The sunshine of Sunday completely went to London's head, and it was an ideal day for the country, which is now a marvellous sight, with the May trees and hedges in full bloom, the lilac and laburnum mixing their royal purple and gold in every garden, and every tree clothed in new green leaves. "DOWN ONE SLUM STREET."

As we came back to town my eye caught a remarkable sight down one slum street. ■ They were having their Coronation tea for the children, and believe it or not, the decorations of this poor street far outdid anything I had seen in the West End. The whole mean street was a blaze of colour, n had been closed to traffic, and down the centre had been set a long, table, and as a protection against bad weather volunteers had erected an owning on metal supports over the party.

London's footpaths are made of con-i crate blocks about two feet square, bordered with a kerb a foot wide. Down both sides of the footpath the kerb had been painted entirely in red, white, and blue. On the surface of the street at each end, had been printed in largo chalk letters: "Long Live the King and Queen." The front of each tenement house had been entirely covered with flags, coloured paper, Union Jacks, and gold paper crowns. One woman had made an awning of flags that stretched from her door over the steps to the edge of the kerb, just as they erect awnings to shelter guests arriving at parties in the West End. From the upper windows fell c perfect fountain of coloured streamers, such as you use when seeing off friends at a ship. These just fluttered in the faint breeze, and were a marvellous sight. Each of these poor streets which decides to celebrate, pays a penny or a few pennies a week for months ahead, and collects pennies in other ways, to provide the children's tea. And each 'householder buys and puts up her own decorations. In some places they are very strict about gate-crash-ing, and the children from neighbouring streets are not allowed round the corner. Each child is given an invita-

tion card, and this not only entitles them to a seat at the tea table, but is a souvenir of'the great event. Cake, sweets, fruit, lemonade, etc., paper hats, and favours are the children's portion, while their parents wait table, and look after them, An old piano on a cart and a man with an accordion supplied the music. Many of the children were dressed in red, white, and blue. Some of the little girls had aprons of Union Jacks, and caps of patriotic colours, and I saw one small boy in a white shirt, blue trousers, with a small Union.Jack sewn on the seats of his trousers. He was very proud of it, and no disrespect meant I can assure you.' In every doorway older women sat on chairs —small, lean, work-worn mothers, or- fat, shapeless bulks, all with clean white aprons on. And men in shirt sleeves, leant against the area railings, smoking. Even the area railings had been swathed in red, white, and blue. QUEEN MARY IN THE EAST END. The other day, Queen Mary paid an unexpected visit to a Coronation street party in the East End, in one of the poorest,; slums, and her Majesty was delighted with the spectacle. Queen Mary, I may say, is having the time of her life. Now that she no longer has the full weight of Regal duties to perform, she has time and opportunity to see something of the life of the people in an informal way, and every day she seems to go* somewhere unexpectedly. The residents of the street she visited were so grateful for her interest in their celebrations, that they took ■up a quick whip-round to buy her a birthday ' present, as yesterday was the Queen's seventieth birthday. Among the many distinguished persons to call at Marlborough House, to offer congratulations' and good wishes, were a man and a woman from this East End Street, who brought her a bouquet of seventy pink carnations from the poor. The Queen was so touched with their kindly thought, that she insisted on seeing them, and after a talk to them about their families, she gave each a Coronation gift, one being a mug, which plays "God Save the King." The Queen started it playing, but could not stop the mug, so the Princess Royal came to her aid. The New Zealanders in London were invited to-a reception given by the wives of three of our past Governors: Lady Jellicoe, Lady Fergusson, and Lady Bledisloe. It was a charming idea, and one of the best parties I have been to for a long time. It was held at a lovely house in Knightsbridge belonging to Lady Jellicoe, and the great fan-like decorations of flowers, at least a yard high and a yard wide, standing on the mantelpieces, were a joy to see. They were mixed bowls of every colour and kind of flowers. An orchestra played in the hall, and tea was served' from buffets in several rooms. Lady Galway, making a fourth : viceregal member, was also present. About 5 o'clock, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester came, also Prince and Princess Chicibu, the Chinese representatives at the Coronation. After they had tea, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester went upstairs to the large drawing-room, where' many New Zealanders were presented to them. The Duchess was wearing a smart little suit of. navy blue cloque, with a small hat with a diamond ornament. She had worn this at the thanksgiving service at St. Paul's in the morning. The Duchess told.me that they were looking forward to their first quiet evening since the Coronation, as they were going to see the Coronation films, which they had not yet had time to view. Lady Jellicoe was accompanied by