WOMAN’S WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 18030, 26 July 1922, Page 3

WOMAN’S WORLD

[Bx VIVA.]

‘■Report* of social functions will be welcomed for this column, "Yina" y ydll also answer, all reasonable .questions relating to the home, cookery, domestic economy, and.any topic of interest to her sex. But each letter or report must hear the writer’s name and address as a guarantee of genuineness, and questions that do n ot-perm.it of-a public reply cannot be answered.. Questions should be concisely put and the writer’s nom di plume 'blftrly written. ’

WOMAN'S WORLD IN LONDON.

[By Cynthia.] LONDON, June 8. PRINCESS MARY’S. PARTY. _ The past week has been fuil of incident, life, and gaiety.. Following the Derby came the Oaks. the veritable ladies’ day, Bod then Princess Mary burst's forth into a London Uostess m the evening, and gave her first dinner and dance since her marriage. It was a great arid much-talked-of occasion, and the King and Queen and *ll the Royal personages in London were guests. The Princess attended ’the races m the day rime, and- looked very swcfa'u in pink and a big shady hat, for it was still hot, though nothing like as sultrv as Derby day. _ I hear that the arrangements for Princess Mary’s party were of the simplest, and by her own wish fho floral decorations, though quite lovely, were not elaborate. Her favorite sweet peas adorned the dinner table. All the dinner guests dined at one big table, and not at numbers of smi%'. ones, which has been the fashion of late years. Beautiful La France roses were employed to blend with, the pinks and xnauves of the sweet peas, and gave quite a distinctive effect. The ball room was decorated with pink rambler roses in pots, and dozens of these to give an air of festivity to the apartment, "which is considered to be the finest in London, and possesses a wonderful floor. The Princess danced quite a lot with her husband, and I am told repeatedly by people whv know them w’ell that they are really remarkably in love with one another. This room is really most beautiful, all white and gold "with great candelabras of glittering lustre. It set off the gorgeous picture of “ fair women and brave men.” There is no doubt our Princess is going to be a leading personality in London,'' and already 1 hear she is c ast losing lie- shyness. f!<-n«f.s' for the dinner, who numbered twenty, eight, arrived a little before c!.o_, .1;

amongst them was Lady Rachel Cavendish, | whom rumor speaks of as a possible very j important personage to be. She won* her i lovely bridesmaid’s dress of silver' tissue and l lace, _ for she was. one of Princess Alary’s bridesmaids. Very, brilliantly beautiful were tho frocks, and none looked better than Queen Mary, who can wear such lots of jewels with distinction. Her, Afajesty was attired I in while satin, richly and handsomely cm- J broidered in gold,' with wonderful' diamonds, which blazed and glittered as she moved. The charming young hostess was admired by everyone in her dress of warm rose pink satin, and wore the beautiful sapphire and diamond tiara and necklace given her by the King on her marriage. She looked after all her friends in un- 1 affected, delightful fashion, and won golden ! opinions. One thing everybody ■applauded , her for. The entire band was composed of ex-service men. The Princess insisted cn this for her first ball, and so well they I played that she intends to have them cn- ' gaged whenever there is dancing at dies- : terfield House. This is setting a splendid . example, and one, I hope, lots of hostesses will copy, for private dances have received an. impetus which is bringing about an enormous revival, and the ex-serviee men should not be forgotten. TV?re are hnn : dreds of first-rate musicians amongst them, and dozens have taken up the special class of music neccssarj - for ball-room dancing. Over 500 guests were present, though the dinner was more or less a family affair. People have been surprised that no additional title has been bestowed on Viscount Lascelles amongst the birthday honors, and there was a determined rumor that some such announcement would bo made at this party, as it was the night before the King’s birthday, but nothing happened. TROOPING THE- COLOR. The next excitement- after this. was. trooping the color, a charming historic i ceremony which before the war was a fix- j tura always on Queen Victoria’s birthday, now Empire Day. It is now te he an | annual affair on King George’s birthday, j which falls very near it. There was a huge i crowd for this on the ■ Horse Guards’ I Parade. The King was a most martial , figure on horseback, and was accompanied by the Duke of Connaught, Prince Henry, Viscount Lascelles, and tho Crown Prince of Sweden (who is visiting his ■ father-in-law, the Duke of Connaught; you may remember Princess Margaret of Connaught was his wife; she died suddenly a few years ago). I hear he is anxious to marry again, and wants an Englishwoman, and that is one reason of his visit. But these are rumors again, and one hears them on every side. THE CALEDONIAN BALL. Big social events crowd fast on one another. They are now crammed into two or three months'in London in a most ,bewildering way, and as we go each important function* is eclipsed by the next. I possess a Scotch aunt who is in town for the season, and naturally loves anything to do with her beautiful country’; so when she heard the date of this well-known event nothing would do but that I must go with her. “ Why, Dunedin, in New Zealand, is a Scotch stronghold,” she said. “I know it, because I’ve been there; and mind’ you tell them something about tire ball when you write.” The scene was really most fascinating. All the ladies ■who danced in the reels and square dances were in white or light colors, which did not clash with the tartans of the various clans. They wore wide silk ribbons, worn across from one shoulder and knotted on the hip, on the lines of an ordi*r, and very smart they looked. 1 was most interested to know which was which, and my aunt, who is well Up in the love of the tartan, was able to point out many. The Royal Stuart is very’ pretty, and was worn by a notable Scotch lady whose husband was descended of the Royal House of Stuart. There were dozens, it seemed to me, and I am sure I should never remember them. I know the Macdonald and the- Rob Roy , but that’s about all. The men, however, were the lions of the evening on this occasion, for most -of them were officers of the Highland regiments, and in their full dress they looked splendid. All the men who danced in the reels, etc., wore uniform; and the glitter of their accoutrements and brilliance of their trappings were something to remember. Alany others wore full dress with lovely lace ruffles, and looked as though they had stepped out of some old ancestral picture. Altogether it was an inspiring scene, and the pipers were full of their importance as they, strutted to and fro. I forgot to say the jewels were, magnificent, ail the great ladies being smothered in them; and tiaras-and hair ornamnts of diamonds and precious stones worn by everyone. The IVnke of Athol, the Lord Chamberlain, was to have led the reels, but ho was not well, which was a disappointment. MOTOR RACING AT BROOKLANDS. I ran down to Brooklahds with a party of friends to see the motor racing, and was quite impressed to see how many women racers there were. It is a nerve-racking job to fly along at over a mile a minute. I really did not know my own sex had taken seriously to this sport, if such it can be called. A wonderful girl is. Aliss Ivy Cummings, who was first with her Sunbeam in an eleven miles handicap—a great achievement. Women, I was told by a leading motorist, do very well at first in racing, but seem to fail from want- of nerve power after a time. A very exciting place is Brooklands, but so dusty, and one does not need to .wear anything blit serviceable clothes there. . There is a Q‘ aerodrome connected‘with Brook- , and I was- presented with a bunch of lovely roses which had just arrived by air from Holland. They were so fresh and beautiful, and 1 was tbld were the very first of a consignment to tie sent by Dutch, growers to Covent Garden. Soon

wo shall get our daily food by air, milk for tea from French dairies, etc. I was also so fascinated with the wonful sky-writing. This sounds extraordinary to anyone who docs not know that the latest thing in advertising is done in the. air by aeroplanes. What with broadcasting and sky-writing things are getting over so brisk here. But to watch the former is really wonderful. Tn_ begin with, the sky must be a cloudless blue; otherwise the effect is lost. To watch what looks like a mere dot writing on tho heavens is a bit of a thrill. The airman lets out ai narrow’ trail of white smoko, and you can watch him forming the letters, shutting it off as each is completed, I saw the word “Lux” very clearly written in enormous letters. “ The ‘ Daily Mail,’ too, was very cleverly written, and I believe that. enterprising Northcliffe paper was (he first to start the idea. I cannot imagine how the airman knows if he in going in the right direction to'make the writing readable and clear. It was a strikingly clever performance, and ho must have been miles up, for it was only by following (lie trail of smoke that one could discern a little specie that proved to be tho aeroplane. LOVELY COURT GOWNS.

What is to be tvorn and what is being worn always fascinates us, and, being a woman, 1 speak for my sex. 1 was treated to a special display, and I soon realised that the first Court‘free from war-time conditions, to be held on the day this mall leaves, is going to be a treat. It is the first time since 1914 that redly lovely gowns, trains, feathers, veils, and bouquets have been worn, and! you can imagine what, all this means to those attending—there are SCO, Many have never seen a Court or even heard them talked about, | as dozens of girls were mere children at tho beginning of the war. The first. Court of a season is for the most part composed of members of the Diplomatic Corps, though, of course, there are other presentations. The wife of the Foreign Minister has an extremely busy time in making the presentations. I hear that a large number of Americans arc to be presented. This always ncems to me so ridiculous when they are supposed to scorn titles, kings and queens, and the rest. Silver and gold brocade, one leading modiste fold mo, are taking a lead, and metal lace, of a very brilliant kind. Then, if these tissues are not desired, the shimmering gowns of paillette embroideries arc too exquisite for words. One I saw had thoufonds upon thousands of palest pink shading to cerise and on to rich deep purple paillettes. Another was of scintillating crystal and iridescent head work massed all over. Ono of delphinium blue shading to. pale and dark tints was a dream. This had a waistband of blue crystals set in gold, and worn low’ on the hips. Pearls and crystals are immensely used to embroider silver tissue, and the effect is fairy-like. Of this persuasion was one delicious model, with wing sleeves of softest tulle. Tho elaborate gowns are naturally for the matron; but simplicity is cle riguenr for the debutante. Softest pale-lined georgette glittering with crystals composed one which was entrancing, and, I was informed, a posie of water lilies was to bo carried with this frock. Oan you imagine anything more delightful? The train was massed with crystals, and the whoje thing shone as though dewdrops had been sprinkled over it. Some of tho trains are very airy-fairy, and are of silver or gold net, and old lace or metal net is largely used. The simpler they are tho prettier- for- the young- wearer. I- hear that wonderful stores of priceless lacc will see daylight at the Courts. Bugbshwomen possess exquisite lace, and during the war it was safely packed away. It will form very beautiful trimming on many robes. Some trains which have done duty before are to bo shortened and used, for their jbeauty is not a. thing of a day; and the same modiste told mo she has one to reI mount which is' upwards of a hundred years old, but of remarkable loveliness. 1 Roses and delphiniums will bo extensively ! carried, and the bouquets of posia shape j instead of the old shower shape. The ' former will be easier to handle.

INDIVIDUALITY APPLIED fo"FROCKING. USING LACE AND EMBROIDERY. It is much more to the point how to wear a garment than that it should be of superfine quality. Nowadays women have learned to contrive, and the wot gave us such a plethora, of shoddiness in the way of wearing apparel that it was expedient that a- clothes sense be developed-by way of •compensating balance. Every woman does not possess real lace, for instance; but lace is in the forefront this coming season, and will be seen on almost every surface where it can be used. But it has to be used judiciously; if not, no lace is better than its wrong application. After lace, embroideries will still hold sway, and creators have searched diligently among the peasant huts and hamlets of mid-Europe for inspiration, so cross-stitch will bo favored as never before. Tho same patterns have been introduced into looms and the latest linings are lovely, apparently stamped with Hungarian embroideries. They make beautiful foil for sober cloths and velvets. The steel nail head should have completed its reign by this, but some houses still use it as the motif of special frocks. By spring, of course, it will have gone the way of all ideas, but in the meantime, while there is heavy dress notions to be considered, tho steel trimming is bound to be favored.

For spring wear—early spring, that is—when it is not meant to get into tubbing frocks at, once, the two-pieco dress, or rather tho ouc-piece dress of two different materials, is worth consideration In_ the models seen the skirt was of striped stuff, with a plain coat, rovers, pockets, and strappings of the contrast. It is a useful way of using up short lengths, and offers possibilities to the woman who makes her dresses at home It is known as tho simulated coat and skirt.

ON APPLE EATING. Do you know, asks one horticultural journal, what you are eating when you eat an apple? Yon are eating gallic acid, one of the most necessary elements in human economy. You arc eating sugar in the most assimilable form, combined carbon, hydrogen, and, oxygen caught and imprisoned from the sunshine. You are eating a gum allied to the " fragrant medicinal gums of Araby.” - And you-are eating phosphorus in the only form in which it is available as the sonrco of all brain and nerve energy. In addition to all these, you are drinking the purest of water and eating the most healthful and desirable fibre for the required “ roughness” in food elements. ' The acids of apple diminish the acidity of the stomach and prevent and cure dyspepsia. They drive out obnoxious matters that if i use skin eruptions, and thus are Natr/e’s most glorious complexion makers. They neutralise in the blood the deleterious elements that poison the brain and make it sluggish. The contained phosphorus is not only greater than in any other form of food, 1 but it is presentedl in a shape for immediate use by the brain and nerves, where it may flash into great thoughts and great deeds.- The ancients assigned the apple as the food for the gods, and its juices the ambrosial nectar to .which they resorted to renew their youth. Men are the gods of to-day, and the apple is their royal food, the magic renewor of youth. Eat a rich ripe apple every day and you have disarmed all diseases of half their terror.