WOMAN'S WORLD IN LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 18331, 19 July 1923, Page 5

WOMAN'S WORLD IN LONDON

[By CxsxaiA, for the ‘ Evening Star.’] r

j May 14. (Now that the Royal wedding is over fie London season has been given a scndfl, producing many delightiul functions, tod tho town is very' full, and all promises well for a successful time. But then one looks back and thinks of what tnee was ondi what now is, there is bofray cd a wide, yawning difference. Take [lay, for instance. I have been looking tver tho dance fixtures (private for tha post pari), and find for that month, alone bey numbered over a hundred before tho itar. To-day there are barely thirty, and lost of them charity functions. The diflcrpoo to trade must be very great, but it iWa that wo as a nation have not got tb money to spend in entertaining, for lira are just the same dozens of pretty

j-mg debutantes, all anxious to come out at shine in the social world'. I think, if aithing. English girls are prettier than ed. and I have been greatly interested in Ly Duff Gordon’s quest for six lovely nwtequins for a wonderful dress parade ahls organising. She has advertised for thl girls., has Wen snowed under, so to % with applicaticma, and is publishing tlu»hotograpna of some of tho best-looking in e daily papers. They are very pretty, onpho wall have a job to select them, I ehid say. hear on the most reliable authority tl| tho Duke of York proposed no less ttj four times to Lady Elizabeth, and it td three years to got her to say “Yes” -jo wan so afraid of the duties entailed blbocoming tho Duchess of York. But ijt people aro of tho opinion tho little life will como out with flying colors, ’pro is no doubt sho will never bo tho rfipoua personage some Duchesses of York fo (according to history) been in tho ft, and her interest, like tho Duke's, Is only centred in tho working classes, [hen she stepped' out of tho train at tho W station of Giannis, tho first thing eho li was .to greet tho little daughter of tlw ation master with “ Good morning, fancy,” for tho bride and bridegroom had ravelled all night. There was a groat joeption waiting thorn, and the let Otamls (uidea, of which the Duchess is cornm.is(oner, were drawn up lo form a guard jf honor. It was noticed the Duke had ilcnty of fishing rods amongst his Ind tbs fortnight they aro to spend ’’m fcotlamd will dfcubtW bo devoted: to this jastimo. i You have no doubt scon that the Brince las Just returned from Belgium, where ho rfsited many of the battlefields and plaora ae knew well, aaid also epent some t.imo in Uiose hallowed spots, the British como teries. I would just like to say, to perShauoe a mother, sister, or sweetheart who has a loved one lying there, and may bianco at these lines, that the graves in (Flanders ore most beautifully cared for j said tended. It may just bo a comfort, for I realise how impossible n visit. Micro Would bo for many of you in our vast &miniona, and one feels a pride in knowing that anyone of British blood who gave hia life for-England 1 is not forgotten. ■ THE PRINCE. LADY ASTOR, AND LABOR. London has been awfully excited over tho dinner party given by Lady Astor, M.P., to tho Labor Party, to 'which die invited! tho Prince. Ho accepted tiro invitation with great pleasure. A friend of mine was present, and tells me all -were lb evening dress except Mr Will Thome, or " Bed WillieA’ as the member for Plaiaiow la called, Ho wore a blue lounge suit (and I hope ho felt uncomfortable in it!), it purple tie, aoid waved a wild-looking sort of umbrella at the crowd who waited outride 4 St, James’s square to see them all fio in, Many beautifully-dressed ladies of l&o liberal Party wore present. VisixrauteMi Aetccr wore au exquisite gown of Yale mauve velvet., with diamonds on the portage and a high diamond tiara. When me or two people remarked that they vaodteed at heir asking the Prince to meet bo Labor pcopks, she ropJdedS: “ Why not!

Don’t wo all want them to come round to our way oi thinking!” which vras a good remark, especially os she is an American. “ I often nave them dining with mo in corduroy trousers.” Tho house was most beautifully decorated 'with, glorious rhododendrons and masses of flowers brought up from Taplow, where tho Aslors have such a lovely riverside place. Tho Prince was courtesy itself, and) arrived to tho minute, Lady Astor receiving him’ in tho hall. The dinner was served at email tables made lovely with flowers and silver, and afterwards a big reception was heldt People have been wondering what Queen Victoria would have thought ot it all. In her day such a tiling would not have been possible! DARING GOWNS. The great event of the week was the private view and opening of the Royal Academy. As usual, there were plenty of good and bad works, some astonishingly original, and others which made one wonder why they had ever been hung. The great picture of tho show is Sir William Orpen’s 1 Tha Unknown British Sol- | dier in Franca.’ It is a curious work, and described as a war satire. It depicts the brilliant interior of Versailles, with its majestic marble hall. A coffin covered with tho Union Jack la guarded by two practicidly naked and starving British soldiers, while above their heads are Cupids, It Is difficult to understand, and has been tremendously criticised. There are innumerable portraits, one of tho Queen j but my first visit was only a cursory one, and I went more on account of the frocks nt the private view than anything else. The private view Is a day when really weird and bizarre clothes aro to bo seen) and I went, and was not disappointed, ■ for several gowns wore marvellous—not pretty, mind yon, but presumptuous and daring, and I marvelled that people could be found to don them. I quite agreed wtih so many prophesies that brighter colors would bo in evidence this year, and I must testify to the feeling for almond and lettuce greens. These shades are awfully fashionable and very smart. As I have said previously, nothing dims the popularity of laco, and one remarkably stylish confection of brown laco took my fancy. The costume was carried out with a narrow skirt of laco, this used as material, and put fiat on over crepe do chine to match. It was light, and folded on one hip. Tha coatshapod overdress possessed the long sweeping opening on to tho hip, and was of gold all-over lace, over brown crepe da chine, the edge finished with deep flounce of brown laco, of which tho skirt was composed. Both coat and skirt fastened on where a bronze bead motif held the draperies, and the sleeves were finished with wide draped hanging cuffs of laco, from which tassels depended in novel stylo. It was a charming gown, and t!ie laco cloak which accompanied was of the same tone, bordered with three rows of soft brown marabout trimming, the yoke being of tho gold lace to match tho coat. A big brown and gold lace hat with a choux of orange gave just a beautiful finish. But this was not of a startling description. One that was, was carried out in broad black and white futurist stripes, with a great deal of bright gold embroidery. It was not in tho least becoming. Another of bright magenta was Lavishly beaded in brilliant silver, and was far too garish for day wear. It might have been possible at a smart ball, but was in very had showy taste nt a private view. Flaming orange was the entire color of another gown touched with bright green! No one can say some peoplo are not trying to 1 make London brighter. MORE WOMEN POLICE WANTED. It was in one of my recent gossips I mentioned the great use of the women police, and now they have been found to be so useful that more are being asked for. This 'is a great feather in the cap of those who so strenuously fought against tho decision of Lloyd George to disband them as useless. The Women’s National Liberal Federation has taken up tho movement, and Mrs , Wintringham, M.P., oui only English woman in Parlia-

ment, strongly advises the increase in numbers. There are barely 100 women police in the whole of England—twenty m London —and it fvvas interesting to learn tho powers of these ivr.«a It seems that only a few have toe right to arrest women or children, -with whom, qi course, they exclusively deni. They hold a remarkable record for forbearance and consideration with regard to offenders, and it will not be long before the numbers of these useful women are largely augmented. LADY GOLFERS, No doubt you watch with eagerness tho results of the golfing championships, just as w r e do. Disappointment was great when it became known that Miss Joyce Wethered was knocked out this year,’ as all who take an interest in the “ royal and ancient game ” hoped so much that brother and sister would be able to link arms as unbeaten champions. But, though Miss Wethered has been beaten, sho still remains the most able woman golfer in those islands, and, like all the champions, holds a position entirely unique as far as the game is concerned. It has been grilling work, with vile weather all the week, and a great strain ■•if tho nerves, I am sure. Wo all thought it a certainty for Joyce, as up to her defeat in the last match, sho had never played beyond the thirteenth hole, disof nor opponents well before then. But, if we were sorry our lady losing, we_ were overjoyed dt the wonderful win of her brother. He is a marvellous player, I am told, only twenty-four, and the performance which won him tho amateur championship was so thrilling that everyone is talking about it. I hoar from a mutual friend that the Wethered brother and sister have been trained by golfing parents from their early days with this end in view, and it was, as I have said, fondly hoped they might both pull off the grgat prize together. Burnham was a most interesting place, crowds of golfing women from tho whole of the British Isles assembled there, and it. was a study to note the variety of sports clothing worn. Nothing exceeded the popularity of the knitted jumpers or coats, which is well understood, as they give so easily with every movement. THE HIRED HOSTESS. There is no use denying the fact that tho times are not easy by any means for tho woman whq has to keep a certain position in society these days, and, barrio " millionairesses, they aro all glad to make a few pounds if they have tho brains to do so. Time was when it was considered most daring in - any well-born woman to earn money, oven as a chaperone to girls whoso peoplo could afford to pay -well for their being launched into society. I have seen many such advertisement m the fashionable papers in days past, but now those chances of adding to the exchequer are literally snapped up, and the advertisements are moro noticeable than ever. Thera is now a very well paid job for tho “hired hostess.” “What a sign of tho times! It clearly shows that the monied peoplo have sprang from a class who are not educated enough to undertake the task themselves, which is a very bad sign for tho prestige of tho social world. So the hired hostess has como into being. Possibly the numerous dance clubs and hotel dance centres have accelerated the idea, as it was found necessary for introducing peoplo to one another, so that friendly intercourse might be established. Enterprising women with tar-c, social sense, and a large circle of f |.nds arc eagerly looked for, nnd one frieu4 of mine rvho fills the position at a well-known smart hotel whore tho ballroom is used afternoon and evening, is paid £7 a week, with everything provided, the best of food, and a charming bedroom. There must, of course, be the qualification of being a good dancer, and possessing the art of making people enjoy themselves. Not always easy, when one meets tho hopeless peoplo writliout an idea, who abound.

PRINCE GEORGE A KEEN DANCER. I have just had the pleasure of .attending a dance at this very smart hotel iu question, where Prince George waa also.

Ho had several friends with him, dined in tho restaurant, just as an ordinary guest, and then joined tho dancers, his partner being Miss Jean Combe, daughter of Captain and Lady Jane Combe—a pretty girl, quite young, with fair bobbed hair, and quite simply dressed in a short black dance frock with a duster of shaded mauve pink roses on the hip. The Prince is liko his brothers, awfully keen on dancing, and lie never lost a moment. Ho dances with rather a good deal of arm and shoulder movement, in very much tho same style as the Prince of Walt’s. He is, I am sure, qf a very charming disposition, for all tho time he is laughing, and seems to thoroughly enjoy life. The season has started with several big balls already, and, if not with tho brilliance of old times, things are going to bo festive and gay anyway, and no one is forgetting fo bo smart, either. Dress, I think, was never so much studied.