THINGS WERE DIFFERENT!

Evening Star, Issue 19550, 7 May 1927, Page 21

THINGS WERE DIFFERENT!

WHEN LAST A DUKE AND DUCHESS VISITED In 1901, when the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall'and. York came to Australia 'to represent the King at the opening of the first Federal Parliament, J things were very different to what they are now (says Melbourne ‘Table Talk’). The conventions and the regulations which obtained then would drive 1927 folks to despair, yet they were accepted as quite m order, and suffered more or less good naturedly, though there was some grumbling among even those well-disciplined crowds. The,streets were rather sombre when the procession drove through, in spite of most elaborate arches and decorations, for almost the whole concourse of people formed one black mass. Mourning attire was de rigueur, for it hud been ordered for Queen Victoria, and everyone who was present at any function was expected to wear black, or black with touches of Royal purple, while’white with black was a concession to brides and debutantes. This was the rule laid down, and it was kept strictly. Even the crowds in the streets wore mourning, for in those, days mourning was a very, much more serious thing than it is to-day. It was not a charming and mitigated sable hue, but heavy-looking sombre black of an uncompromising character, not too dressy in fashion, either. The women of the time were even told what jewels were permissible at evening functions, only pearls or diamonds being permitted with Court mourning. The Duchess of York wore some most beautiful jewels with evening gowns and afternoon toilettes, but they were always either pearls or diamonds. One coronet and necklet she favored at the most important functions was magnificent. The coronet, almost like a crown, was a mass of superior diamonds, with great pear-shaped pearls forming the centre of each section of design, and this was repeated in the necklet.

There was great formality in dressing in 1901, and a schedule was published as to.details, not only for men, but women also, even when to wear gloves, etc. There was very little need for this, as women wore gloves for practically every occasion then, and men on formal occasions. But there were special moments when the glove, had to be removed.

They wrapped Royalty round with such ceremony then that it made things really quite difficult in a way the after-the-war generation could not understand.

Such care and ceremony did hedge about not only a Icing, but his representative when visiting Australia, that most strict and stringent regulations were enforced.

One of the most trying was the rule that guests must arrive and be in their places in some instances an hour, others not loss than half an hour, before the Vice-Regal and Royal party arrived. Barriers were everywhere along tho route, and these were strictly closed at a given time, and there was no getting through them except one possessed a special pass._ So the late arrivals were in a sorry plight, and wore often locked out altogether.

Just consider what this necessity for early arrival at a function meant, with tiie elaborate fashions of those days to ■change into for each occasion. There was no slipping on a simple frock then and with a ’iriggle shaking it into piace. Not only the frocks, but other garments and all adjuncts, had to be carefully donned, then the gown, with all manner or intricate fastenings, and little etceteras in the way of cravats, brooches, bangles, and what nots to add. There were morning junctions, afternoon functions, evening functions, each requiring a very marked and distinctive style of costume, and which meant three elaborate toilettes to make.- It was not etiquette to leave, or even to make a move, before Royalty left, so if one function happened to be a little late in ending, it meant a terrific rush to get home, change, and bo back at the next one an hour before the appointed time. There were very few motor cars then to expedite the travel to and fro, and certainly no hire ones. Cabs and all kinds of hire vehicles were simply at a premium, and unlucky visitors who had not their own _ carriage were at the mercy of the jelms, who were determined to make a harvest, so would accept double, even triple, engagements, with the result that he would call for the first long before the time necessary to leave, and would keep the last waiting until the very last minute, and the unfortunates were in a nervous fever in case they should arrive too late and be barred out.

Yes, things were different then, and the democratic spirit of to-day scorns elaborate precautions for our Royalty and the friendliness that makes it possible for so many to come in personal contact with them was not understood, the then Duchess was decidedly unapproachable, and folks were kept at their distance from the Duke, who was still suffering from, the after-effects of typhoid fever.