IN LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 23

IN LONDON

THE BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE AGAIN [Written by Cynthia, for the ‘Evening Star.’] The bright young people in a new guise have appeared again in London. Phoenix like, they have risen from the ashes of spiusterhood, as now most of them are married. Miss Elizabeth Ponsonby, a ringleader, and Miss Jungman, another, both married, and tor a time all was quiet; now, however, the excitement of being a bride has palled, and so they are out for a caper again. Miss Ponsonby is now Mrs Denis Pelly, and the other the Countess A. de Bosdari.' Their New Year party is a concoction of their own, and everyone invited is to be dressed as an inhabitant of Marsl I am told by a personal friend both hostesses will be dressed in the same style. They will both wear leather costumes; frightfully hot 1 should think. Tho Countess do Bosdari will wear white leather with white helmet cap, and her face will be made up dead white. Mrs Polly will wear black leather, with her face tinted green. Neither hostess is to speak, but to communicate by flashes from an electric bell in code. I understand the E takes place at the Court House, . lebone. NOT FOR THE DUCHESS. These hideous trailing skirts are not going to be adopted by our charming Duchess of York, for at a recent charity ball most of tho women wore drabble-tkiled skirts, dabbing to tho ground, and amongst the notables present the only one who wore her skirt ankle length was tho Duchess. Hers was of pale bine satin, and infinitely becoming. A NOVEL WEDDING GIFT. Miss Phipps, a niece of Lady Aster, had a smart wedding the other day, and one of the most unusual gifts was the lease of a Curzon street flat tor six months. Awfully nice for any couple wanting to spend the coming spring season in town. ROCKING HORSE RACES. At a charity ball the other night (and they have been legion) the great turn was the rocking horse races. These gay and very festive innovations took on enormously, and if you are skilful you can get along at fifteen miles an hour. Of course, you have to know how to ride them. It was huge fun, and there were screams of laughter. Some of the ladies seemed more pioficiont than the men, and got their horses homo quicker. Lovely prizes were given to tho winners. PALE GREEN SATIN FOR A SMART BRIDE. Green has been tho rage, as you know, but the very latest defies all past superstitious, _ as Miss MannThompson was married tho other day in pale green satin; a simply delicious shade of palest lily of the valley green, which shimmered as she moved. Ihe lovely veil and train were of enchanting antique lacc, bold to her head with orange blossoms. The most fashionable shape of head' wreath is round, like a halo, and really not half so pretty as the bandeau wreath,but fashion will bo served, like youth, so one has to put up with new styles, even if they are ugly. THE POVERTY OF RICHES. It makes mo. feel sick at heart to hear how poor are some of our noblemen, who, there is no denying, are tho landowners and backbone of England. Many people think because they own beautiful estates they must necessarily be hoarding money to the detriment of those who have to work. It only these people, who are purely Socialistic, knew the real rock-bottom truth they might perhaps feel inclined to see the error of such views. 1 happen to know facts about some of onr greatest and oldest families who simply arc having to sell their lovely ■ pictures and works of art to pay death duties and taxes imposed on them by the Government. Such a one is the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the owner of that most lovely pf all country mansions, Goodwood, in Sussex Ho has freely stated to tho Press that to keep on his employees (and ho lias hundreds) and to pay huge death duties, as his father died only some eighteen months ago, he is forced to sell pictures and books, some of the most prilsel and valued of his heirlooms, simply ’ to make both ends meet. It may interest some of you who look upon the Old Country as home to hear the duke’s own words. ‘‘ We are harassed by the tax collector, tho burden of deatli duties hangs over us like tho sword of Damocles, while tho produce of lands seems to find a smaller market every year.” The duke added; “ It is not a pleasant thing, to have to admit! but if I am to keep myself and others going, to retain my servants and employees, and carry out tho responsibilities, [ must raiso capital. 1 therefore decided to make the sacrifice of part of my family treasures, chiefly books and pictures in Goodwood House and in Gordon Castle, my Scottish seat.” And yet you hoar people talking of tho selfishness of British landowners. Surely it must cause this most considerate of landlords and kindest of men great pain to part with family possessions such as those are. Doubtless they will all go to America. All are to be sold privately, and will go to tbo highest bidders. The paintings include a number of Van Dycks, Reynolds, Romneys, Gainsboroughs, Loiys, and Knollors, many of them portraits of tho duke’s ancestors. Among the Van Dy;ks are the portraits of Charles 1. and his family, and Charles 11., who was the duke’s progenitor. There are two extremely vain able paintings from tho duke’s collection which are not for; sale They arc by Canaletto, and are; included in tho exhibition of Italian art at Burlington House. Tho duke is also selling a million or more cubic feet of timber, chiefly beech, from his Goodwood estate. There is tbo young Earl of Durham. Ho is the owner of Sir Thomas Lawrence’s famous picture, ‘ The Rod Boy,’ and suggested that unless the masterpiece was sold he might be unable to carry on Lambton Castle. Hero again an- Lord Durham’s own words: “ It is a pity that such beautiful works of art have to bo parted, with in this manner, but deatli duties and other taxation leave no alternative.” Ho added that unless tho sale was completed he would be unable to “'carry on.” 1 hear £200,000 is tho price, for

the picture is very beautiful and one of tho show pieces at Lambton Castle. There have been two Jots of death duties to pay in two .years Two carls have died, £700,000 was paid for the (irst and £250,000 fo. the second. Thus tho finances of tho family have come out at less than half the original sum ! In this ease also tho employees are very numerous. I do hope people who think our old aristocracy is selfish will realise it is nothing of tho sort, and consideration for others forces its members to make terrible sacrifices. America will, of course, get all these lovely things. FOR OUR V.C.’S. To commemorate tho recovery of His Majesty tho King a very beautifully illustrated book is shortly to be published and called ‘The Tribute.’ It is full of celebrated artists’ and authors’ works, all tho loaders of the day contributing to it The financial proceeds of this volume will be devoted to the help of needy V.C.’s. Now it seems to mo a disgrace that any country owning such heroes should allow them to live in want It was clearly shown at the armistice dinner that our beloved Prince of Wales arranged on their behalf that some of these splendid men were so poor they had to pawn their medals to attend! It seems almost impossible that such a state of things should exist. The publisher, Mr John F Horn, is interviewing some of the V.C.’s, with the object of forming a committee to decide upon the best way to help the men, I hope tho public will make a really liberal response. KING EDWARD AND THE SPIRITUALIST. I was lunching with a friend who had been dining tho night before with a, very celebrated man, and a friend of the late King Edward. 1 was immensely amused at the story or “ Teddy,” as we dared to call him, going to a Spiritualistic seance. All sat in the dark, full of mystery and wonderment. Then strange things happened; chairs and tables jumped about, and there was an eerie leeling as though something uncanny was going to happen. It got on to the nerves of one of the company, who struck a match, and there was Prince Louis Napoleon—a great frequenter of London in those days, tossing things about very stealthily! You may imagine the riot that ensuctjl My 'friend assures me this is true. WOMAN’S GREATEST ASSET. I was discussing this with a friend the other day, who is in the Civil Service, and she is very dissatisfied with the result of nmnths of hard work to thoroughly qualify herself for a good position. She is not particularly what you might describe ns a “ good looker.” but very clever and thorough. It doesn’t count, she told me, against the girl with sex appeal. 1 was at onco interested. “ Tell me,” I asked. ‘ what exactly you mean.” “Well,” she went on, “ lots of us plainly see that the interviewers are far more influenced by well-drossed girls of good appearance. Pretty legs and attractive figures seem far more important than first-rate typing and shorthand. Government offices are full of golden-haired blue-eyed, smart girls; goodness knows what their qualifications are. No brains, for sure, siie remarked. “ Oh, Adam,” said 1, “ it is the old story, sex appeal, and it has won times out of number.’ You seo (my friend remarked), brains are really not as valuable as we think they are. I must say, judging from my knowledge of the world, i was inclined to agree with her. Stories of the war rose up before me—of pretty motor drivers, secretaries, and a dozen and one clianning young things, who twisted the officials round their little lingers and got cushy jobs, whereas tho plain ones, much more suited, got left.