A LONDON LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 22517, 9 December 1936, Page 17

A LONDON LETTER

[By M. S. Primmer.] PLENTIFUL PAGEANTRY. Many of - us naturally are wishing that we belonged to the “ rich few ” so that we could be sure of a good seat at the Coronation. Just think of the enormous number that will be put up—9B,ooo—and yet already profiteering sharks are being legislated against. Hotels are booked out for the season and are refusing guests for a miserable week or two. One American offered to hire the whole of—l think it was the Rita—for Coronation month at any price suggested. Thank goodness, the offer was-.turned down. With so few remaining possibilities of coronations anywhere in the world, we can’t help feeling just a little complacent about it all. Anyhow, the majority

of us will have our work cut out to catch a glimpse of anything, and so .with , similar philosophical reflections I decided to get fine pageantry for nothing, not even a stiff neck. And what a lot we’ve had lately. I DICK WHITTINGTON TO-DAY. His name isn’t Dick at all, hut after all, what’s in a name? as our immortal bard asked. Each year for centuries a “ Dick Whittington ” has had a grand day all to, himself, even in the midst of a crowd. No one, as far as I know, has sported a cat since that historical figure, but always the new Lord Mayor of London takes some more or less topical (even symbolic) subject and decorates it about and about, to the huge joy of the small fry that waves flags and pipes shrill “ Long live the Mayor.” Sir George Broadbridge chose for his processional idea “ London and the Defence of the Realm,” suitable to the moment, I suppose, for we hear now only all the time, of rearmaments. He really did it well, made a picturesque thing of it, with a goodly dash of historical accuracy, and plenty to see for our hours of standing on chilly pavements. What a lot we learnt! Did you know that it w'as that dashing Henry VIII. who introduced uniforms for the soldier citizens? He was, I believe, rather a vain man, which accounts for a lot in his reign, but at least let us give him credit for making his military ones dignified to look upon. Most of the soldier contingents were from our Regulars, and therefore the last word in elegant efficiency. The hoorays for the sailors were rather more hearty, for who can resist a naval man? I never before thought of Protector Cromwell in connection with pirate-looking sea ones, who really gave a nice splash of swashbuckling colour with their red caps and striped shirtsleeves. Nelson’s men nearly brought hysterical cheers, while, alas! Victoria’s bearded ones (with wide straw hats, too) brought the house down in another manner. Then last of all came the wonderful old mayoral coach, with Sir George so buried inside that you could hardly see more than his billowing feathers. We noticed how, at last, the yoiingest Service has been officially recognised, for there, in front of us. marched as fine a body of airmen as can be seen in the older services. It is whispered that perhaps one of these years the King will wear the R.A.E. uniform on Armistice Day. Generally he has had a. soldier’s; this year it was as an Admiral that he went up to the Cenotaph, so why not the Air next, especially as ho is tremendously keen on flying? THEN THE FEAST. To most of us anything mayoral conjures up its corollary, a magnificent feast, whore you have real turtle soup (at enormous cost and from a palate point of view, not worth all the talk about it), and. of course, a haron of beef, cut up at a special high table with splendid officials iu attendance. Pcpys in his diary mentioned witli disgust that when he went thev had wooden bowls and no napkins. This time thev had so much solid silver plate, not to speak of medals and orders of all kinds, that his eyes would have blinked. Nor

would he have regaled himsglf with ducks’ tongues, “ flue fat liver,” venison, or tolans, and other succulent dishes, though the cost is more now than it was in those days, indeed no less than £4,000 to be divided between the Lord Mayor and the two shernffs. I wonder how he would have stomached the 14 speeches that followed ? Most of them wore short, but even so the emptying of chairs' proceeded without break after the first half-dozen. Poor man! The Mayor will he expected to deliver not less than 700 in his year of office. In the terrific heat of 4,000 guests, 1 all terribly cramped for room, it was hardly to be wondered at that Mr Ramsay MacDonald fainted, especially as he does not seem to have quite recovered his health. MORE COLOUR. The next item of free-show programmes was the State opening of Parliament, but this proved very literally a■ “wash 1 out,” for the skies opened and emptied themselves with a vengeance. Yet in spite of the deluge some hundreds or two stuck it out, only to be terribly disappointed that the King at the last minute decided to drive in a closed car, and not to use the fine- old gilt chariot and crimson harnessed horses. The scene in the House was, I understand, rather marvellous, yet with a throat-catch too, for now there was only one throne, and the young-looking monarch seemed somehow lonesome. Last scene of all was last week, Armistice Day. What a two minutes that is when the millions

who are walking and chatting one moment, suddenly halt, salute, and are silent. Trams, endless cars, hurrying wayfarers, old and young, just a complete standstill. Then in the midst of this terrific silence, the King walks slowly to lay the wreath of remembrance at the foot of the Cenotaph, recalling himself, too, many of his comrades of 20 years ago. I often ask myself how long this ceremony, short and poignant, will last. Till the next war? Horrid thought. PERSONALS FROM LONDON. Let me first begin with the somewhat numerous recent engagements:—Dr James Irving, M.D., D.Ph., of the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, to Miss Janet May O’Connor, of New York (Dr Irving belongs to a Christchurch family) ; Mr Thomas Reuben, of Guildford, to Miss June Constance, second daughter of Mr and Mrs Alan Moody, of Auckland; Mr Richard Montague, lately of Auckland, and Miss Marion Windeler, of Surrey. Meanwhile Dr Cooper, of Christchurch has just married Miss Wall, of Sydney, at Farnhorough, Hants. This town is one of the most important ones for Air affairs, and Dr Cooper is there as a member of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, doing research workProfessor Copland, one of New Zealand’s most distinguished graduates, and dean of the faculty of commerce at Melbourne University, had the honour of giving a luncheon talk at the Royal Empire Society, his subject being ‘ Australia’s Economic Recovery.’ He has just recently left to go back to Australia. ... Mr Winterbourn, of Christchurch, and Mr A. B. Thompson are here at the London University Institute of Education, with ,Carnegie Education Fellowships. The former is specially interested in questions of vocational guidance, adult education, while the latter is concentrating on the relation between technical and secondary education. The results of their labours will no doubt be of considerable value to New Zealand. Mr Homer, lately of Dunedin, has just passed with first class honours the examination of the Institute of Heating and Ventilation, London, and the London and City Guild, in these two subjects. Mr Foy is expected hero as inspector of dairy produce in Great Britain on behalf of the Department of Agriculture. Mr Foy was at one time manager of the Ararata Dairy Company. Mr Ching and his daughter left this week for New Zealand, expecting_to return about April. Mr Ching is the manager for the United Kingdom ot the South British Insurance Company. Mr Tan Calder, architect, recently of Wellington, came to try his luck here. He has just accepted a post on the staff of Mr Joseph Emerton, A.R.T.B.A. It was this firm that designed and erected the Now Olympia Exhibition Hall, so that our New Zealander has made an excellent beginning. Mr and Mrs Jordan, our new High Commissioner and his wife, are well into London life now, and enjoying a multitude of social and more or loss official engagements. Airs Jordan hopes to be established in her home quite shortly. One of their earliest “ welcomes was

by the New Zealand Circle of the Overseas League, and took the form of a sherry tea. Colonel Lascelles presided over a large number, whose enthusiasm was even more stimulated when Mr Jordan stood up to shake hands with those present, and to agree to become president of the circle. A greater honour fell to them when Lord Bledisloe presided at the New Zealand Society’s luncheon at the Savoy Hotel. No less a person than Mr Malcolm MacDonald, Secretary of State for the Dominions, was present, other distinguished ones being Lady Bledisloe, Lord Halifax, and various High Commissioners, Lord and Lady Balfour of, Burleigh, Lieutenantcolonel and Mrs Fitzherbert, Sir Alexander Godley, Sir Clement, and Lady Kinloch - Cooke, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Lyne, Dr Mandel, Captain Mills, Mr Platts-Mills. Mr and Mrs Walter Young, Miss Nelle Scanlan (whoso latent book is up to the high level of her previous ones), and Mr and Mrs Arthur Willis.