DIANA ABROAD

Evening Star, Issue 23298, 21 June 1939, Page 14

DIANA ABROAD

IMPRESSIONS OF LONDON 'J’o arrive in London in the Knglish spring is something woitli waiting many years to experience. The lovely trees, the gorgeous flowers, and the wonderful turf cauic as a revelation, perhaps accentuated by weeks of ocean travel. It was. however, a cold wet morning when we docked at (I a.m. at Tilbury—not the pleasantest introduction but so it happened—and the drive up, for the first part through miles of rather dreary houses, was not inspiring. Then a stretch of greeu countryside with green hedgerows and trees and cattle grazing peacefully .somewhat brightened the outlook until Loudon, the city of our dreams, came slowly •into reality. What were our first impressions? Perhaps the most vivid, the timemellowed buildings as one after another we came on those places that we had always known so well—St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower, and the old Tower Bridge. The narrow streets with their terrifying traffic and noise and the smell of petrol that will always be associated with our first day in the great, metropolis.- Then the lovely trees in nil their new spring beauty, in the streets! in the parks, in avenues as in The Mall, with every now and then one magnificent specimen set in the midst of the closest buildings, perhaps just railed off and occupying a priceless site, but standing there in majestic, beauty. How Londoners love their trees! No ruthless hand is allowed to tamper with their beantv. The next most vivid impression wan the wealth of flowers, sold from huge baskets by the flower girls in their bonnets and shawls who occupy almost historic sites, handed down, and from barrows and stalls. Perhaps it was after the long ocean voyage that we loved them so much, and perhaps because it was spring time and they

were so overwhelmingly lovely—tulips, roses, bluebells, primroses, and lily-of-tho-valiey almost too good to be true, the tulips so tall and fine, the roses so straight, with all their priekles. it. seemed, set at regular intervals, and the bluebells rivalling in colour the sky on a summer's clay, with lil.v-of-the-vnllcy in great bunches that we could buy for just a few pence —a riot of colour and beauty.

Another thing that struck ns was the lack of traffic control on the footpaths —no “ Keep to the left" and control here as on the roadways, just walk as you please. At first we felt most annoyed at being jostled, but soon fell into this new way of walking at will. Even the horses are used to being jostled, and you can drive right under their very noses and they don't even wink—very marvellous in many ways, these London horses!

Another thing one notices is the ahsence of children in the London streets. Of course, in Kensingfnu Gardens and the.parks one meets them, but hardlv ever in the streets; one must go far out into the outlving districts to hear the cheerful clatter of children's voices. But dogs everywhere—in the buses, in the streets, the parks, the restaurants, always, of course, with their owners, and it seems that when one catches a snatch of conversation anywhere between two women it is almost an even chance that if, will be something connected with (heir dogs, their sicknesses, or their habits.

Kew Gardens. One of the loveliest of Loudon’s very lovely gardens is at Kew, where we spent a very happy morning among the flowers and the birds, ft ere one secs English lawns in perfection, centuries old. perhaps, and kept as only English gardeners know how. Visitors may walk down the long “ vistas ” ns they are called, on this lovely turf—-what a relief for London-tired feet—between avenues of the most wonderful old 1 trees, their branches sweeping down; flowers, too. in profusion, gorgeous beds of tulips and all late spring flowers, but best of all the bluebells round Queen Victoria's cottage, the turf just carpeted with them as far as the eye can see. and the lilacs, hedges of them, of every varying tone. Derby Day! On Mav 'l l we left, Victoria by bus for Epsom Downs to see the Derby run,

A day of brilliant sunnshine with not a (u oud in the sky, through miles and miles of shops and houses, and then through green country roads on to the famous downs. What a sight, rolling green downs, dotted all over with hawthorns. laburnums, and lilacs in full bloom, and thousands of cars, coaches, and bases bumping their way to the course Pedestrians, too, of every rank —no admission charge here—Cockneys, gipsies, dirty and picturesque (much more the former than the latter), Indians in native costumes, selling silks and umbrellas; bookies; tipsters; ice cream and drink sellers; booths selling stewed cels, evidently a favourite dish for racegoers, or slices of cold salmon with a roll. Onr bus drew up quite near the track, and oft we went to mingle with the crowd, entertained at every stop. This scene on the downs was just too wonderful, huge sky signs streaming across, advising on reliable bookies and giving all sorts of other entertaining information, and changing every minute, with the whole landscape dancing in the sunlight—the best Derby Day for years. Lunch was served phonic-fashion in the shade of the bus. The menu, quite an elaborate one, consisted of cold salmon with cucumber, cold roast chicken, and bam, with mixed salad, rolls, and butter with cheese, jellied fruit salad, with all necessary condiments and implements. served individually in the most attractive containers, each portion wrapped and sealed. Then up on the top of the bus to see the races, just those little snatches, of course, that one can see from any given place. Everyone. evidently good-natured and happy, with megaphone instructions constantly coming through: “ Watch your bags, ladies.”

The Frocking. , What is worn at the Derby? Everything from the smartest of London and Paris fashions to the gipsy girls in the minimum, carrying sleeping babies slung over their shoulders, to give the mothers freedom to sell their wares or carry on their trades; Costers in velvet coats covered with pearlies and hats loaded with ostrich feathers; and neat

English girls with their faultless complexions and well-groomed hair. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, with the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Princess Koval and the Karl of Harewuod were among those who saw the Karl of Rosebery's horse, Bine Peter, win the great race. The smartest ensemble was worn by the Duchess of Kent—a simple frock and short coat of soft while crepe printed with a tiny Mower pattern in claret colour. The skirt was quite short. Her hat, tilted up at the side, was of white straw ; the veil, which boasted large spots of white chenille, was draped, the ends falling over the brim. Her shoes were of brown and white leather.

Among fashionable racegoers this was the favourite style of froeking. Twelve hundred guests attended the combined Empire banquet at Grosvenor House, which followed the Derby, the Duke and Duchess of Kent being the guests of honour.