LONDON JOTTINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1925, Page 7

LONDON JOTTINGS

I ■ THE PAGEANT OE PARLIAMENT. (Special to “Star.") CHELSEA, December 13. The fairy-like pageant attending the opening of Parliament took place last Tuesday, when the grey 'skies and towers of Westminster must, have thrilled a little as at an old romance. The long procession embodied brilliantly dressed men and women of today, and the historic Beefeaters marching sturdily on, foot. The great shaking “Cinderella" coach witli the smiling King and Queen; and the' densely packed crowds, whose cheers swell to flpud shouts and die down to a murmur, with a certain quiet orderliness that so well becomes’the greyness and the beautiful' old building. The most interesting thing amongst the peeresses was the number of shingled heads, when a simple bandeau was worn, in contrast to the coiffures, worm by their predecessors a few years ago. The surprise of the King’s speech was the announcement that the Prince Will next year visit the Argentine, aft,er the completion of his South African tour. King George visited Buenos Ayres—"city of beautiful breezes,” . and' founded .in 1535 by Pedro •de Mendozo —over 400 years ago. His Majesty, with his brother, the late Duke of Clarence, was serving in H.M.S. Bach,ante, but at that time the “city of beautiful breezes” is said to have been a slumbrous place with cobbled streets and no drains.

“LABOUR’S EWE LAMB.” Miss Wilkinson, the Labour Party’s' “ewe lamb,” made her maiden speech two days after the opening of Parliament and is reported to have made, a most- favourable impression. She referred to'the four women M.P.’s left in the House as we “four orphans of the storm” —and said she was not only representing women —but men, as her constituency was one of the few parts of England in which the, men were in greater numbers than the women. One member referred to Miss Wilkinsons maiden speech as a “flaming success,” but this was a sly dig at her hair. THE FOG. ; London has this week experienced one of the worst fogs for twenty years. For; over ,tw° days a thick “pea soup” veil has hung over the city. Day has been turned into night, over a thousand buses .were .taken off, the roads, and few people were able td be at their businesses or keep appointments on time, Flares burned at various, dangerous points in the . city, and special London, general omnibus fog signalmen were stationed- with powerful hurricane lamps to pilot the buses across busy thoroughfares and round corners. Several accidents took place between buses, but always on the outskirts. Such precautions were taken in the city that nothing serious was reported.' Private cars were almost totally absent from the traffic streams,. and commercial vehicles were at a minimum. All the smaller shops have complained of a lack of business,' but the large stores report that' the 'Christmas shopping was quite unaffected by the day’s turned night. By an irony ,of the weather, the weather expert told us that London owed its fog to the fact that the weather had become too suddenly fine. It has ocasipncd great loss in shipping circles, and many vessels, including .the big P-. and O. liners, are §till held up in the Channel.' /,The loss incurred for the extra lighting used in the streets throughout the day. runs into six figures, and though lamps have been at full blaze it, was impossible to see evenia glimmer at a distance of 50 to 60 paces, the distances varying but slightly in different parts of the city: Among the various cancellations were the .wool market sales arranged for Wednesday, when it was announced that the buyers were unable to view the wool owing to the fog. 1

R.A: PRESIDENT:

Mr Frank Dicksee, R.A.., was elected president of the Royal Academy last Wednesday evening in succession to Mr Ashton Webjr, who retired owing' to the age limit. Mr, Dicksee while expressing great satisfaction at his electibii, said he felt he was rather old for the ('position. Mr Dicksee was bom in 1853, and made his first appearance at Burlington House at the age of 23 with a painting which gained him a gold medal, “Elijah confronting Ahab and Jezebel in Naboths Vineyard.” MISS MEGAN HOME AGAIN. Miss Megan Lloyd George, the popular daughter of the one-time Prime Minister, arrived in London last Saturday after nearly a year’s stay in India as the guest of the Viceroy, the Earl of Reading. She was met by her father and > mother, and looked, evry happy and fit, but put off her many would-be inter-viewers-with “it would be too long to tell you all/ ’to which her father replied, “She is not going to give her-

self away.” ' THE THEATRES. Misfortune dogs Marie Tempest in the West End. Last week she opened in a new play at the Queen’s ‘Orange Blossoms,’ a play translated from the French, but it will be withdrawn tonight, after about ten days’ run. It* had a brilliant caste, for in addition to. Marie Tempest there was Fay Compton, Francis Lister and Allen Aynesworth,. but it was dull. To quote the Sunday' Times critic. “But the whole thing was dreadfully dull.” It was. Sybil Thorridyke reopens in “Saint Joan” in January at the Regent Theatrb, and Oscar Ashe is not going to play Bottoni in the Drury Lane production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The part is to be played by a young actor named Wilfred Walter, who is reported to have given a very wonderful show of the part in an “Old Vic” production two years ago. All the Christmas shows are beginning to make their yearly appearance in town —the evergreen “Charley’s Aunt,” “When Knights Were Bold,” “Blue Bird,” “Peter Pan” and pantomimes of the usual order. Barrie’s “Kiss for Cinderella” is to be played for holiday matinees at the Haymarket Theatre . while Galsworthy’s play “Old English,” is played each evening. AN UP-TO-DATE RAFFLES A most romantic burglar has just been sentenced to five years penal servitude for a series of raids on country houses. This up-to-date “Raffles” saw in his plan a chance for a pleasant holiday, so he hired a covered-in punt and drifted lazily down the river to enjoy himself by day and to seize his spoils'by night. Anthony ...St, George—this modern Raffles, carried out ’’ his burglaries single-handed. Leaving his punt under

cover of darkness; he would cycle miles into the. country to the house he had marked down. For the purpose of facilitating these nocturnal visits, St. George feigned a great, interest in architectural beauties, ingratiating himself , with the'local residents, and was frequently invited to tennis and garden parties.. All his raids were wonderfully planned, but he was tracked at length by a broken piece of match box and the tracks of his x bicycle—7, rather clever bit of detective work on the part of a village policeman. A FAMOUS BEAUTY. Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson; whose beauty is familiar to millions, is. at present in London staying with her sister, Viscountess; Astor, /in St. James’ Square. Mrs. Gibson is the wife of Charles Dana Gibson, the famous American artist, and her features have probably been reproduced more than those of any other living woman except film stkrs. Mr. Gibson owes his fame and his fortune partly to the beautiful Virginian girl who.posed for countless. drawings . of. the . tall slim‘fair young woman with a knot of fluffy curls piled. like a crown high on her head. ' THE REALM IOF FASHION ■ A bronze or pewter tray fixed to a suede strap with weighted ends in the latest idea for armchair comfort. The strap is thrown over the arm of the chair and keeps the tray in a steady position at the. smoker’s elbow. The suede is dyed in all shades, so colours cap be chosen to tone with the furnishing scheme of different types of room. The trays, too, can be bought in bronze, brass or pewter finish.

Some of the prettiest of the new boudoir designs in moccasins show a quaint Turkish effect of Oriental embroidery in silver or gold on satin or soft velvety leather. In tango, rose, purple or bright blue, these are cheery and ever so comfortable to wear. Fur, of course, is.used a lot in their decoration, and here the novelty dyed fur is' in great request. Sometimes brightly coloured beads are used for the embroidery. Mules are daintier than ever, fascinating affairs of elaborate embroideries and brocade. Anything may be used to adorn these pretty trifles, from antique paste buckles to tiny jewelled flowers. The pasha boot is one of . the cosiest ideas for winter boudoir wear. These boots are designed on slender lines with a top like a Russian boott. Made in quilted satin of delicate pastel shades bordered with fur they are the last word in bedroom luxury. Fashion by night is almost as important as fashion by day, and it is indeed interesting to note the bewitching night attire now being offered by the big shops generally labelled —Christmas gifts, Filet lace in dark chromes or ochre is used to trim many of these charming negligee,. caps, etc. It is a new idea to have everything in tone, and a gold toned crepe de chine nightdress with light brown filet has a wrap in gol- * den-brown bordered with dyed swansdown.

The smart hat underlined with gold tissue is a millinery fad of the moment, and scarves of gold tissue have made a successful appearance. These scarves, long, wide, and very smart, are sometimes finished with gilt leather ends. Gilt leather is also being used extensively for embroidering frocks and hats. Pansies are the latest addition to. the artificial flower craze, and so charmingly,and cleverly are these being made that it is extremely hard to distinguish them from. the real thing. They are made in velvet in every , shade of mauve and purple, and soft green foliage twisted with a wisp of silver sheet paper, after the way of the Bond Street florist.