DIARY OF DOINGS IN LONDON TOWN

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2338, 7 January 1926, Page 7

DIARY OF DOINGS IN LONDON TOWN

REMINISCENCES OF LATE QUEEN-MOTHER Russian Refugees at Home in Mayfair EDITOR OF “WISDEN’S” PINAL TEST LONDON, Nov. 26 Queen Alexandra’s Cake A friend tells me that one of the most - striking proofs of the suddenness with which Queen Alexandra’s illness became critical lies in the kitchen at Sandringham. It is the birthday cake, which was to have figured at the birthday celebrations next week, and which has been in course of preparation for weeks. The cake carried on it a reproduction In sugar of the Chinese house in the rose garden, where the Queen Mother has spent so many of her happiest moment, and which she had made a storehouse of wonderful china. It was a vast cake, because every‘child on the estate would have had a piece of it. It will now never be completed. The Late Queen and Egypt There can bo no harm in stating now that if her strength had permitted, arrangements would have been made tor Queen Alexandra to have wintered this year in the South, For many weeks past her doctors had doubted hef*. ability to withstand any long bout of severe cold. The Riviera and Egypt had both been discussed—the latter because the Queen Mother herself had always a longing to revisit it She went there many years ago with the late King Edward, the change being dictated by considerations of health. She used to-say that the palace in which she was housed by the then Khedive reminded her of the "Arabian Nights.” It Is a reminder of the late Queen’s great age that she saw the Suez Canal under the guidance of Lesseps himself. Queenly Sympathy.

Many Actions are told about Royal or distinguished people, but Queen Alexandra’s intense sympathy was no press gosslper’s convention. Sir Frederick Treves told a story that Established -the true nobility of her'late Majesty’s humanity. Some years ago there was in one of the London hospitals a patient who was a man of unspeakable repulsiveness in appearance, though a decent, well educated fellow personally. His malady was such that it rendered him unsightly beyond words, even the most sympathetic people shunned him. He was, I believe', known as “The Elephant Man." Queen Alexandra got to hear of the case, made it her special task to call on the outcast, and by her courageous attitude gave the unhappy patient genuine solace and happiness. Marlborough House.

There is a rumour that In spite of tradition the Prince of Wales may not move into Marlborough House because he would find it inconveniently spacious as a bachelor. The house is said to be the only piece of domestic architecture given to London by f/r Christopher Wren, and its proportions are on almost as generous a scale as those of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is possible, therefore, that the Duke and Duchess of York may make It their town house when they move out of Curzon House at the end of the winter. Queen Alexandra’s Will I am told that, although Queen Alexandra had considerable property which she could dispose of as she liked, she is said to have saved half hej- annual grant every year; it was only with difficulty that she could be persuaded to make a will. This will must now be “proved” at Somerset House, and go through exactly the same formalities as any commoner's will. But it will not then be open for inspection by anyone who cares to pay a shilling, as are ordinary wills. It will be sealed up by the Registrar when he signs the probate, and can be Inspected only with the permission of the King. Contemporary Royal wills are never put at the disposal of historians, but the serious research student can often get permission to see older Royal wills of historical interest

The ClndereUas of Mayfair There has been a sudden lull in the gay round of Mayfair as a result of Queen Alexandra’s death. Perhaps the people who most miss the gay parties with which the season began are the Russian refugees who were being ‘taken up” whole-heartedly In Mayfair circles. These Russian men and women—many of them of high rank in their own land —have firmly established themselves in the social as well as the working life of London. Like a meek little brown chrysalis a princess of Russia will hide herself all day, working as a mannequin in a big dress-designing house, managing a Russian restaurant or finely embroidering dainty garments. But, work finished, the butterfly emerges and is seen, even at the most exclusive functions, dazzling and fair —a typical beauty of old Russia! ,

Propaganda dn Poverty The Communists have discovered that the hostels and homes run by charitable societies offer a fertile field for propaganda. The latest effort in this direction is remarkable. In one hostel a “mock parliament" is held three times a week with a “Communist” opposition and a ConservativeLiberal “government.” The men, to the number of fifty, argue fiercely about various 'everyday topics, and fervour runs high. The "leaders of the opposition” . air their Bolshevik views with marked ability, and

amongst the down-and-outs they gala converts as quickly as typhus would do victims.

Wipers. I went to see the Tpres film with • man who spent fourteen months on end in the Salient during the worst days. We were impressed by the larg* proportion of men amongst the crowd In the cinema whose armless sleeve*, crutches, and rubber-tipped sticks, testified to a personal Interest It li an effectively ambitious film, and, : where actual photographs of march- 1 ing battalions are shown, with the .■! orchestra playing the old tunes and marches, it is really heart-searching. The actual film fbrthing is realistically done, but porhgps invites expert criticism. Shells burst all round the attacking troops, with realistle sounds cleverly arranged, but considering the artillery barrage and the ; machine-guns, casualties are miraculously few. Bursting as close as these shells do, the whole platoon would be down and out. , At Last It must also be said that the bombing leaves something to be desired. * It required far greater effort to hurl * J Mills a safe or useful distance than , these film bombers appear to exert, ’ There Is, moreover, a great deal of rather theatrical work that In .tho real thing, was utterly missing. How often did our men, after the first Mom business, fire from the shoulder, stand- ' ing up? ' And it is certain that as far . as the Third Battle is concerned, n» i packs were carried over the top. It was “battle order” then, with haver- | sacks strapped where the pack us«- ; ally goes. But these ar e captious expert criticisms. The general effect 1* , most vivid. And my friend learned A from the film’s admirable explanatory s map, for the first time, exactly how A the battle, in which he fought eight yedrs ago, did actually adjust the | line!

Three Zoo Babies. < In the winter months the Regent** Park Zoo, though deserted by tho usual summer crowds and visited, only by a select company of enthusiasts. is more interesting than ever. Not. | •only can the animals and birds bO seen under pleasanter and less agitat- . ing conditions, so that they present Or ■ more normal study, but their hibor- > nating habits have a special interest. At the moment a great attraction ar® ; three babies and their fond mammas. ' One of these is a lively puma cub* . whose mother delights to get him playing last-touch with her tall, and ■ who has conquered his infantile f* RP of humans to such an extent that h® ;.>i loves to chew their Angers with hW soft gums. The baby lion’s mother is- ‘ loss disposed to tolerate inspection, | and th e miniature King of the Forest • Is being brought up with customary royal exclusiveness. But the baby | monkey’s mother is a thorough demo- , crat, with a plebeian taste for neighbourly converse and public picnics. The Better Way, 9

■ A good story Is going round of Club- , ; land concerning a certain Cabinet g Minister who at one time was much • addicted to Auction Bridge. He hold® ; an official position which is very ex- | pensive to maintain In aocordanco with old-time traditions, and when ho i assumed office, laughingly explained r that Jfa would have to retrench. Rue- ' fully mindful of a. tendency to bid % higher than his hand always warranted, he grimly advised his friend® |ij that he’d either have to go into a smaller house—or give up bridge. His club friends expostulated, “For good- ; ness sake don’t give up bridge," they said, “if you do we shall all have to | go into smaller houses!" Wildfowling in London.

The recent hard weather has had ' the effect of driving Innumerable wild- J fowl into London. Leaving th« : marshes they follow the Thames up td> the Victoria Embankment then wing f. their way to Regent’s and Hyde Parks. M It is strangely disturbing to hear tfiflf f whistle of curlew overhead in that • West End on a still and icy morning. M Wild geese hav e been reported, but are too shy to find habitat even for .;1 a day, In populour parks. With duck ; it is otherwise. They congregate about | the Serpentine and the lake °f R®* gent’s Park and flight ,or make over- . tures to the seml-domesticated bird* ■ • preserved on those waters. That ~ counts toward fatality! Keeper* armed shot-guns shoot them I down, unless, of course, In the case . of a rare species It Is rather an asset than otherwise that they should settle in the Park.

“W laden's” Editor. Famous old sportsmen used to mtr®* "a duce their public school sons to the editor of “Wlsden'e” at Lords—the great : | sporting Journalist who “spotted” Jack Hobbs as a two-year-old. Mr. Sydney Pardon’s sporting flair was as unique as his memory. Woo betide the rash cointroversialist who challenged Par- ■: don on a date, whether of ancient or ; modern sporting episode. And his enthusiasm for all forms of sport wa* hardly keener than for highbrow j music and drama. He had as many friends and admlrei-s amongst the theatrical people, and the musician*, -Jj as amongst sportsmen. He had thle "3 distinction, too. He wrote about sport ■ not only with complete knowledge, but in scholarly English. Still, cricket remained his first love, and how fervently h e followed the fortunes of the last Test matches in Australia! Mr. Pardon lived in a hotel off the Strand, and his life was as regular as a clock, including never going to bed before 2 a.m. Every morning about 11 the hotel boots —a keen sportsman—knocked at Mr. Pardon’s door with the hot water. The editor of "WisdenV* declared he had no need to open his morning paper to see th 0 latest Test scores. The boots’ knock Infallibly indicated by its dull gloom or elafea rap, how things were going with Enf- , land. : iS