A LETTER FROM LONDON

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1928, Page 7

A LETTER FROM LONDON

NEWS AND NOTES.

(All Rights Reserved.)

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

December 15, 1927.

THE SAINTLY DEAN

If the late Lord Ribblcsdale was known as “The Ancestor,” the late Dean of Salisbury might have been called “The Old Master.” His face stood out in any gathering of Church Assembly for its saintliness, -with a cap of white hair like" a nimbus. There was isomething patriarchal in the features, though they were unshaven, and their repose was remarkable, until a smile which could only be colled sweet, irradiated them. This extreme simplicity of nature sometimes irritated more impatient men while it nonplussed them. A meeker spirit there never was, and yet how hard to bend to any uses he did not intend! Consequently, though he was a High Churchman, all his learning—and he was an authority on Eastern re-union —came second to a natural piety, which made him free of all schools and disarmed aggressiveness.

A MEDIAEVAL BRIDE. Although the sun refused to shine upon the bride, the drab greyneas of a dull November day was forgotten when Lady Mary Thynne, a regal figure in her ivory velvet mediaeval gown, passed up the aisle of St. Margaret’s for her marriage to Lord Nunburnholme. The artificial lighting of the church, the Easter lilies on the altar, and_ the sheaf of white lilies carried by the bride all helped to create an impression of classic simplicity. Some' time ago Lady Mary abandoned the shingle in favour of long hair, and her more feminine coiffure was exquisitely in keeping with her old-world gown and her veil of lace—a family heirloom—surmounted by a wreath of orange blossom. Her magnificent train of ivory velvet with silver. insets in the form of Gothic arches caused quite a little gasp of admiration among the guests. And for the small pages in silver and white and the tiny girls in silver with blue and crystal headdresses were many approving smiles.

THE SEA EPIC. According to Dean Inge these postwar times are more given to base superstition than even the Middle Ages in England. In this opinion the Dean is perhaps deceived by the crystalrgazing antics of a few wealthy profiteers who have acquired sudden wealth without the culture or education that dignifies its use. The Great War is responsible for these symptoms,and also for a certain amount of agnosticism in neurotic minds due to a feeling that such human calamities challenge belief in a supreme beneficence. It is doubtful whether the effect of the 1914-18 upheaval, however, has not been in the main to strengthen the popular impulse to religion. And most people will, I fancy, see something providential, in the true sense, in the sea epic off Cromer. Those seamen on the Dutch tanker, which broke in two on the dreaded Haisborough Sands, were doomed men, when the bursting of the oil tanks calmed the huge seas, and alone enabled their rescue by the lifeboat.

A LONDON VIGNETTE

It was in Grays Inn Road, at a point where dangerously busy byeroads spell death to the incautious. Children from a neighbouring school had congregated on the side-walks patiently awaiting their turn to be taken across the road in groups. The constable had safely passed one group across; he approached another. Immediately every little boy, save one, gripped the hand of his little girl companion. All gazed cheerfully up at Robert. But Robert was stern. He looked at the ungallant mite. “Now then, where's that hand?” The rebel stuck out an unwilling list to his neighbour. Away went the string across the gap in the stopped traffic. “And just you remember, young man, keep tight hold of Lucy's hand another time'' Woman, as usual, had the last word, “Please, Sir, my name isn’t Lucy, it's Annie!''

MOTORS FOR THE MILLION,

Since the mystery of the new Ford car ceased to exist many would-be motorists have been busily working out the £.s.d. side of the thing. There is no doubt that in his new venture the American wizard of wheels has shown his accustomed shrewd business genius. I gather that the new vehicle will be delivered on payment down of a first instalment of £3O. Thereafter the hire-purchaser pays £2 a month; but, and this is the really inspired touch which Mr Ford seems to have borrowed from Mr Eobert Ingeraoll, at the end of a year—and of each succeeding year—will become entitled to a brand new car. The company will take back the old one and forward its successor. This does away with the great bugbear of repair costs after the first year’s running, of frenzied efforts to dispose of the old car, and the recurrent capital expenditure on the new vehicle. The estimate is that, taking everything except petrol into account, motoring in the new Ford will work out at thirty shillings a week.

ROYAL LATCH KEYS

I wonder why one should be rather surprised to find a small patent latch —and one of rather intricate pattern —on the front door of the Duke of York’s house in Piccadilly. This is in addition to the ordinary heavy locks and bolts, and suggests that the Duke and Duchess, who each lias a keen sense of humour and thoroughly enjoys life in spite of many public duties, may think it rather fun to let themselves into their own house some night after a late, party. As a matter of fact, everybody who goes to 145 i Piccadilly is struck by the utter abi sence of formality and ceremony there. It is a charming house with an atmosphere all its own, created very largely by its happy little chatelaine. QUEEN AS SHOPPER. Almost every day this week the Queen has been shopping in Bond Street or some other part of the West End. To one accustomed to the Court practice in Victorian days, and even in /the last regime, the democratic way in which her Ma/jesty carries out this duty makes >a striking contrast. Formerly the various firms thus honoured 1 by Royal patronage were invited toj display their wares in one of the rooms at the' Palace, and there the Royal patron would make her selections. Queen Mary visits the shops for two reasons. Firstly, because her Majesty loves shopping, moving about [informally among people, and being one of them and, secondly, because she knows what she wishes to purchase, I have noticed that this year her .presents have all been chosen with that utilitarian object which gives so much joy to people nowadays. Several times this week Bond Street has had three Queens shopping simultaneously in it—the Queen of England, the Queen of Spain, and the Queen of Norway—'all without the least fuss on the part of public or shopkeepers.

A VICTORIAN SCANDAL. Many of the figures in the Tranby Crdft scandal, dragged into the limelight by the death of old Mrs Arthur Wilson, widow of the millionaire Hull shipowner, ace still alive, .including the chief actor. But they are old, for the baccarat case dates back 36 years, and this ,once tremendous episode must by now have assumed its due proportions in their memory. Sir Edward Clarke, who was counsel for Sir William Bordon-Cumming, is convinced of his client’s innocence. And that former Army officer, and friend of the late King Edward when he was Prince of Wales, always denied the odious charge of cheating. He did so even when signing, for the sake of the Prince, an undertaking never to play cards again. This attempt to hush the affair up was foiled by the babbling of a schoolboy. The case assumed its

public importance because the Prince of Wales, in those stiff Victorian days, not only figured in it, but his counters, marked with the three feathers, were used by the Doncaster house party to gamble with. MB KEYNES’ TOMAHAWK, Poor Mr Ramsay MacDonald is not having quite a happy time just now. His health is, I hear, still far from good, so that his medical advisers want him to take a Continental rest cure. His followers are flouting him openly in the House of Commons, withj that deplorable lack of discipline that! is Labour’s weak joint. And Mr J. M.j Keynes, that incisive master of politi-j cal economy, has just jumped 'on the Labour leader’s attitude towards the surtax project. It is bad enough that so eminent an authority, all of whose prophecies about post-war finance have come right home to roost, should denounce the thing as bad finance. Still more deadly perhaps is Mr Keynes’ cynical explanation why Mr MacDonald allowed himself to accept the project. According to Mr Keynes this was because Mr Philip Snowden refused to. A shrewd hit, and maybe a true one.

A MEMORY - . The tragic death of Lady Victoria Bullock, a younger feminine replica of her father, and a delightful hostess as well as a really keen sportswoman, recalls the fascinating personality of her first husband, Lord Rosebery’s younger son, the Honourable Neil, Primrose. The latter, unlike his older brother, Lord Dalmeuy, was a striking new edition of Lord Rosebery. Not only in build and features, but in temperament and mentality, Mr Primrose, as a brilliant member of a group of youthful M.P. ’s reminded old Parliamentary hands of his illustrious father just as he was when he left Oxford. Mr Primrose had’ the same delicately mordant humour, the some delightful gift of elocutiou, and much the same wayward patrician outlook. There is no «. doubt that a fine and probably distinguished career was cut untimely short when the younger scion of the house of Dalmeny was killed in the war. It was like him to scorn the “cushy” job, and, in real fighting khaki, to meet his death like a gallant aristocrat.

REAR-ADMIRAL THESIGER. Rear-Admiral Bertram 8. .Thesiger, C. 8., C.M.G., has hoisted his flag ( as Commander-in-chief in the East Indies, now one of the smallest in area of our oversea naval, stations, but very important because of the trade routes flowing through it. It extends from the east coast of Africa across the Indian Ocean nearly to the Straits Settlements, but the Red Sea, which was formerly included, is now trans--

ferred to the (Mediterranean Com—* mand. Rear-Admiral Thesiger last, served as Admiral-Superintendent at Portsmouth, and while there the ships*; completed included the cruiser Ef* fiugham, in which he is now flying his I flag. He was noted for the capital speeches he delivered at prize distributions and similar functions. His ex-' periences in the Baltic in 1919 as captain of the cruiser Calypso afforded him material for some good stories, notably how he captured two bolshevik destroyers. The real credit for this, he said, belonged to the comman-der-in-chief of the ships in question, : who made thing so easy for him, and ; . was found, ou the conclusion of the - operations, behind twelve sacks of potatoes.