ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11878, 1 February 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[FROM THE SOCIETY VAXZZS.] ; Rot.«.tt, like otter mortals, falls a victim to golf. The extension of the New Mar Lodge course from twelve to eighteen holes, just ordered by the Duke of Fife, is due to the fact that the King intends to play over these private links next year. At Homburg the King generally, played golf with a lady who has won several cups, and ho always managed to win by one or two holes. When ■ho left His • Majesty presented her with :a • diamond brooch in the form' of a golf-club, • but. whether the lady was rewarded for her skill as a player or as a courtier she herself: is not easier. At any rate, the King is most" enthusiastic, and his putting and approach- ! ing are remarkable, considering the scanty experience he has enjoyed.

The new Canon of Westminster is great in the pulpit, and is not likely to be confronted at the Abbey with the difficulty in' getting a hearing, of which nearly all clergy-' men in India complain, owing to a great part of the congregation slipping out while the hymn before the sermon is being sung. In the exhausting climate of Calcutta this habit is so inveterate that even when Dr. Welldon was ; announced„ to ; preach at the ; cathedral it was not overcome. The former headmaster of Harrow is not one to shirk an unpleasant duty, and he determined to reprove the habit in ; the presence of those indulging in it. So, : one Sunday, on rising from prayer, ; the congregation found the Metropolitan already ;in the pulpit. He said they would f dispense with a hymn, in order that the sermon might be preached to the whole congregation instead of a small portion of it. He then proceeded to condemn strongly the practice of leaving the church in the middle of the service, as not only disrespectful to: their spiritual; guides, but also as irreverent, since religious instruction and exhortation were as much a part of Divine worship as the recital of the prayers. 1 After this rebuke no one ventured to leave until the conclusion of the sermon, which the bishop then proceeded to deliver.

Much speculation has been rife lately on the subject of the crown that the King will assume during the coronation ceremony, and an idea seems to have gained ground that alterations in form and design are in contemplation. . It can be stated with authority that no such changes are intended, and that the sole modification that will be made will be that of adapting it to His Majesty's head. To effect this the open-work rim, in front of which blazes the famous sapphire bequeathed by Cardinal York to King George 111., must be somewhat enlarged, and it is expected that this work, which presents no difficulty whatever to an expert jeweller, will be completed before the crown, with the rest of the regalia, is wanted to bear its significant part in the State opening of Parliament by the King in January. In carrying out the enlargement a . few more precious stones will probably be required for the rim, which has alternately sapphires and emeralds, richly set in diamonds, around it. With regard to the crown for Queen Alexandra the case is different, and here an altogether new diadem is probable,. The Consort's crown, made for Queen Mary of Modena, wife of James 11., is not specially artistic in conception, or valuable in execution. Her present Majesty has had various designs and suggestions submitted to her, but has not yet finally selected any of them. Whatever form may ultimately be chosen it will bo largely decided by the Queen herself, whose exceptional taste with regard to the (arrangement of precious stones is being exercised to render this a uniquely beautiful and dignified crown. At present there are no indications that the Koh-i-Noor will be incorporated in it.

Mr. Maurice Lyons, the owner of the beautiful Queensland gem, which has come j to be, known as the "Imperial Opal," has returned to London ( after a long absence abroad.. A press representative sought an interview with him as to the truth or otherwise of the recently-published statement to the effect that the' opal is to be placed in King Edward's crown. The stone is said to weigh 250 carats, and to be even more remarkable for its splendid lights and . fire than for its size. It has been pronounced' by experts the finest opal in existence. Mr. Lyons said there was evidently some misapprehension in this matter. His Majesty's jewellers, who had held the gem at the disposal of the King for the past nine months, informed him only a few days ago that they were aware through the medium of Royal command that His Majesty had no intention of having the crown : reset or altered in any way, with the possible exception of ■ such change as might be required to make it fit. Asked as to the probable destination of the Imperial opal, Mr. Lyons said he was going abroad again at an early date, and at present all he could say was that he would notinterfere with the custody of the opal. During his absence it would be left with His Majesty's i jewellers at the King's absolute disposal in case it might be required, although not for his coronation crown.

It will be interesting to see what steps are taken in His Majestv's prisons next June to celebrate the auspicious event of that month. At the last coronation all prisoners confined in Newgate, of whatever degree, were supplied by the sheriffs with a pound of beef, a pound of potatoes, a, pound of white bread, and a pint of strong beer, and those doomed to solitude were allowed to mingle for a short space with their fellow-men. In Bridewell the day was respected in like manner, and the " oakum pickers" and hemp beaters," as this class of captives was called, had a day's holiday. In the Fleet Prison, immortalised by Pickwick, the warden bestowed half a gallon of porter upon each inmate, and the brewers who regularly supplied the gaol acted in like manner as at the other privileged prisons. But, though the general practice was to relax some of the stringencies of prison life, there were exceptions, and at the now prison at Clerkenwell, for example, no change at all was made in the daily programme. It is also recorded that for those detained in the House of Correction the visiting justices made no order in their favour, and the prisoners had their usual soup maigre, and spent the day by " tread, tread, treading."

There is a certain major in the Royal Munster Fusiliers who has a great contempt for incapacity of any kind, and is somewhat impatient into the bargain. Some time ago (says the Week-End) lie was in charge of a detachment of men guarding lines of communication, and a colour-sergeant complained that he could get no man to undertake the duty of barber to the company. "Is there no gardener in the company?" asked the major testily "I seem to remember one. Send him to me." The man was duly sent, but on receiving orders to act as barber ventured to expostulate. " Great heavens)" yelled the major, "if you can cut grass you can cut hair. Go and do it." The man went, but what the others said is unprintable.

In Ireland Mile. • Ghita Corri lias just been telling a story which well illustrates Paderewski's courtesy and kindness. _ A rehearsal- of " Let the Bright Seraphim" had been called at the Crystal Palace. The cornet player was on the scene, but the gentleman who was to play the pianoforte accompaniment was nowhere to be found, and Mile. Corri was discussing the dilemma with Mr. August Manns just as Paderewski had finished rehearsing his concerto with the orchestra. "There is no pianist," wailed the singer to Mr. Manns. "How can you say that when I am here?" broke in Paderewski, who was parsing. "But I could not think of asking you," said the lady. " Oh, I won't wait to be asked. Give me your score," said the great artiste; and he sat down and played like an inspired orchestra. Those Who know how strongly even the most ordinary solo pianist would resent a request to play an accompaniment can best appreciate Paderewski's ready kindness. Mile. Corri, by the way, is a great grand-daughter of Domenico Corn, the friend of Haydn.