LONDON MARKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23319, 12 April 1939, Page 4

LONDON MARKET

QUEEN MARY'S VISIT COUNTY COUNCIL JUBILEE EXHIBITION OF EARLY DAYS [from OUH OWN CORR'KSI'ONDENT] LONDON, March 23 Accepting the invitation of 17-year-old Monte Modlyn, an outfitter's assistant, Queen Mary, this week, visited Lambeth Street traders in the Cut and Lower Marsh, a street market that has existed in South London for 200 yoars. During a brief halt at tho Old Vic, Queen Mary shook hands with tho youth. "Did you write the letter asking mo to come?" she inquired. Monto blushed, and said he did. / "Very nice—very nice," Queen Mary told him. "1" do hopo my visit will help the traders." Sitting in her car at the Cut, Queen Mary was presented with a bouquet by little Rosemary Jenkins, aged seven, who has a cloud of curly golden hair. Queen Mary looked admiringly at j Rosemary as sho took her hand, and exclaimed, smiling: "What beautiful hair you have, Rosemary. Wherever did you got it?" Quick as lightning, Boscmary j answered: "From God, Your Majesty." | "Well, well," said Queen Mary, suddenly looking very serious, "you're a very nice littlo girl." Cheering Welcome Qupen Mary was well repaid for her visit to the market by the great welcome extended to her by the cheering thousands who lined the route. Her, Majesty was on her return journey j from the centenary celebrations at, County Hall, Westminster, and was accompanied by tho Princess Royal. Tho pearly kings and queens of Lambeth and the neighbouring boroughs wero present in their, full regalia, and the streets and stalls were decked with bunting. The Royal car was driven slowly through tho market, and tho street traders climbed on top of their stalls, whilo their children climbed up lamp-posts and traffic lights. Previously, Queen Mary had driven across Westminster Bridge. When she walked into County Hall, she saw half a century of London spread out before her. For a few minutes she was living in London of 1889. There were the gas jets, with tho wire cages round them, and tho bare institution benches, and the leather "liiuifs" and jackets for tho strapping of lunatics, and a page recording the outbreaks of fire on the same March day 50 years ago. First Members When Queen Mary attended the jubilee meeting of the London County Council, she opened the council's jubiI 100 exhibition, showing London as it ' was, is. and can be. When sho walked with Mrs. E. M. Lowe, first woman chairman, into the Council Chamber, she had near her two men who were young, like herself, in the London of half a century ago, at tho beginning of , the London County Council. One was John Burns, former Cabinet i Minister, trade union leader, dockers' champion, who stood square and hale, eyes deep under bushy white eyebrows, beard white and pointed. The other was Lord Dickinson, lean and tall, with the firm mouth of a lawyer, but with a benign glance through his spectacles, whoso hair is as white as John Burns'. They were both members of the first j London County Council. So was Mrs. Cobden Unwin, but sho is 89, and could only write her message. Tho jubilee meeting of tho council was called "ceremonial." The ceremony was in the presence of Queen Mary | and the Lord Mayor of London, and the Mayors of the London boroughs, i and three Cabinet Ministers, Mr. Walter Elliott, Dr. Leslie Burgin and Sir John Anderson. But the conduct of tho i meeting was simplo and familiar. j