LADIES’ GOSSIP FROM HOME

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 19

LADIES’ GOSSIP FROM HOME

The King gives up two hours each morning to the discussion of plans connected with the Coronation. • The EarlMarshal endeavours to save his Maj all worry possible, but there are so many points on which the sovereign has to be consulted that ho will be kept very busy till June. * * * * *

Most of the distinguished colonials who visit England for the Coronation will have apartments assigned to them at the Hotel Cecil. Tho Savoy, Carlton, and Claridgo’s will be the hotels chosen for the Royalties for whom there is no accommodation at Buckingham Palace. ° *****

The Marquis of Bute will be the youngest Peer of full age at the Coronation, as he attains his majority a few days before that event. The youimMarquis is very popular, and bids lair to be a favourite with society. * * * * *

Tlie King has purchased the portrait of Queen Victoria, by M. Benjamin Constant, from the “Illustrated London News.” Tho picture will hang in the dining-room at Windsor Castle, where

its only companion on the walls will be another picture by a French artist—namely, Detaille.

There is a rumour that the Peeresses are going to petition the Earl-Marshall to obtain the King’s sanction to certain modifications in their coronation robes. It seems that the ladies tremble at the thought of wearing heavy crimson velvet and minever in the month of June, and the desired modification would be in the material of tlieir robes. Why. should not crepe de chine, the genuine article, which hangs beautifully, and can only be obtained in the best dyes, be used? If any one should protest against the poverty of such a fabric in comparison with* velvet, I would remind them that the hand-woven velvets which were in use even at the Queen’s coronation were thin, and almost transparent when held up to tho light. Modern machine-made velvet, nearly as air-tight as a mackintosh, is a very different material from the old, and it would not be irreverent to reject it. There is also another objection to velvet—that it is eminently unsuited to the modern style of beauty. * * * * *

There have been many false reports of engagements. I hear (says ‘The Lady”) that Lord Howard de Walden's reported engagement is premature, if not entirely incorrect; and the story that ran round London that tho Duke of . Norfolk was about to marry Lady Alice Fitzwilliam is said to be contradicted. There seemed some foundation for its truth in the fact that Lady Alice lias recently become a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, and it is said that in consequence she lias had to leave her father’s house—a circumstance that might appeal to the chivalry of tho Duke of Norfolk, who, besides being the premier duke, is the head of the Catholic nobility, and the kindest-hearted man in the world. *****

Madame Sarah Bernhardt has decided on a series of revivals of the greatest successes of her career. It seems that no thought of rest can enter into the active brain of the Divine Sarah. There will he but two performances of each of these revivals, and tlie amount of work required will be enormous, considering the way in which Madamo Bernhardt insists oil her plays being produced. **■ « * •

The Duke of Atholl was very unfortunate on the occasion of the King’s dinner at Perth. The King sent a command to the Duke to dine with their Majesties at the Station Hotel on their journey from Balmoral. The train bearing the Duke was late, and had to wait for the pilot engine of the Royal train, which, of course, meant waiting for the Royal train itself. The consequence was that the Duke arrived when the soup had gone round to find that Lord Bredalbane had taken his place. The King wished to make room for the late arrival, but Princess Victoria pointed out that he would make the thirteenth at table, whereupon Lord Bredalbane retired, laughing, to make place for the Lord Lieutenant. *****

By a curious coincidence the announcement of General French’s appointment to the command of the First Army Corps was made public on the same day that a book entitled “French’s Cavalry Campaign” was published. The book, by J. G. Maydon, a member of the Natal Legislative Assembly, is a strong argument in favour of the inportant part which cavalry, as cavalry, lias played in the South African War.

King Leopold of Belgium has a marked distaste to Royal ceremonials, and always seems more happy when he is engaged in one of his hobbies. The greatest, of these is the planning of buildings and landscape gardening. Experts are of opinion that had not King Leopold been called to the throne he would have made his mark among architects.

The new yacht which is being built for tlie German Emperor in America is to bo ready by next April, and is to cost £30,000. The Iduna, the property of the German Empress, which was given to her by her husband, is also an American-built vessel, and the Emperor has always been very much pleased with it. It is expected that the Crown Prince will visit America next year, and that he will then make a trial of his father’s new property. *****

The young' King and Queen of Italy take great delight in all outdoor sports. Chamois and wild goat hunting form their chief sport, and Boldieri, at which place they have a hunting palace is in the heart of the hunting district. Tho Royal couple dispense entirely with an escort on their expeditions, and are loved by all the peasants in whose hands they trust themselves implicitly. ft A ft ♦ *

Sir Frederick Darle.v, who has boon acting as Governor of New South Wales since Lord Beauchamp left Sydney last year, is going borne presently. Sir Frederick is now 71, and as lie lias been Chief Justice of the parent Australian State for fifteen years, ho will retire from that post also, and enjoy a wellearned rest.