TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) OUR ROYAL VISITORS. LONDON, June 14. .Tire hospitality of the city of London is without limit, but there are no guests more welcome within the precincts of the Corporation than those -who are of our own Royal Family or* those closely connected by ties of blood or marriage w-ith our King and Queen. Even our clerk of the weather, erratic as he is, seems to recognise the fact that he is expected to be on his best behaviour when our King or Queen, or any of the relatives, pay a visit to the city. So on Monday last, when the King and Queen of Denmark went from Buckingham Palace to the Guildhall to lunch with the Lord Mayor and Corporation, and to receive an address, the sun shone brightly on the decorated streets through which their Majesties passed, and big crowds gave the royal visitors a warm welcome. Certain colonial visitors who viewed the procession from your London offices seemed rather disappointed at the volume of cheering which the passage of the royal procession evoked, but they Jforgot that Londoners are getting “quite used to this kind of thing/,'’ Since the present Lord Mayor took office in November last we have been called upon to acclaim the progress to the Guildhall- of King Haakon and Queen Maud of Norway, the colonial Premiers, Prince Fushimi, and the King and Queen of Denmark. We are indeed getting somewhat blase where processions are concerned, and it requires something very much out of the ordinary to really -work _the Londoner up to that pitch at which he really “lets himself go” in the way of cheering as he did over the Diamond Jubilee or the Coronation processions, or the march of the C.I.V/s through London on their return from South Africa. And there was nothing in Monday’s affair to tune enthusiasm up to concert pitch. A few royal carriages escorted by Life -Guards, clad in all their gala day bravery of • scarlet and silver, trotted at a' fast pace past the watchers at long intervals, and that was all. You caught a glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales as they flashed past, and might note that the Prince wore an Admiral’s uniform and that the Princess wore a white silk dress, a happy smile, and toque trimmed with a pink tinted ostrich plume; that the King of Denmark was clad in the dark t blue uniform of the Danish Life Guards and the Order of the Garter, and that his Queen’s dress was concealed by a cloak of white fur decorated with tiny black tails. You might also have had time to note that whereas King Frederick appeared to appreciate the applause ot the watchers, the Queen looked the reverse of happy, and seemed intent on getting in .a record number of bows per furlong. I think that her Majesty must have succeeded in breaking all previous records if she kept up the pace from the Palace to the Guildhall she maintained in Fleet street. What must have been to the Queen a welcome break took place at Waterloo Bridge, where the Corporation of the City of Westminster presented an address of welcome to the distinguished visitors. The scene at the Guildhall was of course one, of great brilliance. The Lord Mayor attired in his robes of scarlet miniver, which he may only wear when Royalty honours the city, the common councillors in their mazarine ’ robes, the sheriffs and city officials all glorious in their best civic trappings, eminent citizens in levee dress, bishops in full episcopal outfit, Privy Councillors, Cabinet Ministers and Elder Brethren, uniformed and decorated with various orders, thronged the library in which the Court of Common Council usual on such occasions “is liolden. With many of them were their ivives, sisters, or daughters, whose charming summer toilettes added greatly to the feast of colour provided. A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE. But brave as was the scone at the Guildhall it faded into insignificance when compared with that at Covent Garden on the evening following when the King and Queen of Denmark and King Edward and Queen Alexandra visited the famous opera house. At the risk of over-stepping space limits one feels compelled to make an effort to bring the scene before the mental view of your readers. The big theatre was transformed into a gorgeous bower of roses for the occasion and seemed to have been invested with all the floral treasures of the adjacent market. True the roses were artificial, but they were so cunningly fabricated that the effect of reality was obtained, and commonplace facts as to the employment of 250,000 of them and .eight miles of festoons were forgotten in the vision. , „ ~ . . All round the front of the balconies trellis-work was suspended, upon which green foliage had been woven. Upon this foundation roses white and red, the Danish national colours, seemed to be growing luxuriantly. The Royal box, consisting of five boxes thrown into one, was in the centre of the grand tier, and its decorations were in white and yellow. On the ledge of this salon were masses of real flowers, and on the front of it were the letters “E” and “F” intertwined in yellow flowers. On the side of the King’s initials was a Union Jack fashioned in flowers, and on the other side a floral reproduction of the Danish flag. Above the Royal box hung a large floral Tudor crown, with canopies of greeii leaves and yellow blossoms, and on the front of the balcony medallions of flowers bore alternately the letters' “E” and “F.” Over the proscenium was a large letter . “E” in a medallion, beneath another crown, and the proscenium itself was framed in dark red roses. From, the balconies were suspended baskets of roses with red ribbons. When the lights went up it was the prettiest and most fas-

cinating spectacle imaginable. But when .the gaily attired people had taken their places the brilliance of the sight became indescribable. The scarlet and gold of many uniforms was melloAved by the soft hues of the dresses of thb ladies; the less obtrusive blue of the naval uniforms helped to complete the harmony, and the introduction here aud there of a tinge of pale blue, of carmine, of cerise or magenta, glinting from the sashes of the orders worn, made the feast of colours superb. To this was added the dazzling glitter of a myriad diamonds,' flashing with every movement like the twinkling of a firmament of stars; the splendour of priceless tiaras and necklets, and the radiance of the gorgeous insignia of many orders. The display of diamonds and gorgeous raiment was not confined to any particular section of the house. Everywhere one looked the sparkle of precious stones in abundance could be seen. The grand tier, apparently mainly occupied by American millionaires and their wives and daughters, -simply blazed with the reflection of the theatre lights from a multitude of tiaras, necklaces and corsage adornments, and seemed to justify the statement that seven score lapidaries came over from Paris last week to assist the staff of a certain West End jeweller to reset no less than a hundred and eighty crowns, tiaras, etc., for this occasion. The fair occupants of the Royal box and the boxes adjacent made a brave show of j ewellery. Queen Alexandra s tight-fitting black satin dress was wellnigh covered with immense stars, and some dozen jewelled . orders partially concealed the dark blue ribbon of the Garter which crossed her Maj esty s corsage. In the centre, of her dress was a huge rose of glittering stones matching in size the immense collar with attached pendant which filled in the deeolletage of her robe. The crown worn was a massive one, formed of Maltese crosses alternating with oak leaves and roses. The Queen of Denmark’s white satin dress was heavily ornamented with clusters of diamonds outlining the berthe, and in addition to an upstanding crown of magnificent stones Queen Louise’s neck was encircled with row upon row of splendid pearls and diamonds. The Princess of Wales in pastel blue satin wore a chain of large diamonds sparkling among the deep collar and necklace of pearls which her Royal Highness wore. In the Ministerial box adjoining the Royal one every woman was blazing with diamonds. The Marchioness of Londonderry, the central figure, was resplendent in black velvet, with collar and riviere of diamonds, while a tiara i of similar stones flashed upon her head. The corsages of the Countess of Crewe and the Marchioness of Salisbury’s dresses were scarcely visible by' reason of the jewels they wore. Never was a braver show of gorgeous raiment and jewellery seen inside the four walls rf a theatre, and never has Covent Garden Opera House witnessed a more magnificent social spectacle. But at the back of it all Tragedy reigned supreme. General Sir Arthur Ellis, a gallant old soldier who filled the post of Comptroller in the Lord Chamberlain’s department, and who had been supervising the arrangements for the reception of the distinguished visitors, fell and died even as the cheers greeting the arrival of the Royal party were ringing through the auditorium. They told King Edward that Sir Arthur had merely fainted, and it was not until the performance was over that the sad truth was communicated to his Majesty.

MODEL WIVES. A novel experiment in training girls to manage a home is to be made in London if the Education Committee of the London County Council adopt a scheme which lias been submitted to them by tlie directors of the Shoreditch Technical Institute. It is proposed to establish an experimental home either by building an annexe to the institute or renting or leasing a house in the vicinity. The aim. is to make the- girls proficient in the domestic duties they would have to perform as the wives 1 of artisans earning from 20s to <£3 a week. In addition to washing, cooking, and cleaning, and the general management of the home on a systematic basis, they would be taught how “to shop” in the most economical way. / The training would last six weeks, six girls being under tuition at a time. Oiily those who had gone through the theoretical training at the institute and earned the domestic economy scholarship would be eligible. Two teachers would live with the girls. At the beginning of each week a certain sum would lie set apart for rent, rates, clothing, insurance, travelling expenses, and for providing a fund for “a rainy day.” The remainder would be available for food and any little luxuries that might be possible. Iu order that the training may be as practicable as possible, it is necessary that the time occupied in attending to baby in most homes should not be overlooked in the programme of the experimental home. It is proposed each week, herefore, to undertake the care of a child belonging to a working-class family in tlie neighbourhood, and in this way the girls would gain further valuable experience. The home would be provided as homes of the working-class are, only tlie furniture would be more tasteful, and probably more useful, at less cost than is to be seen in the average artisan’s house. Every piece of furniture, and every utensil would have the Xirice paid for it marked on it, so that the girls might have an idea of how much each article can be bought for. It is not proposed, of" course, to spend from 28s to A!3 a week on the experimental home. Apart from the teachers' salaries, it can be run for considerably under a pound a week. The initial expenditui’e is estimated at .£IBO. The scheme is to be carefully considered by the Education Committee. SENSATIONAL CRICKET. A wet wicket season hag usually its compensations in the way of sensations, and 1907 is to be no exceiition to the rule, Fancy a county team supposed to be fit to rank as "first-class’" being

dismissed in forty minutes for 12 runs! Such was the fate that befel the Northampton county eleven at Glouscester on Tuesday last. The home team had been dismissed for the trifling total of 60 in the first innings, the rain-sodden pitch playing very queerly after a few hours brilliant sunshine. Then came Northant’s turn, Dennett and Jessop opening the attack. Six runs were scored off the former before he began his tricks, but for the remainder of the innings only three runs were hit from his bowling. In 36 balls he dismissed 8 batsmen for 9 runs, and meanwhile Jessop, who bowled 33 balls, had accounted for the other two batsmen at a cost of 3 runs. Dennett’s triumphs for the day did not end with this sensational performance, for after Gloucester had gone in and out for 88, the Northants’ batsmen had another taste of his quality. Before play ceased for the day Dennett had captured no less than 7 of them at a cost of 11 runs, thus making his analysis for the day 15 wickets for 20 runs. On rough pitches in club cricket it is no uncommon thing for a side to be dismissed without scoring a run, but for fifteen batsmen in a first-class team to be dismissed for 20 runs is stupendous. Dennett was not denied the glory of “the hat trick,” for in the second innings he dismissed Hawtin, Beasley and Buswell with successive balls. Dennett, who is a Scotsman, has played for Gloucester since 1903, and for the past four years has been reckoned one of the few great slow bowlers.. England possesses. The “heroes” of the Northants’ team in the 12 all told innings were Crosse and Pool, who scored four runs apiece. Cox also scored a couple, and Beasley and Buswell one apiece, but the rest, including that often useful scorer Mr Extras, failed to break their ducks. In the list of previous small totals given below it should be noted that the previous county record was the 13 made by Notts against Yorkshire, and that Oxford University’s 12 stood supreme as the lowest total ever made in any first-class match. It is also worthy of note that Gloucestershire, the heroes of Tuesday’s sensation, also hold the record for making the lowest total ever put up against an Australian side in,this country. Oxford University v. 'M.C.C. (1896) ... 12 Notts v. Yorkshire (1901) 13 Australians v. M.C.C. (1895) 18 Australians v. Yorkshire (1902) ... 23 Gloucestershire v. Australians (1895) 17 M.C.C. v. Australians (1878) 19 Victoria v. M.C.C. (Melbourne, 1904) 15