"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 67

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially written for the Witness Ladies' Page.)

HARBINGERS OF THE LONDON SEASON.

'Art has no nationality. To say this is But to repeat a platitude; but a notable instance of it occurred in tha Queen's Hall last night. A small Russian, subject — Mischa. Eenian — whose years- numbered but 13, charmed an audience- of: a, couple of thousand to a pitch of enthusiasm' rarely witnessed. The musical infantr prodigy has come and gone of recent years with such profusion that he has become to be looked upon in this noveltysatiated city with more or less- indifference ; i)ut the little boy in. hi*? neat whit© knicker.bocker sailor suit, with his manly bearing, "Dn> create a sensation, and with hifr violin suiprised the audience into an absorbing interest in his playing. But there was more "tEaa- fiddling -in* his mastery of technique;, in- such: pieces as .Tschekowsky's "Concerto- in D. ? "* or" Beethoven's . "Boinance in G " : there was an intensity- of feeling- displayed-" which.- would- have been remarkable in one' twice his years. A- striking scene was presented'" after the " legitimate performance had come to an end,

•and "the greater portion of the large audience had dispersed, and; the electric lights ihad been turned out, leaving only the sunburner in the centre of the lofty ceiling a*ttd'i*he large house in semi-darkness-: the

cltOTds of a. grand: piano arrested the steps ofi Ohe* rapidly diminishing; audience, and - many turned and grouped themselves at * thfe. front of thfe platform, now deserted save- hj the white-clad child (for the orchestra- had alb left) and a. friend .seated at; the piano: Tie little fellow, without more ado, proceeded to entertain his listeners in this gratuitous manner. In the light and: shadow of the vast hall the marvellous boy played on- to an audience .which drank in the sweet tones .evolved from his instrument, while literally holding their breath. ' The issuing of the prospectus- for the forthcoming season, of- Italian opera — or, to put. it more correctly, grand opera, sine©- _ Wagner ofecnpies so large a space in the list of operas, to- be presented^— rings up, so to speak, the curtain of the t-heatri-

cat. season; -which- opens in May. The sub-.scri-ptkHrili3£ is- headed, as^ usual, by the King,- fellowed .by along list of names of antfsic-l'oving notabilities and those of the smart set,'!wKo would view the absence of thenrnames as certain social suicide. •j Covent Garden is, this year, to have a rival in the- Waldorf -.Theatre, which is being foudlt in.- London's newest thoroughfare, Akftvych, off. tKe- Strand, and' is expected to be ready for opening in May. PbsnomenalJy high salaries are mentioned in connection^ with the artists r and some new names- are to be added to the list of songsters/- Ar novelty is to be tried by alternating drama .-with opera.. TSxe daily increasing announcements of society- weddings- appear in the familiar stereotyped^ phrasing and monotonous formula as "a .marriage has been" arranged between, the Hon.* A. and 8., only child of. G."

Hue- early levees- which the King, is hold- - ing;, and which: still take place in the old PaJace; of St. James's, invest the streets of- the West- End" with a brilliancy of colour most -welcome at this season, while the "trees" in the paries and gardens- are yet bare of leaves, as the. State processions comeand, go- with their glittering, clattering escort of-Housefiold-eaTalry-, with the hurrying: to and: fro of* those paying their respects to* his- Majesty mr their varied uniforms, Jboth English and' foreign. These are a tangible* foretaste of the State functions to

follow as soon as Lant has run. itself out -.and. their- Majesties have returned fronv thearrspringrtirips and cruises, braced for the faiignes- of the season, before them.

In two weeks from the date of writing ther University boat "race will be ran. The crews are row on the lower reaches of the -Thames, rowing daily over the classic course, and filling every English schoolboy with excitement as to the result ; and boys of a larger growth- likewise are looking forward with eager anticipation to the delights of the spring riverside carnival, that seems never to pall, though, the treachery of the "English spring would long ere this have killed all but the enthusiasm of Englishmen for boating, under suoh climatic conditions as too often- prevail. Tie journey of the Queen and Princess Tictoria to Lisbon lias proved anything but pleasant. In company witli the convalescent Princess, her Majesty was delayed on board- the royal yacht Victoria and 'Albert at Portsmouth .for- several days, the storm raging making it hazardous to put out. All preparations .were complete at Lisbon, -and Eing Carlos and has Queen were in. waiting for their royal guests; but time and tide are considerate of none. When at length the royal yaobt set out from Portland to Finisterre- moderate weather prevailed, but past PinisterEe a terrific gale was experienced, and- fears were entertained that the yacht would be driven on the coast. The Queen showed great courage, and was in constant attendance on Princess Victoria, "tr-ho, weak and nervous after her illness, suffered greatly. But the Victoria and lA.llsert made a happy issue from her stonnv voyage, although compelled to take refuge in V-igo Bay. In the bay a- tremendous sea was running, and~the' Spanish Military Governor's attempts to communicate with ihe yacht' were frustrated. Five attempts •\ver« made in. vain, and it was only with great difficulty and danger that a boat was got off frcm-the Victoria and Albert, bearing telfegrams-. The stornr was so high on shore that trees Aver© uptorn and several Blouses blown down, and even royalty not feting impervious to the agonies of a rough sea, great delig&t- was experienced when the yacht steamed into the Tugus. a&e delay and danger had. intensified

the enthusiasm of the welcome at Lisbon, and great multitudes were assembled to gteet the Queen of England. Hundreds of steamers and yachts, gaily decorated, went to meet the royal yacht, and two golden galleys, with King Carlos and the Princes, to bring Queen Alexandra ashore. Queen Amelia and the Queen-Dowager awaited on 'the shore in a wonderful scarlet-and-gold pavilion. beautifully decorated with flowers. As the two great golden galleys returned with their royal freight, filled by oarsmen in picturesque and gorgeous attire, the excitement on the quay was intense, and as Queen Alexandra., dressed charmingly in her favourite lilac, stepped ashore she was received with enthusiastic welcome. | TSie English, colony were loud in their cheers for her Majesty's landing on Portuguese soil, and a fair-haired English child presented the Queen with a magnificent bouquet .of her favourite lilies of tha- valley. The route of the procession was scented and gay with flowers, many thousands of camellias having been distributed among the people to throTV in the path of the illusti*icus English guest. As the royal State coach, preceded, by outriders, dressed in crimson and gold, proceeded on its way the scene was imposingly picturesque. The houses were decorated with the scarlet, blue,, and white of the English colours. One report says : — As the cortege passed, 500 pigeons, with ribbons in English colours on their necks, were liberated from the windows, fluttering wildly, in the shower of I flowers. Two timid birds alighted on the Queen's carriage.

Ladies showered roses and violets from the windows, and the floral decorations were most gorgeous. Even the lamp-posts were turned into palms, which, with the lights blunging, through, added 1 to the effect of the illuminations at night. The most perfect day as yet of the present spring was last Sunday, and London was out of doors. The parks, the river, everywhere where there was open space, the people thronged, but on the river itself many were debarred from boating, as the water of the upper reaches was running high and strong after the recent rainstorms. In Hyde Park the " church parade," or the parade- without the church, was in full strength. Everything was bathed in bright sun-shine, which, lasted eigiht hours, an unusua^reeord for the middle of March, and orly that the trees were bare of foliage it might have, been mistaken for a summer's day. It was. a- delightful lull between the cold' winds and storms preceding and following it, and, like a swarm of bees, the people hummed' in. it.

It was the first opportunity afforded of judging the effect of the new styles, which are decidedly smart, although not nearly sy picturesque as a year agp. The small hats, tight waists, and ample skirts have almost the appearance of the long-ago " pork pie '* season, minus the crinoline. The hats are simply a mass of flowers, and among the smartly-dressed women crowding the Row or occupying the ohairs purples and heliotropes seemed to be the favourite colour in dresses, but this may be owing to the fact of Lent, for many women wear nothing but black and whits or violets during Lent.

For motorists and cyclists the weather and roads were perfect, and a ceaseless stream whirred along all roads, making for the country, and the rush of electric cars and the jangling of their bells disturbed the sunny peace of all the ways by which outlying parks and gardens are reached.

It was Crocus Sunday at Kew Gardens, and the display was magnificent. The beds under the great trees were a blaze of colour — purple, yellow, white, — and a gorgeous sweep near the water enchanted, the eye of hundreds, while the bewildering medley of colours in the hothouses is perfectly dazzling. To wander through the immense l-almhoiises is to forget the biting winds of" an English spring. Palms from India and Africa, fern trees from Australia, and Kew Zealand spread their branches to the vast domed roof, and all the specimens from every country where they grow blend their green luxuriousness, to the daintiest maidenhair fern This wonderful garden of London is never allowed to be a waste ; no season is permitted to devastate it, and all the flowers that bloom in any countiy all the year round bloom in the Kew greenhouses.