"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 75

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

BEAWAKENINi February 4. The election is over, and England, though not yet in its right mind, is saner than it was. The return of the Liberals by a . small majority reinstates Mr Asquith in. Downing street, and once again the suffragettes will bombard No. 10 in vain. The Prime Minister, Mr Lloyd-George, and others of the Ministry have sought relief from the strain in the South of France. The King, it is stated, will pay another short visit to Brighton, probably at the end* of this week, before leaving for his short holiday to the South of France, and two other short visits to "London by the Sea" are in, view upon his return. Reports are in- circulation that his Majesty will purchase a house at Brighton, «.s, by the advice of his physicians, his visits are latterly so frequent there, the •bracing air being most beneficial to him. If this is so, Brighton has a season of prosperity ahead. During last week the Court was at Windsor Castle, the clear, bright weather being most pleasant for the shooting parties. The beautiful park and gardens "is one of the least wintry-looking places possible, even in January, so judiciously are the slopes and gardens planted with evergreen shrubs. At the lodge, just inside the great gates leading from the Long W'alk, ft yellow jasmine has covered the porch with golden stars of bloom, which gives ar '"charming reminder of coming spring ; and, in spite of hard frosts, the thrushes and blackbirds are already singing lustily in the big trees all round." At the castle, during the week, Prince and Princess . Fushimi of Japan were received to lunch by the King and Queen. Also the Ambassador from King Albert of Belgium and his suite were received with due ceremony. Rarely a day passes but the King and Queen have some duty of State to perform, and with the season advancing the retirement of Sandringham is over. Two courts and two levees will be held before the King leaves for Biarritz in early March, and with the opening of Parliament the demand of the State functions begins for another season. During the earlier part of the season the Prince and Princess of Wales will give a number of large dinner parties at Marlborough House, and during the King's absence the Prince of Wales will hold a levee at St. James's Palace. Modern Society says that the Princess of Wales proposes visiting Germany this spring, and if, as seems .probable, she is accompanied by the Prince, they will visit. Dresden in order that his Royal Highness may hand the ■insignia of the Order of the Garter to King Frederick of Saxony, whom King Edward has decided to admit to the Order. There is a. possibility that' the King of Saxony will visit England before long, and the popular King Alfonso and the Queen of Spain will, it is hoped, be present at the Cowes regatta this year. Also there is some talk of the Kaiser being on the Solent during the Cowes week. But these are early days to anticipate the autumn: we are not in spring yet. This month is to see a,n unusual number of society weddings of more than common interest, and the. Court presentation and wedding dresses are keeping the dressmakers of the West End busy. The -innovations of fashion have changed the ideas of a bride's costume, which at one time had to be purely white. Now I colours are admissible, and are frequently : worn. One of the brides of the week ■wore a pink foundation draped with a pearl-embroidered overdress of tulle, and carried a large bouquet of pink malmaisone. But, for a .girl, can any bridal , costume compare with pure white ? ■ I There was a distinguished gathering at St. Paul's, Knightsbrido-e, yesterday, when Major W. F. Wyndham, who was for some time Equerry to Prince Arthur of Connaught, was married to Miss Maude Hylton Jolliffe. ■ Presents were made to the bride and bridegroom "by , several members of the Royal Family, and Princess Christian was present at the ceremony. The bride wore a very beautiful old lace and pearl and silver embroideries on her soft white satin gown. The train was of very handsome moire shot with silver. The veil was of antique, family lace, and the lovely bouquet of white lilac. Altogether, the bride looked like a picture, with her attendant bevv of little girl bridesmaids, who wore picture-frocks of satin with silver sashes.' and white satin hats. Each carried a white staff tied with red carnations. It was a most effective group. Three pages in white hose and ruby velvet jerkins added to the pieturesqueness. By some of the - guests present very handsome dresses were worn. The bride's mother, Mrs Hylton Jolliffe. wore black velvet and a black toque and pink ! flowers. Lady Wyndham .also was in velvet, with handsome furs. Princess Christian and Princess Victoria of Schles- j wig-Holstein were also handsomely dressed. - ! Several other society wedjdings took ■ place on the same day, which was one of ■wintry sunshine, and the neighbourhood of the churches was thronged with people, who watched the arrival and departure of brides and guests. On these occasions the least-noticed person—though usually the mest nervous —is the bridegroom. All England is talking of the sensational case now before the Probate Court, j of whom Sir J. Bingham, is president. The case, in brief, is that in which. Mr Sackville West claims to be the lawful eon oi the late Sackville (who died in September, 1908, at the age of 81,

{Specially Written for the Witness Ladies' Page.)

iG SOCIETY, bavin."- spent 41 years in the Diplomatic Service in Europe and at Washington) and of Josef a De Ortega, the beautiful Spanish dancer known as Pepita, the alleged, wife of the late Lord Sackville. She was something of a celebrity in European capitals in the sixties of las' century. Of exceeding beauty and great charm, she lived as Lord Sackville s "Counters," and was the mother of Ins seven children, of whom the claimant, Mr Ernest Henri Jean Baptiste SackviileWest, is the eldest son. He now claims to be the legitimate heir to the title and the beautiful and picturesque estate called "Klone House," in Kent. The estates yield ;■- rent-roll of £7OOO a year, and the famous old mansion is full of art treasures. All this becomes the petitioners if ne can substantiate his claim. They are at present in the possession of the petitioner's couein, who married the sister of petitioner. The present owner and defendant, Lord Sackville, nephew of the late Lord Sackville, is 43 yeara -of age, and was major in the West Kent Imperial Yeomanry. The defence ,s that, despite their long and happy union, the late lord never married the beautmU Pepita, for the reason that she was married when he met her to Juan Antonio De la, Oliva, a teacher of dancing in Madrid, who outlived her. The petitioner claims that she was not married to Oliva, whom she left very shortly, although she still used his name. She danced at Paris, Berlin, and other cities under the name of Pepita "de Oliva. She had very beautiful and luxuriant hair, which fell almost to her knees, and" the pictures reproduced in the illustrated oapers show her to have been of exquisite form and face. Counsel said that Lord Sackville himself before his death had sworn that the statements he made that Pepita was his wife were made merely to protect the reputation of the lady with whom he was living and of whom he was very fond. There was no evidence, counsel said, of Lord Sackville Imvino- introduced Pepita to any of the Sackville-West family or that he ever introduced her as his wife to any of his colleagues at the Embassy. The two people were never visited by any English people, although there were many at Arcachon. Lady Derby, the late Lord Seville's sister, wrote to Colonel Sack-ville-West, father of the present peer, as follows : September 23, 1881. My dear William Edward.—l think this letter or document ought to be kept by you. Lionel says he made a similar declaration, or rather one to this effect, the other daysomething about a trust.-Yours, E The document enclosed was read: London, September 23, 1881. I hereby declare that my adopted cnildren, Max, Henrv, Josephine, Flora, and Marie, are not legitimate, nor in succession to tne family property. g S , CKVILLE . W EST. Counsel read a series of letters to show the petitioner's own view on the question. The petitioner wrote to his sister Victoria from Natal: May 27, 1890. My dearest Victoria.— . . . Father oould not have done more for us. Remember we are his illegitimate children. What piuck he displayed in taking you all over the place to enable you to marry well. • ■ • » u j we could never have got on m England and mix with men of good family, who would only have jeered at us for our illegitimacy. . '. , He is a grand old man. . . . | On September 9, 1891, Lord Sackville wrote to the petitioner offering to buy him a 200-aere farm lot in South Africa and give him £ISOO in cssh for other purposes. On April 2, 1892, the petitioner wrote to his father: | I am so glad to hear of Victoria's little : girl. It is very kind of you to. let me know so quickly, for T was so anxious for her sake.. At the same time, I am sorry it is not a boy, for it is my greatest wish that Knole wiil some day b-jfoog to one of us, and hope I may live to seo it. Sir B. Finlay: A clear statement that he knew be was illegitimate. In December, 1895 (counsel continued), petitioner proposed to leave Natal for England, but was forbidden to do, so by Lord 'Sackville. On December 4, 1895, his sister Victoria wrote to the petitioner : Dearest Henry.—l have just heard ycu are coming over, and that father has telegrauhed you not to com®. Dearest boy . . . I am ■afraid you have offended father by taking the law into your own hands. The sad story of his life is hushed up, so your coming home would drag it up again. Take pity upon him in his old age, my dear boy. and submit yourself to his wishes, and don't make him uphappy. I am sure you are grateful to him for what he has done. He has done so much for us all, and you know it. Think of his feelings and spare his old age. He is nearly 70, and I can assure you he is very upset at your letter. In October, 1896. the petitioner (then in Paris) wrote to Lord Sackville settingup his claim to be legitimate: j My deal Father,—You will be surprised that I am here, and Have been so for the I last two months. After hearing last February L I took other steps to find out my true position —namely, towards yourself—as I have always, ever since I can remember, felt convinced that my name and position were being tampered with. I am afraid influence has been brought to bear upon you to deprive me of the place I have every right to have near you as your legitimate son, and all I am asking you, in letting bygones be bygones, is to restore me my place and social position near you for the future. Therefore, feeling perfectly sure you will ' recognise me publicly as you have privately always done, I am prepared to place in your hands what proofs and declarations you have made in my favour from 1866 to 1876 to holo ycu to establish me publicly as your legitimate son. I bear you the same re-

spect and affection .hat son always has for a. lather. Lord Sackville replied to him: October 31, 1886. My dear Henry,—lt is, as you can well understand, extremely painful for me to answer your letter. . . . Since ycu say yo\i have always had this idea, I think it best to take this oppcrt-anity of stating to you most emphatically that I was never married to your mother, and that consequently you, as well as your brothers and sisters, are my illegitimate children. I should like, you to come and sse me, and bring the papers and declarations yon. refer to. in your lettei, and I should have a better opportunity of stating the fact 3 of the case to you. The petitioner replied that he could not realise that the letter was from Lord Sackville, and appealed once more to him. Lord Sackville wrote to the petitioner on November 4 : I fear there is little use in our discussing the subject any further, as it i 3 perfectly evident ycu entirely fail to appreciate or understand that any such statements, if made, were made solely with the object of shielding your mother, yourself. ' and your sisters as far <u9 possible under the unfortunate circumstances. I am sorry to hear you have been indulging in any false hopes, and the sconer you abandon them the better. It is useless your writing any more letters on the subject, and I do not intend to discuss it with you any further. Counsel referred to letters written then by the petitioner to his uncle, Colonel Sackville-West (father of the present peer), and to Lord De La. Warr, a.s chief of the family, appealing to the latter for justice, and intimating to the former tbe probablity of disclosures. The lettei to Lord De La Warr eaidi: I am fully determined to hold out for my own, and nothing will induce me to renounce my real interest, and the moment I am forced by a foul blow to abandon what I most, cherish I will bring down their nam© to shame. ' To Lady Derby the petitioner wrote: I have come ■ over to make it up with my father. For old friendship's sake, you will intervene in my favour? Say something, then, and save me from an awful fate, that of putting an end to my existence at my 'father's feet. How many young fellows are there who have suffered for the sins of their fathers. He had far better have wrung my neck as a child than saved me for the humiliation and disgrace he has. On October 8, 1898, Lord Sackville wrote to the petitioner that the'state of his health and "what took place last year" prevented -him. seeing the petitioner again, and if he had anything to say he should call upon his solicitors, 20 Whitehall place. Later, the petitioner went to Knole Park and left a. visiting card at the house Avith the words on it: I insist upon seeing you, and will do so at all costs. Kindly receive me. I will remain here until you do so. The evidence of the late Lord Sackville, taken in July, 1897, was read. He said : I was anxicas to marry Pepita if the husband was out of the way by death, but the nift'tter of .out marriage was never nucoted between us. His Majesty the King headedi the Mansion - House Fund opened by the Lord Mayor for the sufferers by the Paris nundatior with a cheque for £IOSO, and her Majesty gave £IOOO. The other members of the Royal Family for the most part followed with substantial sums, and with true generosity the Mansion House Fund ran into tens of thousands, much to the gratification of our friends in trouble. Lord Strathcona ,gave £IOOO, as ilso did Barnato Bros. "The P. and O. Steam Navigation Company gave £525. The citizens of Paris are not only fearing collapsing houses and pestilence with the receding waters, but loss and damage to trade from a decrease in the number of visitors. But, it is pointed out, there is no reason—unless, indeed, sickness prevailed —why steps should be turned in other directions. The waters are steadily falling, and scon their ravages will cease to be evident, traffic already having been resumed in the chief thoroughfares. The most scrupulous sanitary precautions have been taken by the authorities to prevent any outbreak of pestilence. The stagnant waters are being disinfected, and ceaseless Avar waged with other dangers, orders being issued that all water must be boiled before drinking, and no uncooked vegetables eaten. It is confidently expected that Paris will soon be her gay self once more, and the nights and days of terror, such as she has not known since the days of the siege, soon be of the past. The full programme of the grand opera season is now out. It promises to be a most interesting- season, as it will witness the return of Melba and Tetrazz-ini, and the introduction -of new singers who will make their London debuts. One of the latter is the Milan tenor, Signer Zerola, of whom great things are expected. "Samson." "Pelleas," "Louise," Wagner's "Ring," and "Habanera" are on the iist, and although it still wants 11 weeks to the opening night, every seat is booked for Saturday, April 23, when the season will be begun with "Tristran und Isolde." Eighty-five performances will be given, exclusive of matinees, and this will carry the season over 14 weeks. The great army pageant to be held m the grounds of Fulham Palace from June 20 to July..? will be another great attraction during the season; also the great pageant at the Crystal Palace, of which more anon.