"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 75

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

The second court of the season, held last Friday night at Buckingham Palace, was a very picturesque affair, the dresses, if possible, being more perfect than on the first night, and the function was greatly enjoyed by an immense number of society ladies, for while the diplomatic party was not a third so large as the week before, and the peerage was represented but by six or seven nobles, the general company was made up as t whole by society. The members of the Royal Family present were few. Of the princesses only the Princess of Wales and Princess Henry of Batten-berg supported the Queen. The Queen was arrayed in a glittering gown of black, and upon her corsage were the same selection of orders as at the previous court. The flowers carried by the ladies were again wonderful, and at times the scent was almost overpowering. Masses of lilies of the valley were carried by the debutantes. The Queen, whose gown was richly sequined in black, wore a crown oi diamonds, a parure of diamonds and pearls, and the Garter Riband and Order and four other orders. The Marchioness of Lansdowne, who is one of her Majesty's ladies-in-waiting-mistress of the robes,—looked exceedingly stately in her black with splendid jewels. Lady Magdalen Bulkley was another stately lady, who wore fin© diamonds, with a white satin gown embroidered with diamonds and diamante work, the tram of reseda green satin being lined with striped silver tissue, and trimmed with green flowers, silver cords, and tassels suepending it from the shoulders. The Peruvian Minister's wife wore a dress oi o-reen satin da-aped in scintillating tulle worked with silver and crystal, with court mantle of purple velvet hanging from her shoulders, and displayed a dazzling parure of diamonds. Sir Edward Grey escorted Countess Carrington, who made the official presentations. They were followed by the Countess Benckendorff and other ambassadresses and wives of Ministers and Secretaries, and many magnificent jeweLs and court costumese were worn. In newest shades and colours were noticeable, contrasting with all the shades of a flower garden. The toilettes were in ,almost every case picturesque, the trains as a rule of velvet or satin over a gown of soft and clinging material. Occasionally a stiff brocade rich with gold or silver drew general attention. The Duchess of Buccleuch wore a gown of anauve shot with silver, and her tram of silver cloth was draped! with beautiful odd lace. A great crown of emeralds and diamonds was worn on her head, and her necklace and corsage ornaments were en suite. -Countess Carrir-gton wore a very striking toilette of pastel blue satin that was painted with tiny pink roses, while clusters of diamonds were on the bodice, and the overdress was of blue chiffon. One of the most interesting presentations was that of the Duchess of Devonshire, who wore -a gown of softest white satin and silver draped with very fine Brussels lace. Pearl and diamond embroideii.es were used, with considerable effect. The train was of gold tissue, and very valuable rose point lace w.as fastened at the shoulder asd waist with diamond hooks and eyes. A tiara of diamonds and necklace of the same completed a magnificent costume. The Countess of Guilford wore certainly one of -the most beautiful at the court. The gown was of white ninon bordered with lace over an underskirt of white satin. The bodice was almost covered with diamond and pearl embroideries, and long bretelles of diamond embroideries fell down the back of the skirt. The . train was composed of turpoise blue satin charmeuse embroidered on one side with tiger lilies in pearls and draped on the other side with beautiful old lace. The train was lined with blue chiffon in many folds. The Countess of Dudley was much noticed in an exquisite costume of white satin, which was embroidered with golden lilies' on leng stalks. The train was composed of cloth of gold, and she wore her famous Empire crown and ropes of pearls. The Countess of Airlie was attired in black satin that was much trimmed with glittering jet, and her train was of black velvet lined with silver tissue. On her beautiful white hair rested a tiara of diamonds. The Countess of Airlie presented her debutants daughter. Lady Mabell Ogilvy, and her recently married daughter. Lady Helen Mitford, who wore white with pearl and crystal embroideries and a rose-coloured train. Lady Mabell Osrilvy was all in white satin with a- satin train. The Dowager Lady Burrell presented her youthful daughter-in-law, Lady Burrell, wife of Sir Merrick Burrell, and very charming she looked in her gown of white satin and beautiful old lace. Viscountess Valentia chose -a very becoming toilette of soft white eatin with a train of black satin trimmed with beautiful Italian point lace. She presented her daughter, the Hon. Dorothy Annesley, who was dressed .all in white, and carried a bouquet of. white orchids and lilies. Mrs Fairbanks, a well-known American looked very well in a white dress with tulle embroidered in silver and a beauiful train of gold brocade. Mrs Harry Higsrins. the mother of Lady Willoughby de Eresby, and Lady Ala.stair Innes-Ker looked well in pale peach-coloured satin with pearl ■and coloured embroideries, with a train of the same delicate shade and embroideries to match the bodice. The train of gold bror.nd-> ■wern by Lady Mary Morrison was -i- ■ effective, and her gown of white crepe was trimmed with gold lace. Miss Nelke, who was presented by her mother, wore a dres-3 of white satin with an overdress of chiffon embroidered in pearls and crystal with spravs'O-f silver rose?. Southprly winds have brought spring in their wake, and the energy of growth has been astonishing. The buds have burst on the trees, and the spikes of daffodils and jonquils have pushed the earth aside to look out .on the sunshine. A new hopeis an the air for a fine spring, and especially is it hoped for a fine summer, for never in London has there been so extensive a plan for outdoor amusements during the summer as has been made for this season, and it is to he hoped the fine weather will not prove false. Among the coming ci. >utdoor events are the great pageant of London and

(Specially Written for tho Witness Ladies' Page.)

THE SECOND COURT OF THE SEASON

Festival ot Empire, to be held at the Crystal Palace, which will bring thousands from all parts of the Empire. Many hundreds of State invitations have been issued, and again this year as last the Mother Country is hostess to her offspring. The army pageant at Fulham Palace is another event, the success of which depends upon fine weather, as do the fetes and exhibitions at the Botanic Gardens, also the balloon races at Hurlingham, the coaching meets at Hyde Park, the cart and van horses' parades at Regent's Park, cricket matches, flower shows, and charity fetes, which mark the latter part of the summer season. The Crystal Palace festival and the Japan-British Exhibition at the White City are the two events that would suffer most disastrously from a wet season. The preparations are on an enormous, scale, and at enormous cost, and only an enormous return can cover the outlay. The festival and pageant at the Crystal Palace is estimated to cost at the least £60,000, and a daily muster of 80,000 persons is expected, given favourable weather, with 150,000 on Saturdays. The pageant will provide 48 performances, spread over eight weeks, and in addition a number of festivals and fetes. Between June and July the army pageant is expected to benefit to the extent of £30,000 and £40,000. It is hoped that the JapanBritish Exhibition at Shepherd's Bush will prove as attractive as did the FrancoBritish Exhibiton two years ago. If so it means the attendance of 8,000.000 visitors. The Japanese who are expected in London during, the season will with their Oriental costumes quite brighten up the approaches to Shepherd's Bush, which in a few months from now will be once again a scene of the greatest activity. the two weeks to elapse before Easter there will be little doing in the world of society now that the pre-Easter courts are over. Their Majesties, among others, will be out of England, hie Majesty having, already left for his holiday under the sunny skies of Biarritz, where he will be away from the puzzle of politics—a puzzle which seems too deep for the present Parliament to solve. It was settled some time before the opening of this season that there was to be no more of those great garden parties given by the King, for which broadcast invitations were issued. In place oi these, however, their Majesties will eive garden parties on a smaller scale. The Ist of June is intimated as the date of the first of these, at which the members of both Houses will be present. In loving- rn.emo.ry of my only sister, who died at Christ chinch, New Zealand, on January 20, 1910. ROSEMARY FOR REMEMBRANCE. Bring flowers This is no place for grief! Sweet spirit in thy sleeping— Peace triumphs over pain and death — Love hath thy soul in keeping. The untold music of the spheres Is s-weet on thine immortal ears. Bring/ flowers, 'tis a festival Of mystic, wondroura meaning, Which doth thy bridal soul enthrall, Thy ra.pture, earth-love weaning, For in the mansions where thou art Love hath no longer finite part. But mortal love hath this in thee: Thy woman's deepest tenderness! The spirit bright Faith's augury Of Love's unconquered faithfulness; Sweet That spoke of all the yet to be. As friend, as sister, mother, wife. Thy loved h.ath their own memory. Mine, that sweet sprig of fragrant life Our girlhood! for my rosemary, scented sprig of youth's first bloom That, kneeling, I lay by thy tomb. I leave mv spray of rosemary Beside thy grave 'neath southern skies, "Where whispered wind* tell " things to be" And song-birds trill God's harmonies. Bring flowers! This is no place for gloom, For life is conqueror of the tomb. —Alien.