"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 95

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

FORECAST OF THE

April 22,

r A week of balmy airs and warm sunshine s/vd shower has brought the spring blossoms to perfection, and the wonder of the foliage is opening apace. On days such as these one forgets and forgives a good, many climatic injuries, and the public as well as the individual face is a bright one, and everybody begins to kK-.k forward to a prosperous time, for a brilliant season means the circulation of money. The warmer the spring the sooner the London season begins, for so many people make it their custom to go away just before Easter and stay away till "the middle of May to escape the worst of the east winds. The American vistors to London will be very numerous aga! ■», this season, and it is expected that the American colony will entertain on a large scale. It is rumoured that the Duchess of Marlborough may give a cotillon at Marlborough House, and it is certain that the wife of the American Ambassador, Mrs Wbitelaw Reid, -will entertain on a more extensive scale than usual, as the ex-president of America will be in London soon. As a matter of fact, we have had Mr Roosevelt with us for many months now—the Mr Roosevelt of the * illustrated papers : Mr Roosevelt eating, drinking, and sleeping ; Mr Roosevelt shooting; Mr Roosevelt in Egypt, on board ship, climbing a hill, sailing a yacht, boarding a train, shaking hand's with his friends, lunching with *" barons and counts, calling on Premiers; Mr Roosevelt here, there, and everywhere. Mr Roosevelt and Mr LloydGeorge and his Budget have been two of the leading topics all winter, and now we shall have Mr Roosevelt himself for a time, but Mr Lloyd-George and the Budget, it is feared, for ever. Mrs Frank Mackay, another American lady, who entertains largely in London, has" taken a house in Berkly square, where she will- have la-rge parties, for the International Horse Show in June brings a number of well-known Americans across the Atlantic, and the entries this year are still greater in numbers than last. The New York sportsman' Judge Moore, is expected in England in May with 60 horses. Mr Alfred Vanderbilt, who is now famous for his Brighton road coach, which he drove so successfully last season, already has his horses here. Mr Vanderbilt has planned to run his Venture coach during the coming summer from London to Brighton by the new route, a picturesque drive of over 60 miles, via Epsom, Dorking, and Horsham. He has abandoned the old and shorter Brighton road because of the London-Brighton traction engine and motor traffic. Mr Vanderbilt's famous greys do the London stage, and there are 60 other horses in splendid condition. Last year it was quite the thing for Everybody (with a capital E) to make one of these trips, and it is expected that they will be quite as popular this year.. Coaching is a novelty in these days of swift transit, and with the horn ringing out on the clear air, far more enjoyable than the dust and rush of the motor car.

The marriage reported this week from New York of Miss Marjorie Gould, the charmiing American heiress, to Mr J. Drexel, jun., also of America, has created a good deal of interest here, as well as in New York, for the Drexels are an old family and well known in London society, and the bride and are expected here -before very long, and it Is said that among the big entertainments will be a ball .given by Mrs Anthony Drexel at her house in Grosvenor square. After so many marriages between English nobility and American heiresses, it is ? matter of congratulation among her ooomtrv-people that instead of a foreign title Miss Gould "has chosen an American aristocrat for her husband." However that may be, would-be brides of all nations must have sighed with envy at weeding presents to the value of £400,000! Among them is reported: —Mr George Gcmld, the mansion known as 1015 Fifth avenue, valued at £IOO,OOO, and completely furnished ; a beautiful necklace of flat Oriental design in open-work pattern, with a wide ribbon and a pendant of diamonds, from which a second pendant is suspended. Mrs Gould, a bodice ornament of diamonds and sapphires and a diamond-studded watch on a chain of pearls. Mr Edwin Gould (uncle of the bride), a wide collar of matched pearls with diamond slides. Miss Helen Gould, a coeeage ornament,,, consisting of a diamond bow-knot, from which hangs- a large diamond-studded circlet, having in the centre a huge pearl framed with diamonds ; and many others. The wedding, although by no means ostentatious, report says, was on a magnificent scale, but strict injunctions were given that all was to be carried out in good taste, and although thousands of pounds, were spent on the floral decorations of the church, the effect was "superb simplicity." Here is a little sketch of the superb simplicity: While the crowded congregation of guests ■was waiting the choir entertained them with a musical programme in which the "Lohenorin" Wedding March was conspicuous by its absence. Suddenly there was a hush as the bridal procession started down the aisle between two tows of high standards crowned with " beauty roses " and white' lilies to the chancel, embowered in palms and masses of flowers. The procession was headed by.. 25 choirboys chanting. „ ~ , . . Next came the bridesmaids, radiant visions in pink, carrying round bouquets of orange blossoms and pink rosebuds* They were dressed in gowns of the Kestoration period, with scant skirts of Nattier blue satin charmeuse, .vhich cleared the floor by three or four inches. The skirts were veiled with overskirts of pink chiffon held in bouffant fashion bv blue ribbon sashes. The bridesm&ide wore boots of Nattier blue satin, and their high turbans were of Nattier blue straw trimmed .with pink and blue tulle with pink ostrich tips on one si\j near the back.

(Specially Written for the Witness Ladies' Page.)

LONDON SEASON

Alone, and immediately preceding the bride and her father, was Miss Vivien Gcu.d, in pale pink. The bride herself was clad in white satin charmeuse, cut with » square Dutch neck, and a train five varus long fastened to the shoulders in a box pleat, lhe robe had a tunic of chiffon embroidered with orange blossom foliage. Duchesse and point lace 12in and mors wide was draped across the bodice down the left side to the hem, and carried around to the train. The end of the train, which was square, was bordered with embroidery of orange blossom pattern. Spravs of orange blossoms were caught in the lace, and the bride carried a large bouquet of orange blossoms and white roses. A voluminous veil of Brussels lace bordered several inches deep with point lace ww aj. ranged iust behind the pompadour and neld in place with orange blossoms. Of the congregation 600 persons afterwards attended the reception at the Grould mansion, which was a fairyland of flowers. There, in silver boxes, was distributed the cake, a marvellous creation 4ft nigti and decorated with four cornucopias releasing floods of orange blossoms.

la London during the week there have been several society weddings oi 'interest, but not of worldwide interest. In the na.vy the marriage of Sir Hedwortb Lambten—whose ship took such an interesting part in the South African war—to Lady Chelsea was celebrated quietly at . St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, Lord Arlington giving his sister away. This was Lady Chelsea's second marriage, and s he looked charmingly young in a pale blue satin gown very simply made, and a hat to match trimmed with feathers, with pink roses in her belt and a row of pearls at hex neck. Lady Chelsea's three daughters were present, drested in white frocks and black hats trimmed with sweet neas. A big wedding connected with the army, took place yesterday afternoon at St. George's, Hanover square, when Coionel George Milner and Miss Phyllis Mary Green were united. It was one of the most picturesque weddings of the season, and a large number of the bridegroom's brother officers were present. His old regiment, the 17th Lancers, is now in India, but the Ist " Life Guards, which he afterwards joined, and the sth Lancers, which be now commands, were represented in uniform, and the entrance of the church was lined by men. The bride looked very sweet in white satin with a beautiful bridal veil. The four bridesmaids wore classical dresses, and on their heads jewelled nets and flowing veils, and carried" great sheaves of Madonna lilies. A little boy and two little girls in white carried the bride's train. The Duke and Duchess of Teck, Prince Francis of Teck, a.nd Prince Alexandra of Teck were among the guests. Some of the dresses of the guests were the smartest yet seen this season, lout the, church was so crowded that it was difficult to ~.ee one from, another. The bride's mother wore a charming costume of black chiffon over white, and a large black and white hat. Several costumes were in the new peach shades, and a gown of currant red crepe was much admired; another in willow", green was lovely. Some of the new shades are very bright and charming, and in keeping with the spring, but black and white still makes some of the most distinguished of the costumes. The two days' racing at Epsom this week did not attract as many people to the Downs as was expected, particularly on the first day, and the great stand, which on the Derby Day is crowded, presented a rather forlorn appearance. The Prince of Wales was present, and a number of distinguished people travelled down in the royal train, among them Prince Francis of Teck and the Russian Ambassador. Prince Christian motored over from Cumberland Lodge on both days. Here and there was a very smart costume, several in blue, which takes a favourite place among the season's colours again this year. Court notes report that the King has been kept daily informed by despatches while staying at Biarritz of all that happens at the House of Commons, thus during his absence from England keeping in close touch with the political situation, so that a portion of every day of his holiday is spent in work. He is expected home early in May. , Tne grand opera season at Covent Garden promises to be of unusual brilliance. The first night is on Saturday. Melba and Mine. Tetrazzini are both back in London. The subscription list for this season is one of the largest on record, and applications are pouring in from America and the Continent. Among new artists will be Mile. Helen© Demellier, the celebrated soprano, from the Paris Opera Comique, where she made her debut in 1905 as Louise. An English debutante is Miss Amy Evans, the young soprano who recently made such a success m "Fallen Fairies" at the Savoy Theatre. Mile. Jane Bourgeois, among the contraltos, is a Belgian, and made her first operatic oppearance at the Theatre de la Monnaie, Brussels, in 1905. Alye Mutch who was born in Leicestershire and. studied at the Royal College of Music, is another newcomer to the opera stage, although she has appeared frequently in London on the concert platform. The great barnyard play "Chantecler" will be here in June at Drury Lane, and another new sensation is promised London this season in Anna Pavlora and Michael Mordkin, the greatest of Russian dancers, at the Palace Theatre. With the two great pageants — the Pageant of Empire at the Crystal Palace, the army pageant at the Fulham Palace—and the Japan-British ■Exhibition at the White City, and a few hundred other attractions, London will not have many dull hours from now till the close of the season—for those whose business or meaning is its pleasure:

THE MIGHT HAVE BEEN. We grieve for the loss of youth',. golden days, Pot the flush of Hope's stm en L ; .fs's hill; For the dearth of Joy's flowers on the toilsome ways, knd the shade in the evening chill; But harder than all is the steep, unsealed. That was touched by Illusion's sheen, The sun and the moon and the star 3 Ihat failed, In the Land of the Might Have Been. We mourn for the " touch of a /anished hand," And the " sottnd of a voice that is still''; For tho broken joy that the heart had planned , Arid the place that no friend can fill; But tho loss that no balm can ever ease, Not fond memory ever beep green, That no coming years can ever appease, Is the Love that Might Have Been! We weep for the words of the tender dead, And we listen for them in vain; But the tears that should flow are for words unsaid, That would ease a soul in its pain: That would point a hope to despairing heart, To the vision that we have seen; And save from the sin and the fear and iht smart. With the Words that Might Have Been! Warm touches withheld when weak hands ar-e cold; N Sweet trust, when the flesh is weak! Smiles, when a heart is too full to hold, And with mortal grief does break; Flowers, where the road, is sharp with thorn,— Alas! for our grudging, mean; There are lives unlived, there are souls unborn, In the Land of Might Have Been. —Alien.

Aristocratic Changes of Name. Two Good Stories. — Changes of name are sometimes so many in England as to be confusing. One accomplished lady who was as a girl Miss Violet Lindsay became on her marriage Mrs Henry Manner’s, then Lady Granby, and is now the Duchess of Rutland, yet is still the wife of the same husband. Nobody here thinks that ■remarkable. It is only the foreigner who is sometimes puzzled. Even the distinguished foreigner is puzzled : even the omniscience of Mme. de Stael was at fault. She came twice to England; a long interval between the two visits. On the second, among the great men presented to her was Lord Liverpool, then Prime Minister. A Prime Minister was perhaps' in those days an even greater man than now, and Mme. de Stael, having a natural taste for celebrities, was enchanted, and there was between her and Lord Liverpool a long conversation. “By the way,” said Mme. de Stael in the course of it, “canyou tell me, Lord Liverpool, what has become of that very dull man I met here before —Mr Jenkinson?” And, alas! Mr Jenkinson was Lord Liverpool.

A later instance is even more distressing-. It happened >ne night during the Boei war that a' young diplomatist —at any rate he ought to have been a diplomatist, for he was on the staff of an important embassy—took into dinner Susan Countess of Malmesbury. The talk fell upon the war, and the young diplomatist—so young that he knew nothing of his partner or other people about him—saw fit to remark that in his judgment the misfortunes of the English were due mainly to the incapacity of the Intelligence Department. Lady Malmesbury looked curiously at him, and presently said: "But perhaps you don't know that Sir John Ardagh is the head of the Intelligence Department?" "Oh, yes I do. He is the man I meant. It is his bungling that has made all the trouble." "Then I am sure you don't know he is mv husband."