"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 75

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

AN UNWILLING FAST

February 23. Lent threatens to be a real fast this year instead of an assumed religious obligation. If the general coal strike which is looming like a dark cloud over the country cannot be averted within seven days, trade will be thrown into a dire state of confusion, for it is not merely a question of the private consumer, who is already paying a largely-increased price, but a coal strike will mean dear oik wood, and every kind of fuel and lighting, and an increase in the cost of provisions, which, of course, depend on the railways and steamships for delivery and fire or gas or oil for preparation. All trades are already affected by the increased prices, and owing to the difficulty in getting prompt delivery, large orders are going abroad. France is ordering from America instead of from England, and so also is the Admiralty, * for enormous as is the stock of coal laid in for the fleet, the stock must of necessity be kept up. Railway companies and private firms are also ordering from America, and hundreds of thousands of pounds are, as a consequence, going out of the country. The approach of the strike has had the serious effect of putting hundreds of thousands of workers, both men and women, under provisional notive. The Great Central Railway has given notice to many employees. Wolverhampton manufacturers, Liverpool mill-owners, Scottish and Dublin and Yorkshire employers—in fact, employers in all parts of Britain will close down should the strike eventuate, and as only the coal-strikers will be on strike pay, all others will suffer without redress. In many churches on SuiKlay prayers were offered up that this dire calamity might pass. The Government is intervening between the masters and men. The trouble is, briefly, that the men demand a stated wage per day, without any question as to output, and the masters contend that in the case of the feeble or incompetent, or lazy workman this would not pay.

In view of the strike, the Temperance organisations are approaching the Government with a request to close the publichouses in the districts that would be affected, and otherwise prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors, in order that the lives and property of the public may not be endangered by insobriety, which leads in a great measure to rioting. Everyone, whatever his profession or trade, and in whatever grade of society, is dreading a ooalminers' strike. The prospect of good trade and a good season, with rising wages, and the advantages of a free circulation of money, would pass away- '' The London eeason " would be in name only. And so among the Lenten supplications is that for peace and reasonableness between masters and men.

The mourning far the Duke of Fife keeps the Court in seclusion, and none but relatives and those who have business with the King are received at the Palace. One reads from day to day of Ministers receiving audience and princes and princesses calling and lunching or dining, and probably, but for the sad occasion of their retirement, their Majesties are glad of the rest from the public light which since their Coronation has so fiercely and continuously beat about their tbrone. The King's rest, however, is only from the public eye. He has been very busy otherwise with an accumulation of State business which awaited his return from India. Her Majesty has been much occupied with numerous woman's affairs, among them those relating to the reunion with her children, who are naturally delighted to have their mother home again. It has been announced that the Prince of Wales will matriculate as an undergraduate in Magdalen College, Oxfoi-d, next Michaelmas term. The late King Edward at the age of 19 went up to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1859. He did not live in college, but in a private house of his own, where he enjoyed the beet society. After a break in his studies and a visit to America he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge. But it is said that he afterwards regretted that he had been kept too much aloof from the ordinary life of an undergraduate, and when his eldest son, the late Duke of Clarence, matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he had rooms in JNeville's Court, and entered fully into the student's life, and it is thought that this course will be followed in the case of the Prince of Wales. King George, . trained as the Sailor Prince, did not go up to the university.

Queen Alexandra, with Princess Vic- j toria, attended by members of their suite, were present at the funeral service of Princess Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, : ■which took place last Friday. The King was represented by the Duke of Teck, and the Duke and Duchess of Oonnatight (in Canada) by Major Murray. The mother | of the Queen of Spain, Princess Henry of Bat-ten berg, was also represented, and the King and Queen of Norway by the Norwegian Minister. Prince Christian and the Prince and Princess Louise of Batten- j berg were present at the service, the first j portion of which was held at the Chapel Royal, St. James's. On the coffin, which was placed in front of the altar rails, was j a beautiful wreath from the King and ; Queen, and one from the late Princess's j family. A wreath from Queen Alexandra | and Princess Victoria was composed of j orchids and white blossoms, and an inscription in her Majesty's handwriting—"ln affectionate memory.—Alexandra. Now come rest. For ever with the Lord." Her Serene Highn&ss Princess Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenberg had for many years lived in seclusion in the apartments which i ■were placed at her convenience by the late i Queen Victoria. The aged lady was a ' daughter of the late Sir George Seymour, j K.C.8., and in her youth occupied a posi- ,

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tion at Court. Queen Victoria's German half brother and half-sister were ruined in. the Revolution on the Continent in 1848, and the Queen invited their sons to come to England, where they were brought up as English gentlemen. Both entered the Royal Navy, and died as admirals. Prince Hohenlohe was the son of Queen Victoria'is half-sister. He fell in love with Miss Laura Seymour, who was a bister of the Marquis of Hertford, and married her. Prince Hohenlohe was a great favourite with Queen Victoria, and she overlooked his not marrying Royalty, and restored him to his Royal rank, which he lost on marriage, and also allowed the former Miss Seymour to share her husband's princely rank. For the last 50 years her Serene Highness lived in seclusion, and was almost forgotten by society, till her death revived the story of the romance of her marriage. It is said that it is Miss Seymour's morganatic marriage with a Royal Prince that is the foundation of the story that Prince George mairied a lady bearing that name, for the pub'ieation of which scandal the Greek, Mylius, was prosecuted. The early hours at Court, which were introduced last season, both for morning and evening, will be the fashion this season also. Midnight will close the Court functions. Queen Mary's standard as to dress will also be maintained. The narrow trains that have been so fashionable with smartly-dressed women will not be permitted at Court. It is ordered that they shall be 54in wide at the extreme end, and in length three yards from the shoulders, which gives a much more regal appearance than the wihisp trains in common vogue. Balls and weddings have been the chief society functions of the week, and both have been numerous.

Of the weddings, that of Lord Howard de Walden —one of the richest men in London—to Miss Margherifca van Raalte, has been the ma?t-talk-about, for Lord de Walden, who detests publicity and fuss, anticipated by a day the publicly-announced date nf the wedding, and was married very quietlv in London, at the Parish Church, Marylebone road. Although the interior of the church had been most beautifully decorated, there was no outward visible sign that a wedding was to take place until the awning stretching from the main entrance gave the indication. The ordinary life of the busy neighbourhood went on as usual, and thousands who would have congested the traffic otherwise were cheated of a society show. No information had been forthcoming as to the whereabouts of the wedding, and Marylebone Parish Church (of which Lord Howard de Walden is Crown warden) was not thought of. Only about 60 relatives and close friends made up the congregation. The marriage took place at noon, and the bride, unattended by bridesmaids, wore a beautiful dress of ivory crepe de beaute, with chinchilla stole and large blue hat trimmed wu*h' plumes. To each of the guests the bridegroom made handsome presents —to the ladies diamond bracelets, and to the gentlemen diamond scarf pins. Lord Howard de Walden is the richest peer in England, and the greater part of his wealth is derived from his Marylebone property. His country seat, Audley End, Saffron Walden, is a beautiful place. Lord Howard de Walden has written opera and drama, and is a keen sportsman, motorist, and yachtsman. His yacht, the Calista, was put into commission for the honeymoon, and bore the young couple away, it is believed, into Mediterranean waters. The most brilliant ball of the week was given at Grosvenor place by Mrs Cecil Bingham, for her only child, Miss Alice Chauncev, on her debut, and her stepdaughter, Miss Lavinja Bingham. Mrs Chauncey was a noted American hostess, and her "parties are always a success. The ball was preceded by a dinner party of about 30 guests, who were seated at several round tables decorated with tulips of every hue, which gave a note of spring to all the reception rooms, and the supper room, which was arranged with numerous small tables, replete with every delicacy of the season. Cassano's Band, stationed in the balcony of the ballroom, played throughout the evening. The hostess received her guests at the head of the staircase, assisted by her daughter. Mrs Bingham wore a very handsome brocaded white satin gown, with green jade trimmings, and on her head exquisite diamonds, a pearl rope encircled her throat, looped to one side of the corsage with a rosette of diamonds. Miss Chauncev looked charming in white satin with water-lilies in her hair. There was a very large and distinguished gathering, and some exquisite jewels and lovely gowns were worn. Lady Petre also gave a successful dance during the week at Great Stanhope street in honour of her son, the young peer, and her daughter, who is to be presented this season. The. great drawing rooms open into each other, and on this occasion were thrown open for dancing, while the ballroom proper, which is rather narrow, was converted into the supper room. The beautifully-painted walls of the drawing rooms with the decorations of vellow and pink tulips and_ simlax made a charming setting of a picturesque scene. There were some lovely dresses and jewels worn. Lady Petre, assisted by Lord Petre, received her guests in blue velvet with'diamond ornaments. Miss Petre wore a charming dress of eau de nil satin, with crystal embroideries and a silver sash ; Miss Clar Petre wore cherry-coloured chiffon. The Duchess of Somerset was among those present, and quite a number of the prettiest girls of the season. The favourite C&SWTO'a Band supplied the music.