"ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 67

"ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

The glorious weather of Derby Day was not continued till the end of the week, and the riot of colour on Oaks Day was much subdued, for chilly showers and wind made more serviceable materials than silk and lace desirable. Although Ascot gowns are the apex of the summer fashions, this yeans Derby display of frocks was very; smart. The warm sunshine made white frocks possible, and a great deal of lace was worn. The skirts are narrow still, but the drapery takes off the tight effect, and soft and clinging materials are more than ever worn. The effect of thh perfectly-dressed women seen in crowds, as at the races, at Hurlingham, or wherever society- congregates in large- numbers, is very picturesque, for every toilet is perfect after its kind, yet each with a distinctly- individual note, different in cut and material and colourscheme. The King and Queen held the fourth Court of the season at Buckingham Palace on Monday- night, the guests numbering about 800. The function was as brilliant as the earlier Courts of the year. There were a large number of presentations, some of the debutantes being very pretty-. The King wore the uniform of Colonel-in-chief of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and the Queen a lovely gown of Indian gold brocade with a coloured flower design interwoven with a jtanel of embroidery of many coloured diamonds. The train was of Irish lace over gold tissue, with deep embroidered border and pearl and diamond ornaments. There were some remarkably beautiful gowns worn. The gold-hued materials are still very popular, one reason being that they make a foil to the uniforms. The Duchess of Marlborough. w-ho is very tall, made a striking figure in her plumes, sweeping train of rose and gold over a dress of rosepink chiffon powdered with diamonds. She was also wearing her famous ropes of black pearls. Mrs Jacob Aslor was another notable figure in white velvet patterned with gold, and cherry-coloured train. Lady Edwina Lewin (Lord Roberts’s younger daughter) was presented by her mother, and wore her beautiful white-and-gold wedding dress, with a train of white-and-gold brocaded satin. Another interesting bride was Lady Beatrice Ormesby-Gore (Lord Salisbury’s daughter), who was recently married. She was presented by- her mother, and wore her rich white satin wedding gown, the corsage and panniers of old lace, with train of obi lace lined with chiffon, and the diamond tiara given to her by her father and mother on her wedding. The fifth and the final Court of the season was .held at Buckingham Palace on the next night (Tuesday), which was as briliant as its predecessors in arrangement, jewels, and dresses. Again the number of debutantes was large, many in gowns and trains, veils and feathers of white, the note of simplicity being accentuated in their toilets by the richness and colour of the robes around. The King wore the uniform of Colonel-in-chief of the 2nd Life Guards, and the Queen appeared in a gown of grey-blue broche satin embroidered in silver and diamante, with a train of cloth of silver trimmed with flounces of Honilon point applique lace and garlands of silver flowers, in which she made a radiant figure, with a diamond crown and a row of diamonds forming a collar, the Kohinoor and Stall's of Africa, with the Order of the Garter and family orders. Mrs Asquith, who, with several others, presented Mias Felicity Tree, wore an exquisite gown of Sphinx embroidery patterned in Egyptian design, with a flounce of heavy Greek lace. Miss Tree’s dress was of while satin, the tulle draperies festooned with ropes of pearls, and the train of rose chiffon covered with crystal net. Lady Barrington wore a brocade and needlework dress with a train of rose and silver trimmed with C'arrickniacross lace; Lady Trevor Dawson wore a lovely dross of gold cloth embroidered in pearls and bullion w ith Flemish lace ; Lady Sheffield wore blue-and-silver brocade, with many diamonds on the corsage, and a train of blue and silver Miss Venetia Stanley : wore a dress of pale yellow, with a train i of .blue satin and silver. Queen Alexandra, accompanied by her sister, the Km press Marie of Russia, and Princess Victoria, vkited the two great charity functions of the week, in which most of the first ladies of the land are interesting themselves—the Noah’s Ark j Fair at the Albert Hall, and the Irish i Industries Sale and Exhibition at Londonderry House, under the patronage of Ladv Londonderry. The Noah’s Ark Fair is in aid of the London Hospital, in which Queen Alexandra- has always taken a- special interest, and this entertainment, which is of a. unique character, is proving one of the most popular of the season. In the midst of the ball is the ark itself, stranded and enow-covered. The tiers of boxes are made to represent frost-covered rocks niled above one another. The interior of the ball Is in a mysterious bine haze—the mistiness of frozen spaces,—which is done bv a'blue colour-scheme. The stalls are projecting caves about which serpents and other animals crawl in the undisturbed region of the frozen aide. But all around is verv animated and modern. The fair a charming scene. The stall-holders include some of the most beautiful women and girls in England. Queen Alexandra set the example of generosity in a good cause, making a complete tour of the ball and buying at every stall. After a leisurely walk round she retired with her friends in the King's box. which bad been fitted up as a reception room, and here tea was served for the Rovn] party. Mr Louis Wain was

(Specially Written for the Witness Ladies' Page.)

LONDON’S PLAY-TIME. June 15. ; commanded to the box to make some of

his humorous sketches of cats, which greatly amused Queen Alexandra and the Empress Marie. | Quite as successful in its way was the j sale and exhibition of the Irish industries I at Londonderry House, held on the 11th and 12th. Queen Alexandra, the Empress : Marie of Russia, and Princess Victoria : arrived early at half-past 12, before other visitors, ancl were met by Lady Londonderry, who conducted her Majesty and companions on their tour of inspection through the ballroom, a long handsome room; and the alcove leading out of it was entirely filled with stalls, and a smaller room looking out on Park lane fitted as a tea room. Both Queen Alexandra and her Imperial Majesty, says one ; report, expressed their admiration of the > exquisite laces which lay in great heaps :on the tables, and although the stall - ' holders had not arrived. Queen Alexandra searched among the stock for collars, fichus, etc., and all the Royal ladies made numerous purchases, and themselves carried them to their carriage. Queen Alexandra’s heavy purchase of homespuns gave a great fillip to business at the Duchess of Abrrcorn’s stall, where the Castlebar homespuns were on sale. The Duchess of Sutherland came in early to buy from her daughter-in-law, and wove a picture dress of black obarmeuse bolted with rose-pink satin, and a black hat of pleated tulle. Miss Violet A-quTb was selling with Miss Mahaffy, who has developed the knitting industry tremendously in Ireland, and supplies countless garments especially suited to Alpine sports. I append a passage from Mr Justice Darling’s summing up in the broken window case brought before him on June Mrs Pelhick Lawrence lias said the women were incited by Mr Lloyd George; they were incited by Mr Hobhouse. I do not affect to say. But I cannot help saying this;—“l do not wonder that Mrs Pc thick Lawrence read to you that passage from from Mr Hothouse's speech. It was a most unfortunate way of putting the question. If these people were at that time indulging in constitutional agitation. it was a most unfortunate thing to tell them—and you have heard the words road—that what was required to convince you of the good faith and earnestness of the people was that there should be riots like the throwing down of the Hyde Park palings, and riots like the burning of Nottingham Castle; it was a most unfortunate thing that anybody at all, let alone a Minister of the Crown, should have treated the constitutional agitation in such a way. This is a constitutional agitation. These women are just as much entitled to a-sk for the vote as the men are; and far be it from me to say that they are not as fit for it. I do not express any opinion about it; but it is an opinion which anybody may well hold. It is an opinion which many' high in political life on the Government side of the House, and on the Opposition side, hold, that they should have the franchise given to them. They were, no doubt, for & long time agitating for the franchise in a perfectly legitimate and peaceful way. As this passage has been read, 1 think I am bound to say on behalf of Airs Lawrence that it is not unnatural that she should use the argument tiiat the people who incited really were Mr Lloyd George, and, above all, Mr Hobhouse, in the words which have been read. But. gentlemen, if they were guilty in their degree, it does not follow that these others wore innocent. That is the fault in the argument. If they were all in the dock together at the Old Bailey before me, and. after conviction, a speech was made m which one convict said, T did incite; but whereas I only lived whips, that other one used scorpions,' I might foci it necessary to pass a heavier sentence upon the one v. ho used the scorpions; and 1 should. But, you see, that is not exactly the position. If those people did incite these women to break windows, and in consequence of that incitement tie so women broke them; and if the incitement was the result of a conspiracy between the people who are the defendants before you, then a verdict must go against them; and it it nothing to the : point to say: ‘But there are other people who incited who have not been sued.’ Perhaps, if there are- many more speeches of that sort, they might find themselves filed; and, when I Key are, some judge will have to pronounce whether that is an incitement; and if two of them did it, if two of them made the same sort of speech on the same afternoon, this law of conspiracy might be I applied to them."