"ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 67

"ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND

A WEEK OF BIG EVENTS

June 27. This has been a week crowded wild pleasant happenings in London. Ascot week, metaphorically speaking, empties London, most of the great world putting up at the country houses in the neignbourhood of the famous course. Queen Mary is one of the most considerate ft hostesses, and the Large party of distinguished guests who stayed at VV ino sox Castle for the week had a delightful time. The Prince of Wales was not anywhere near Ascot, as his Royal Highness has been in camp for a fortnight the Oxford section of the Officers Training Corps at Frimley. In the ranks of «.he infantry the Prince has taken part in a series of long marches, and has “roughed it” with his companions, showing extraordinary staying power for one of his slight build.

The closing day at Ascot was not so fine as the previous days, and there was a chance of showing the beautiful cloaks which the brilliant sunshine and intense heat had made superfluous all__ the week. On all sides the Ascot of 1913 has been pronounced brilliant. The dresses were seen to the full advantage, and for lightness and daintiness, beauty and elegance, unsurpassed anywhere in the world, bilk, muslin, chiffon, net, lace, crepe de chine lent themselves to the clinging folds and draperies; nearly all the dresses had draperies, and many had trains, some broad, which fell from the waist, 'and some fish-tail, worn with panniers that fell below the knee. But the drapery has not doomed the short skirt, which is still narrow at the hem, although not too narrow for graceful movement. Ihe most fashionable shades were in mole colour ami faded rose to chocolate, violets, blues, greys, magenta, ripe corn, cerise, maize, mauve, apple-green, and old gold. The hats were of every conceivable size and shape, trimmed with masses cf soft plumage or flowers. In many cases shoes and stockings matched the gowns, but. black suede shoes with coloured stockings were in the majority. Many ladies carried lovely fans, besides parasols, which, when up, gave the lawns the appearance of huge flower-beds. There were no freak costumes, and this year s Ascot was an exhibition of exquisite taste. It is, of course, quite impossible to describe a tenth of the costumes; but in addition to those given last week other beautiful dresses were worn by Lady Linlithgow, who was in a wonderful robe of cream lace over satin, with a mauve hat. A lovely lace gown was worn by the Duchess of Portland. It was of cobwebby texture, with chiffon, and a picture hat with shaded feathers. The Duchess of Somerset was in cloud-grey satin; Mrs Rochfort Maguire, peach-coloured chiffon ; Lady Dudley’s dress was of accordionpleated chiffon of white, made in three flounces. Lady Florence Willoughby wore priceless lace over black charrneuse. A bride, Mrs James Rothschild, wore limeyellow charrneuse; Lady Wolverton, white satin, and lace; Mrs John Jacob Astor, on Cun Dav, wore white, with a scarf of sapphire blue with tassel ends of jewels and a rope of pearls and sapphires.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is now a year older than was Queen Victoria when she came to the throne. He

is developing into a frank and healthyminded man without affections. Both at Osborne and Dartmoor he received the same training as other cadets, and at Oxford shares the life and sports of the undergraduates. On his recent visits to France and Germany he left a good impression, and in camp he has received no pampering, partaking both of the food and the work of Tommy Atkins, under the same discipline. To the nation his development on the lines of a .healthybodied and healthy-minded man is of closest interest. It is 50 years and more since a bachelor heir to the throne too-: part in London social functions, so that in another year or two the Prince of Wales will play an important part.

The hearts of the Thames boatmen were made glad on Ascot Sunday, for. when the day is fine, this is one of the rivorharvest days of the year. More than 16G0 crafts were dealt with at Bolter's Lock on Sunday. It was an idea] day, and at noon not a boat was obtainable. Vast crowds were not only on the river, but for miles on the banks, for on Ascot Sunday everybody wants to see everybody else, and there is nothing like it on any other river jn the world. From the banks you can hardly see the water, so closely ] jacked are the boats, and from one boat you can touch your neighbour. Front Maidenhead bridge to the famous lock, society’s river festival is at its height, and in the golden sunlight the scena, backed by green trees and lawns, is one of the prettiest imaginable. M. Poincaire, the French President, arrived on Tuesday in the French battleship Courbet, with a British naval escort In the Solent there was a splendid array of Britain’s finest battleships in five lines, festooned with flags. With thunder of salutes and the Tricolour flying from the mastheads of the Admiralty yacht Fire Queen, the President proceeded up the harbour, and was met at the jetty by the Prince of Wales, surrounded Jay his suite.. After the civic formalities the President left by special train for London, which had prepared a festival. The crowd that lined the London streets was most enthusiastic. The six State carriages, with their uniformed occupants, made an imposing procession. M. Poincare sat beside the King, and appeared greatly impressed by the warmth of liis welcome. Now and again the sun came out and flashed on the scarlet and steel and the forest of flags. After the visits of ceremony were paid the President held a reception at the French Embassy, and at night the King gave a State banquet at Buckingham

{Specially Written for the Witness Ladies Paga.)

Palace. It was a magnificent scene. The ball-supper room was used to accommodate the 130 guests who sat at 14 tables. The famous old gold plate had been brought from Windsor. The King’s speech of welcome to the President dealt with the cordial relations existing between England and France, and expressed the sincere hope that France would have a glorious future. M. Poincare, in replying, said: “The friendship which unites the two countries to-day is both on the one side and on the other deeply implanted in the mind of the populace. History and time will themselves develop it. In embryo it lay in the traditional goodwill which the centuries have developed between Great Britain and France, and which was not allowed to increase until contrary sentiments passed away. . . .” Concluding; “I raise my glass in honour of your Majesty, of her Majesty the Queen, who has received me with so much graciousness, of her Majesty Queen Alexandra, and of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, whom it has been very agreeable to me to see again in Paris this year, and of all the Royal Family. I drink to the prosperity and to the greatness of the United

Kingdom.’’ Wednesday was a day of double rejoicing, for “Queen Alexandra Hay” coincided with the city’s reception of the President and the Lord Mayor’s banquet at the Guildhall. From an earlv hour in the morning 20,000 ladies dressed 'in white, with wild-rose wreathed hats, with baskets slung from their necks bv ribbons, sold pink and white roses in the name of the beloved lady. London was already gay with decorations, and 80,000 charming women and girls, many of flower-like beauty themselves, added to the picturesqueness. Workmen were met at every station with smiles and roses, and as the day grew older roses were everywhere.

The thrilling hour of the afternoon was when Queen Alexandra, accompanied by Queen Mary and the Princesses Victoria and Mary, left Marlborough House in an open carriage and drove through 14 miles of the rose garden of the London streets. Queen Alexandra, wore a cluster of the roses on her breast, and Queen Mary’s hat was of roses. It was a wonderful drive—the crowds cheered Alexandra with real joy as she passed, and threw roses from windows and balconies and the streets so that when she drove through the gates of Marlborough House her eyes were full of tears and her carriage piled with flowers. While Queen Alexaardra was driving one way, the French President was driving in another back from the Guildhall, also with a rose in his buttonhole, as also had all the French people in the crowds. All the metropolis seemed to have turned out to witness the President’s progress through the troop-lined streets to and from the Guildhall by different routes, and M. Pbincaire was gratified by the enthusiasm, bowing and smiling. The Lord Mayor and sheriffs greeted him with volleys of cheers. It was an historic scene. Every notable man in England's public eye was at the Guildhall to greet the Presides; t A fanfare of trumpets announced tlu arrival at the Guildhall. The Lady Mayoress was hostess at the banquet. The speeches again reaffirmed the solidity of the friendship between England and France. It is said President Poincare's health, proposed by the Lord Mayor in a felicitous speech, was drunk with tremendous enthusiasm. As the Artillery Band intoned the “Marseillaise” the French Tricolour and the Union Jack, crossed on the wall at the end of the hall, were unfurled. Rising to reply, the President was given, an ovation. Rather pale and obviously moved, lie stood for fully a minute in the midst of a forest of waving napkins and a torrent of cheering. Speaking with absolute composure in hU clear, rather metallic voice, the President traced the history of the Entente Cordiale with a graceful reference to the part played by King Edward in bringing the two nations together. He continued: “To-day the friendship between the two nations becomes, if possible, strengthened and reaffirmed. No longer can any incident arise of such a nature as to affect international polities without the friendly Governments exchanging their views loyally, and a co-operation continues between them which does not exclude the co-operation of any other Power, but which tends, on the contrary, to the maintenance of European peace, and establishes between Great Britain and France a fraternal confidence and a common will.” In the evening the President gave a banquet at the French Embassy, where the King and the Prince of Wales were guests, the King silting on the right hand of the President. On Thursday, in the afternoon, the King and Queen, with the Prince of Wales and Princess Mary, visited the Royal Horse Show at Olympia, The performance was timed to begin at i 2 o'clock and the vast house was crowded. Her Majesty and Princess Mary were both dressed in pale blue, and half society wore lovely summer frocks. This last day of the French President in England gave him varied scenes of English life. In the morning he made a pilgrimage to Windsor, and in the solemn- quiet of the tombs placed wreaths upon those of Queen Victoria and King Edward. Then, after a swift return, luncheon with the French colony m London: in the afternoon, Olympia: 1 and at night the State hall at Bucking- | ham Palace, which was the m< st magnificent Court function of the season. The 1500 guests included all the members of the Royal Family in London, the whole of the Diplomatic Corps, with the ladies of the embassies and legations ;. officers

of the army and navy; statesmen and great people of society—all the flower of England's aristocracy.