“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 67

“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

July 10Queen Alary accompanied the King on his great industrial tour this week through Lancashire (where they are the guests of Lord and Lady Derby at Knowsley. Hall, Lord Derby, as Deputy-Lieutenant of Lancashire, having arranged the tour). She took part in all the functions of the season, both social and State and public. Knowsley contains some priceless art treasures—paintings by Kubens, Loraine, Van der "Velde, and a very valuable collection t»f Clouet’s drawings, which, it is said, once belonged to Horace Walpole. The old furniture is a history in itself, including all periods, and among its treasures is toe chair in which the Royalist seventh Earl of Derby sat before his execution *at Bolton. At the time of the Civil war, after the execution of tho Earl, only one-fifth of the estate was restored by Cromwell to the representatives; but it is said that Lord Derby owns 80,000 acres and rich coalfields. In Lancashire the Dorby-Stanleys are of great importance.

The Queen, in her visit to the industrial centres, was specially interested in the famous cotton works of Horrockses, Crewdson, and Co, which was founded by John Horrocks, who was born in 1768. This huge business had a very small beginning—like many another great achievement, —owing its existence to the energy and fearlessness of a young man’s enterprise. John Horrocks erected a few spinning frames on his father’s premises at Preston, bringing his own yarn on horseback at week ends. In 1791 at the bottom of Turk’s Head court, in Preston, he commenced the business which is now wide-world known, giving out his yarn to hand-loom weavers m the district. In his most ambitious visions he did not foresee a King and Queen of England at his future famous works. Included in the various forms of welcome were verses for the occasion on large placards on the wall: "With all the yam we spin to-day, We link, ’tis plainly seen, The thread so deep of true regard For our gracious King and,Queen. And in a weaving room: Firm and true our threads are woven, Forming honest cloth, and clean. Firm and true our hearty welcome To our gracious King and Queen. The word their Majesties will always associate with Lancashire is in the dialect, “ Gradely,” and means the very best. They have received a “gradely” welcome everywhere, have been called a “gradely pair,” and the Queen a “gradely lady.” And not to be outdone by Yorkshire, which made the song “My Mary” so familiar to her Majesty in the factories there, Lancashire has transposed the song: Kind, kind, and queenly is she, Kind is Queen Mary. With honour, love, and loyalty We breathe the name of Mary. The pride y and joy of the cottagers whom her Majesty honours by her visits is pathetic. She picks out with a quick artistic eye old china, or brass, or copper which, despite the collectors, are still valued as heirlooms in many English cottages. And Queen Mary is a vision of beauty in these humble cottages. The Suffragists, too, have had their little innings at Lancashire this week, as they did last week during Ihe King’s visit to Bristol. An unoccupied bungalow at Rivington. in Lancashire, belonging to Sir W. H. Lever, who was one of the guests at Knowsley ' Hall, was burned down, and some valuable tapestry destroyed. A new portmanteau found near was addressed to the Home Secretary, “MTCenna, London, via Norwich,” and a typewritten document with the words, “To commemorate the King’s visit to Liverpool. Votes for women. 15c loyal to the King when the King is loyal to you.” It was during the King’s visit to the Cattle Show last Friday, while his Majesty was driving along Park street, that a" woman broke through the cordon of police and military and succeeded in dropping a petition on his knee. A mounted official riding by the Royal carriage struck her with the flat of his sword, and she was arrested, but afterwards released. One of the last public appearances of the Queen in London before leaving for Lancashire was to open the new buildings of Bedford College for Women, Regent’s Park, which was on fete. Her Majesty was received by Lord. Rosebery and Lord Haldane, and she looked charming in a dress of platinum-coloured satin, with an overdress of embroidered chiffon of the same colour. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, was of the Royal party, and wore grey silk, with a grey hat trimmed with grey and pink feathers. Miss Tuke, the principal -of the college, conducted her Majesty and Princess Louise through the college. The Queen was very pleased with what she saw, and was especially interested in a memory test of white mice. The mice are placed in a maze, through which they find their way to food, and at each experiment have grown more expert in choosing their puzzzling way. After more than an hour’s inspection of the college, including the study and the bedrooms of the students, her Majesty was conducted to the library, where were assembled a large company of invnted guests for the opening ceremony. Queen Alexandra gave a delightful children’s party on Monday at Marlborough House in honour of Princess Victoria’s

birthday, which fell upon the Sunday. Her Majesty received her guests in the drawing room, and when the weather cleared up later everyone went into the beautiful grounds, where a large marquee had been erected for tea. The Empress Marie of Russia, who is still with her ■ister, was, like Queen Alexandra, attired

(Specially Written for the Witness Ladies Page.)

WOMEN AND THE SEASON.

in black. There was quite a large number of the Princesses present. Despite the dull day the dresses were very lovely, fox Queen Alexandra’s taste is so perfect that her friends love to wear their prettiest frocks for her. Lady Curzon, who is always noted for her beauty, wore white, with a black hat. There i were about 100 guests in all, and among them some lovely children, who were highly entertained by Dr Bird Page, the conjurer, Duncan’s performing collies, and the Dailv Mirror’s pet baby elephant, who strolled on the lawn and was fed i with sugar by Queen Alexandra. The next day >4ueen Alexandra had a different company at Marlborough House —l5O members of the British Ked Cross (Society who had worked in the Balkans, and to these nurses her Majesty, accompanied by the Empress Marie, distributed medals with many kind words. To Mrs Moor, widow of an orderly who died during the war, Queen Alexandra presented her husband’s medal, saying gently, i“I am verv,' very sorry. A our husband

»V dS cl Ul d> v) lllcvllj illllj. MIQU w death.” After the presentation ceremony the guests were entertained at tea. This has been the great week for garden parties, though unfortunately the warmth and sunshine of the earlier summer have departed, for the time being anyhow. During the sunny spells the great lawns, _ surrounded with ancient trees in their full summer mantle of green, make a perfect setting for the pictorial element of dress, so reminiscent of old pictures that mark the garden-party toilets. The fichu frock is back again to favour in the garden, with the new flounced skirt and belted waist, through which a rose is> stuck. Watteau, Sir Joseph Reynolds, Gainsborough, and other famous painters of women, have been called to memory this season by the character of the toilets with their vague, flimsy tulle, transparent ooatlets and mantlets, and colours chosen to harmonise with the tints of summer. Every year there come rumours of freak fashions, bub except for a few startling frocks at the French racecourse, the Grand Prix gowns do not rule the English fashions to the extent of making atrocities of style the vogue. Charming ribbontrimmed toilets appeared at this season’s Grand Prix, and as to be the coming fashion. Bows and sashes and draperies break the hard lines of an earlier mode, and the black hat sets a distinctive touch to the toilet, and touches of black to the dress. At a Liberal garden party at Sydenham Hill, given on Saturday, Mr Lloyd George, who was speaking, was severely heckled by the Suffragettes—about a dozen interruptions hampering his eloquence. Three of the interrupters were men. But, although the Chancellor said he did not mind at all, and asked that they should not be hurt, he took no steps to prevent the roughness with which they were treated. The monster garden party that the King and Queen first planned at Windsor, and then at Buckingham Palace, has been abandoned by the advice of Scotland Y r ard, it being an impossibility to absolutely guard against a contretemps, for so many among the artistic, literary, medical, and scientific circles usually invited are Suffragists. Last Sunday the Duchess of Northumberland, whose garden parties were always a feature of the London season, died at her London residence. Many of her friends did not even know she was ill. The late Duchess was born in 1849 and was Lady Edith Campbell, a daughter of the eighth Duke of Argyll and a sister of the present Duke. She married in 1868, and was the mother of 13 children. Ear] Percy, who is making his mark as a statesman, being the eldest son. A dignified presence has been removed from society. where she upheld • its best traditions. _ She was one o#’ the few duchesses who still maintained the picturesque habit of going to Court in the family state coach. Lady Sackvillc. whose name has been so prominent in connection with the Scott £1,009.000 will case, is being congratulated on all sides on her success, 'i he case, which formed one of the most thrilling dramas ever unfolded in the British law courts, was full of sensational and dramatic incidents, in the hands of the most famous barristers of ihe day. Society people crowded the court day after day following its development. After eight days of speeches, of cross-examinations and evidence. 10 minutes after the judge’s summing-up. the jury brought in a verdict for Lady Sackville to the effect that there was no undue influence. The President in his summing-up said that Inlaw every man had a right to leave his property as he chose. Sir John was of sound mind and understanding, and he willed Lady Sackvillc his treasures and the legacy, and there was no question of putting his duly executed will aside. By the death of the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton followed closely by that of Mr George Wyndham, the Suffrage cause has lost two firm friends in Parliament. Tt was Mr Lyttelton who moved the "Grey” amendment to the Franchise Bill in the House of Commons last January, emphasising that you cannot trust one class with the imcontrolled guardianship of another.