“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 49

“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially Written for the Ladies’ Page.) CLOSI-: OF THE SEASON. July 25. Rain i Thousands read it ot the north nmi midland? —even that it spoilt the fourth test cricket match at Manchester—with no thought save envy. All that the rain-thirstv, unfavoured countries had of suggestion of moisture was the clouds that drifted across a sky which remained blue above. The garden partv of the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace last Thursday practically closed the London season. (And it is said the “London season” of the Victorian and Edwardian period will never again recur on the old formal lines). An immense crowd, from six to ten thousand people, attended the Royal garden party, and all round the immense garden the buffet served iced tea and iced fruit salads to the refreshment, in the intense heat, of almost fainting folk. The great lawn where the bands played was like a huge “movie’ of living flowers so varied in nue, and the marquees set up for the refreshments added to the “party” effect. At- four o'clock the King and Queen came down the steps of the terrace into the garden, his Majesty wearing a grey frock coat suit and hat, with a white waistcoat and tie, white gloves, and a cvhite buttonhole, and looked as cool in the combination of grev and white as a man’s

conventional garb will permit. The Queen looked very handsome in a white lace gown and a blue feathered hat. Princess Mary was charming in pink. The Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and the Duke of Connaught were in the Royal party, also the Princess Royal, who Wore mauve. Princess Victoria wore brown and gold ; Princess Louise Duchess of Avgyle coffee-coloured lace over brown with a brown hat; and the. Duchess of Albany wore a dress of claret-coloured chiffon in old-time “flowing” proportions. King Manuel was present with his Queen Augusta Victoria in black and gold with jade wing sleeves. The Grand Duke Michael was also among the Royalties with the Countess Torby in white with a hat of mauve. Lady Patricia Ramsay, the dear "Princess Pat” of old, looked lovely in cream lace and a picture hat of blue. The beautiful Marchioness Curzon. of lvedleston, was in a white lace dress with lemon-coloured hat. The Duchess of Sutherland, in attendance on the Queen, wore a briclc-red lace gown with black hat. Mr- Harvey was present with the American Ambassador, and the Spanish Ambassador with Madame Merry del Val, also the French Ambassador and Comptesse do Saint. Aularie and daughters, who both wore white. Madame Castenskiold, who came with the Danish Minister, was in fiimv black, with a mauve sash and hat. The Church and the professions were honoured no less than society with a big S. Among many members of the theatrical world were Dame Genevieve Ward, Sir Johnston Forbcs-Robeitson. Mrs Kendal, Lrdv Alexandra, Lady Tree, and also members of the pen. A number of presentation- were made of those who, in the ordinary course of the season, would have been presented at court. The Royal garden party and the lasf of tin- hall- ovei society is leaving Goodwood and th- moors. It was King Ed ward who called Goodwood a “garden party meeting," for it more a race meeting of sovietv than any other of the race meetings, and the owners of horses in the vicinity have huge parties of their friends staying with them for the week. ihe Knur will be the guest for Goodwood of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and there will be t: fairly large pat ty to meet his Mairstv. ihiefli of men One of the

few ladies of the party will he the Duchess of Northumberland, a favourite of both the King and Queen. As the Queen will not be present at Goodwood silk hats and frock coats will not be compulsory, and men in their morning suits and slouch or bowler hats will be far more comfortable if the hot weather continues than they were at Ascot. The ladies can wear the simplest of muslin frocks if they are so inclined, and if line will doubtless choose the lightest and thinnest of garments. The grouse season opens on August 12, and on the whole it is anticipated that the shooting will be better than it was last year, although nothing like the pre-war years. Many of the big shootings have been sold by the original owners, and many of the shootings get into the hands of people who are not keen sportsmen, and do not entertain for the shooting. Americans have taken a number of the shootings. A big tract of over 30,000 acres, belonging to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, has been taken by Mr R- HM‘Curdy, of New York. It usually gives 3000 brace, Many fires have raged in various parts of the country owing to the drought and dryness of everything. Fifty thousand acres of moorland and seven hundred acres of timber have suffered on the estates of Lady Caw dry, Lady Cathcart, of Cluny Castle, Lord Shaw, and Sir Thomas Burnett, on Deeside, about twelve miles from Aberdeen, as the result of picnic lire lighting. The whole country is in such a dry-as-tinder condition that one would imagine commonsense would prevent people from such foolishness as lighting fires in the open to the danger of property and life. Farmers in some eases had to leave their holdings and take their live stock with them, and on several farms the beasts were smothered. Tenants on various estates have lost all their winter supplies of peat. Many houses had narrow escapes, although the fire-beaters were in hundreds and succeeded by trench cutting in checking the flames.

Everybody is anxious to leave London and its sweltering heat, for although j slight showers have fallen since I began this letter there has not been enough to soak the caked earth or affect the water supply, and anxiety is felt concerning the London water, for it has less than three weeks’ water at the present rate of consumption, and the Thames Valley springs are rapidly drying up. What would happen to this country in a prolonged drought is unthinkable. We have no snow mountains here to replenish the streams with an inexhaustible supply. It is said that it will take a year of normal rains for full replenishment. Ixmdon needs 300,000,000 gallons a day for her consumption. and for many weeks past the daily deficit has been 50,000,000 gallons. The railway companies, now that the coal strike is a thing of the past, are catering with a fuller train service than since 1914, with cheaper trains everywhere. Long distance trains to the seaside. the movies, and the countryside will be duplicated whenever necessary, and travel to the Continent will be easier because of the abolition of passports to France. This August bank holiday will see the complete restoration of holiday service excursion and ordinary trains, and day and half-day excursions at single fare, and long period excursions at a fare and a-third, enabling many to go further afield than they have done since before the war. The Prince of Wales returned to town for the unveiling on the 20th by the King of the memorial to the late King Edward. This beautiful equestrian statue is in Waterloo place, Pall Mall, S.W.. and was unveiled in a characteristic scene of royal colour and music on a summer’s day that registered about 90 in the shade and heat so intense in the sun that the King very soon gave the order “hats on” as men bared their heads in tribute to the late beloved sovereign. Nurses were present among the gaily dressed ladies and uniformed officers, for the sun blazed from the bine sky shining on the Orientalcoloured parasols, on the splendid uniforms with their many decorations, and a little apart, unscreened from the sun’s rays, till one of the Princesses held a parasol over her, stood Queen Alexandra, in black. Queen Mary wore a cool grey

dress and softly flowered toque and a purple order. King George was in Field Marshal uniform. In replying to an address of the Lord Mayor, his Majesty made reference to “this grateful and perpetual memory of my dear father; a source of pride and gratitude to all, especially to my dear mother. Every head was hared and sunshade lowered as the King touched the button and revealed the statue. Then quickly came the order from his Majesty ‘‘hats on.” Air Bertram Alackennal. the sculptor of the statue, afterwards received the honour of knighthood. He is an Australian, horn in Melbourne in 1863. The Daily Alai! says of the new knight: “He is perhaps better known that any other contemporary British sculptor. lie designed our present coinage, and was also responsible for the medal on which the King’s portrait on postage stamps was based, as well as for the dolphins and other details of the border designs on some of the stamps. His larger works include the war memorial at Islington ; statues of Queen Victoria for India, Australia, and Blackburn; and the pediment of the new Government Buildings. Westminster.” The most interesting night during the past week was the last night of “Chu Chin Chow.” which has been played 2238 times at His Majesty's Theatre, London, and all these years to crowded houses. On the last night the theatre was packed, and among those who saw it through for the tint time was the manager himself. Men cheered till they were hoarse, and women cried as well as cheered, and as the audi once slowly dispersed after eleven o’clock, when the performance ended, those behind the drop scene were still cheering. There was n most distinguished audience, many notable a tors and actresses in the boxes and stalls, and the nit and gallery included mnuv people who had waited from 10 o’clock in the morning, and had

been refrshed by tea provided by Mr Oscar Asche. At the fall of the curtain Mr Oscar Asche made a speech of thanks, reminding the audience that the play had persisted in spite of naval and military disasters, in spite of air raids and strikes, in spite of omnibus and train and coal strikes and rain strikes. It was a stirring scene when Dame Clara. Butt, from her box, sang the National Anthem, in which the audience joined in. Afterwards, behind the scenes, Air and Mrs Asche entertained their friends and the company to a buffet supper, at which many cerebraties of the stage and art and science were present, and also of the press. i