"ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3609, 15 May 1923, Page 55

"ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

[Specially TV ritten for the Ladies’ Page.) THE STIR OF SPRING. March kO. \\ ith bitter north-east winds sweeping the country—alternated with rain—this dreary winter drags itself reluctantly into spuing—spring in name only so far, and happy are the people who have been able to escape February and March in England. On the occasion of the King’s second Levee, London was at its most dismal worst—except in a fog—swept by torrential and cold rain. Tile scene was robbed of its usual picturesqueness for the first time the King rode in a closed motor car from Buckingham Palace, the usual escort of Household Cavalry being dispensed with, while there was no guard or honour in the grounds of St. James’s Palace. The Duke of York and Prince Henry were present in naval uniform. There was a very large attendance, including the Spanish and Japanese Ambassadors, the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Abereorn, Governor General of Ulster, the Duke of Rutland, the Marquis of Aberdeen, the Earl of Selborne, Lord Gainford, the Lord Mayor of London, and many others. While the King was holding his levee the Queen, attended by a 'Lady-inAVait-ing, visited a flower show at the Horticultural Hall. For more than an hour her Majesty was shut, in from every inclement reminder of the pitiless rain, for the show was a very brilliant one—a triumph, of spring and science—huge beds of hyacinths filling nearly half one side of the hall, satisfying with its rich yellows and gold the colour hunger of these sunless, chill days. Unspeakably lovely at this time of the year are the reds and yellows and violets that later in the summer sunshine would lock garish. The almond trees, first of the flowering shrubs to don their spring dresses, donned their pink when the sun shone, but they look shv and shivering in the north-east bias t, smitten in the grey rain. The Earl of Ducie, who, you may remernner, by the death of his brother came in for the earldom and the estates a short time ago, arrived in England last March after more than 60 years in Australia, and has returned to his almost life-long home “till summer comes” to England, leaving for his visit some weeks ago. Despite his 88 years he thinks it worth while to journey thousands of miles hack to sunshine. Lady Ada Moreton, his daughter, accompanied him, hut does not intend to return as the cold and the wet does not suit her. She wanted to see a snowstorm, she says, but despite all the miseries of the climate that has been denied her. Little cheer is there in this sodden, shivering England, and little hoped for till “April’s there.” The Queen gave the second of her afternoon parties at Buckingham Palace during the week, when about 300 guests were present, representatives of the political, social, and artistic world. Their Majesties received their guests in the picture gallery. The Queen at her afternoon parties never wears a hat, hut is always beautifully gowned. Afternoon frocks are more than charming this season, and tfieir picturesqueness is enhanced by the contrast one with another worn in their setting of handsome rooms and set off bv the grace and beauty of the wearers. The new turban hots of silver blend with the colour of the gown. The Deauville handkerchief—• a gaily-painted square cf silk —is worn in many ways, two large ones knotted together at the shoulders and hips form a quaint sleeveless jumper, or comerways as an apron with a peak over the bodice. Some of the sleeves of chiffon or lace are so large that sleeveless coats are worn with them. The chief social event of the week was the ball which the Marchioness of Londonderry gave at Londonderry, House for the War Service and Women’s Legion. All the reception rooms were thrown open so that those who did not dance were able to admire the beautiful pictures and treasures of the house. In the long gallery at the top of the stairs, which was used for dancing, there is a famous portrait of the Czar, and Philpott’s picture of Lord Londonderry in Garter and robes, and in the drawing room, which was used for sitting out, are lovely pictures by Romney, Hoppner, and Laurence, and in the library is a wonderful Sargent of the late Lady Londonderry, and a picture of Lord Londonderry by Sir John Lavery, and portraits of the present Lady Londonderry. Spring flowers made the rooms lovely, and many of the dresses were exquisite. Lady Londonderry received the guests at the head of the famous staircase in a gown of pink satin with silver embroideries, with draperies and train of old lace worn with magnificent diamond ornaments and ropes of pearls, and carried one of the new fans. Princess Helena Victoria was in black, with beautiful diamonds, and the Duchess of Portland in white, with trails of pink roses; Lady Blandford wore a jade gown. Very many of the dresses were picture frocks in georgettes, etc., looking fresh and dainty ns the daffodils and hyacinths that were in large howls of copper. Supper was served in the banqueting hall, where there are some wonderful old tables: the gold plate was set out on the walls, and the tables decorated with masses of red carnal ions. At. this season of the vear there are a number of semi-political dinners and functions, and the Majesties have hod a series of small dinners, and among their quests the leaders of the Labour party have been included. Musical parties are to he the vogue again, lasting for one hour instead of the long drawn-out- receptions of other days that occupied the whole afternoon. These parties are given by hostesses who are

truly music loving, arid provide for the afternoon one first-rank musician. The party :s di tided into three or four intervals, thus giving the guests opportunities for conversation. These one hour parties are likely to be very successful, offering occasions for society to meet, enjoy good music, and wear charming toilettes on occasions not dinner or dance, and these short entertainments do not over tax either hostess or guests in the crowded days of the season. There is a great revival of musical interest of late. The Queen was present at the Oxford and Corabridge performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solennis—that sublime Mass in I), which was given in the Albert flail under the conductor ship of Sir Hugh Alien.

The Philharmonic Choir, under Mr Kennedy Scott gave an evening of modern music at the Queen Hall, when the great event was the revival of Delius's long unheard of “Sea Drift.” It is a matter of much surprise to many people that “If Winter Conies” as a play lias not been the success that was anticipated, and after a run of about five weeks has failed to draw, and closed its season. This is the more surprising as it was a success in the provinces, where, to a certain extent, it is said that people are losing the theatre-going habit. Dancing keeps a great number of young men and women away from the theatre, but although the whole world seems as keen on dancing as ever, the past months have seen a erenter restraint and gracefulness in the dances, and the standard of excellence is higher. The modern ballroom presents a charming picture both of graceful deportment and graceful attire, the pretty dresses bunched sometimes on the hips with flowers, sometimes of the buff ant type, sometimes swathed in classic folds to suit the style of the wearer slurw

an artistic freedom from sei pattern that is picturesque in effect. No women need look dowdy noiv-a-davs; if she is possessed of taste, and even with a limited dress allowance a charming effect is possible. One of the cases of human interest in the Courts this week and which attracted only less public atten tion than the Russell divorce suit was the liability of a husband for the dress bills of his wife. Mr Justice McCardie, “the bachelor judge,” not only decided the legal points but unsparingly castigated the butterflies of society for extravagance. And what is most astonishing the men have defended the women from the charge. One leader says: “Happily these cases are exceptional. The vast majority of the people of this country have no sympathy with such courses, and lead quiet and decorous lives, observing their social obligations and realising that unrestrained selfishness is fatal both to their own happiness and disastrous to society. Interviewed upon the subject as to whether £657 (the sum under dispute) is unreasonable for a society woman’s gowns, the leading establishments agree that a woman should “cut her coat according to the cloth”; that extravagance is a matter of degree. According to her income and po-ition in society that whereas £2OO would be an extravagant sum for one woman to spend upon her clothes, no woman in exclusive society could be dressed to keep up appearance on £2OO. It is a question of proportion—and artistic sense of dress. Interest in the Royal wedding increases as the time approaches. Rady Strathmore and her daugnter, Lady Elizabeth BowesRyon, went down last week to their Scottish home, Glamis Castle, Forfarshire, where they attended the international Rugby match with the Duke of York at Inverleith, and among other things visited the Edin borough works of Messrs McVitie and Price, the biscuit manufacturers, and selected the design of their wedding cake which the firm is making. They bad a most enthusiastic reception, hundreds of the factory girls in their white overalls lining up and cheering themselves hoarse. The wedding cake will be four-tiered, the bottom tier representing the union of the houses with the new combined coat of arms; the second tier will show the Strathmore coat of .arms, and the third that of the Duke of York, and the top symbolise love and peace. A visit to the Blighty factory where disabled ex-soldiers are trained in the cloth manufacturing, proved most interesting. A presentation was made to the Duke and Lady Elizabeth of Scottish shepherd tartan plaids, into which their monograms were worked in old gold under a crown, lu accepting the gifts the Duke and Lady Elizabeth shook hands with the disabled men who made the rugs. “Our appreciation,” said the Duke, “is all the greater as we realise that these beautiful travelling rugs have been made by men so grievously disabled in their country’s service.” There was an immense cheering crowd to greet them as they started to the football match accompanied by the Lord Provost, and a crowd of over 30,000 on the grounds gave them a tremendous greeting. The historic home of the bride-to-be, Glamis Castle., is in the midst of beautiful Forfarshire; this home of the Earl of Strathmore’s is said to be the scene “where Macbeth played out the ancient tragedy.” A recent snapshot shows Lady Elizabeth resting against one of the old cannon captured in the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. The famous crypt of the castle figures in {Scottish legend and ballad, and the whole Mace is rich in ancient relics and associations. There was quite a pretty ceremony in the grounds of the castle on the presentation to Lady Elizabeth of the Glamis Girl Guides’ weddinp- gift of a silver inkstand and pens. The service of silver plate, the wedding gift of the Corporation of London, will he presented to the Duke and Lady Elizabeth on the 23rd at Buckingham Palace; the wedding bouquet, which will be composed of white roses and white heather, will be presented by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. It is a symbolic gift—the white roses of York for the bridegroom’s sake, and the lucky white heather of Scotland for the bride. The Queen's wedding present to the bride takes the form of jewellery, the chief items being a beautiful diamond and sapphire necklace and brooch of the same. Many lovely jewels are among the gifts of the Royal family, and many pieces of beautiful and antique “furniture as well as china and pictures. Seven of the eight bridesmaids are now chosen for the Royal wedding —Ladv Mary Cambridge and Lady May Cambridge, Lady Catherine Hamilton, Lady Mary Thane, the Hon. Diamond Hardinge, the Hon. Mary Elphinstone, and the Hon. Cecelia Bowes-Lyon. The majority of these girls are relations either of the bride or bridegroom. This week is a great, sports week, distinguished bv big events; the opening of the flat racing season, the Lincolnshire Handicap race, the Grand National at Aintree, and on Saturday the Oxford and Cambridge boat race. The Grand National is one of the wprld's biggest races—fortunes will be lost and won—and many people are bidding good-bye to the Sunny South of France, to Monte Carlo and the the tables, Nice and the Battles of Flowers, and all the delights of the Riviera for the Grand National, and bigger crowds tlian ever are expected at Liverpool.