“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3674, 12 August 1924, Page 61

“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Spedilly Written for the Laciee’ Page.) GLORIOUS ASCOT WEEK. June 25. It is only those who, as uncertain of the sunshine as we are in England, can enjoy it so thoroughly when favoured. And during the past week man and bird and beast, to say riothing of the flowers that have burst into such glory, have found it a joy to be alive. The week has contained not only the longest days of sunshine during the summer, but ended with the longest official day itself, which closed with a wonderful sunset and daylight till 10 o’clock (summer time). Affccir the beautiful opening day of Ascot our past experience of the weather forbade anyone to expect another such day, but to the delight of Ascot-goers and everybody else it was another radiant day, with a temperature of 69deg in the shade. The King and Queen had a wonderful reception as the Royal cavalcade came down the course to the Royal enclosure. Cheer upon cheer rang out, completely drowning the bands which played the National Anthem. There seemed more people than ever on the first day, the Royal enclosure being full by 1 o’clock. " A thunderstorm in tlie night had freshened lawns and shrubs and flowers, and as the day grew warmer the dresses were seen in all their beauty. The Queen wore a gown of heliotrope, with an ostrich feather cloak, for the drive up the course, her toque of heliotrope matching her dress. I he Duchess of York wore green, with a large black hat, trimmed with a bunch of aremenes Lady Worcester wore red, and Lady Patricia Ramsay a charming gown of pink, with a brick-red hat; Princes* Arthur of Connaught, all brown; Lady Mary Crichton, pale orchid mauve and silver, with hat to match; Lady Bomanii, a beautiful blue embroidered sari ; Lady Huntlv, green lace over black; Lady Derby, black and white foulard. One dress was of black lace worn with ropes of pearls and a black bat with cornflowers. There were numerous toilettes of black and white carried out in artistic •construction : black in lace and satin, with large lace hats and drooping white plumes, and black and white frilly chiffon sunshades, white silk stockings and black shoes; black laco gowns draped over white satin : featherweight large white hats, underlined with black, and wreathed with marguerites; black satin, capes and coats lined with white; black Charmeuse coats with white fur collars. One lady wore a currant red dress, with a black lace cape over bare arms and shoulders, and a tight-fitting hat of red currants; her stockings were black and her shoes, but her parasol was of currant red. Another slieatli-like gown, of black satin on a tall slender figure, was embroidered in birds of bright plumage, and the yards’ wide scarf embroidered at the ends with humming birds. The hat was large and drooping, of dead black chiffon, and the parasol, of frilly black chiffon, had a humming bird poised on top. Another black was worn by a v»;y fair young woman, with reddisli-gold hair, a billowv flounced chiffon frock, and bat pierced with a diamond dagger, and an almost cloak-like lace scarf of exquisite texture fastened over bare arms and neck

with a diamond pin. Mauve stood out amid the colours in all its shades, from, mauve-grey to lavender and orchid; mauve-cream and white were exquisite in satin, lace, and chiffon. One sheath-like satin gown of white, on a slender figure, was worn with a white lace cloak and a black hat, from which drooped a white ostrich feather that touched the shoulder. Then came Cup Day —a wonder day of golden sunshine—the most gorgeous Ascot Cup Day in weather and attendance since the war, not excepting that blazing Ascot of 1921, the year of the drought, when the lawns were grey. Everyone agreed' that not since the happy meeting of 1914 was Ascot so “ glorious.” It was not as happy as then, before the blight and the curse of civilised nations at strife had swept the gallant sons from ancient houses as from cottage homes. Ten years have laid an indelible hand upon the social history of Europe, but 10 years have also brought the youth of 1914 to the young manhood and womanhood of to-day, who inherit the old traditions, and carry them on. Much has changed since Queen Victoria held her Courts, but the honour and the delight of a debutante making her first curtsey to her King and Queen is the same in 1924 as it was in the days of crinolines, and these historic festivals that mark the London season —tha Derby, Ascot, the Courts, etc.—seem inset in the year. There may come a time when they will be no more, but England will gam nothing in grace or manner (or commercially) by the abolishment of its established festivals. Thousands of business houses are kept in existence, tens of thousands of artistic workers in wools, silks, laces, and all the wonderful fabrics of artistic clothing are kept in work by the London season, and hundreds of other thousands —caterers, sellers, every kind of workman and workwoman possible to mention, from the hotel boots to the chef. Yet, I think, that perhaps never again will English society know the charm of the brief years of the crowned Edward and Alexandra. It was an ‘ ‘ atmosphere of courtliness and beauty of, as a nation, untroubled prosperity —that charm of “graciousness,” an asset in the life of the nation untabulated in the years between King Edward’s crowning and Ins death, that the younger generation will never know. Since then Europe has been riven; England has lost the leisured charm of King Edward’s time; grab and push and profitless hurry have invaded its calm. Never has England had a more ‘ loyal King and Queen to the traditions that have made the British Empire great, more “loyal” to their people than King George and Queen Mary. They have been devoted, faithful servants of the Empire. We who gave all that we had to give, of service in body, or brain, or snirit, during the years, when, to be at ease and happy was a shame, Vv - oil that onr Royal House sacrificed and suffered and gave, and all they havo done since national victory to pull things round, socially, for the happiness and benefit of the nation. Smilingly the King and Queen go from one show to the other, upholding the traditions of sport, and by their presence making successes of many charities and enterprises that would otherwise flag. To see their Majesties and other members of the Royal Family, has been the desire of thousands of Empire visitors this year, and the King and Queen have mingled with the people in their pleasures, as during the war they mingled with them in their dangers and griefs and shared their labours and privations. There is a very real affection between them and the crowds surging to

get near them and shouting themselves rcarse in welcome —a sight which visiting Bolsheviks must view with dismay, as an earnest of the sure foundations of the British Throne—the rock of British hearts. It will take much undermining to shake it. Golden Cun Day .at Ascot was “a brilliant jewel in June’s string of Summer days, almost too perfect to be real.'’ The brightness of the sunshine and the flaunting of the roses and rhododendrons, was the mood of the crowd ; hard.lv anyone stayed still in boxes and pavilions of the Koval Enclosure, but wandered over t-o the * paddocks, after the reception of their Majesties. All the most delicate colours and fabrics imaginable went to make each wearer a “picture,” some Greek, some Victorian in effect. The breeze was just sufficient to flutter the pretty draperies of chiffon and lacs, much painted or embroidered chiffon was worn with white fur wraps. The’ Queen was wearing a handsome gown of blue of a pale shade delicatelv embroidered in gold and a swathe of shot blue and gold toque. The Duchess of York was in chiffon and lace liat trimmed with flowers. King Manwel was present with Queen Augusta V ictoria, in white embroidered with black and a black hat trimmed with paradise plumes. Princess Helena Victoria was in Mole colour, Princess Marie of Greece wore a lovely gray and a large hat trimmed wit a plumes, Lady Patricia Ramsay wore dull silver net and lace over pink.

The pale shades were in the majority, with cool cream and white chiffons and laces with touches of colour in the embroideries, while here and there a dress of rose or red or yellow, or the turbans or Saris of the Indians made vivid touches of colour. There was a distinct touch of gold over everything, the sunshine was golden, and biege which is a sort of champagne colour was much worn, especially by the French women present. Cup Day was a distinctly French! Day. So Many French have never been seen at many, French have never been seen at A-Scot on one day before. Gold sunshades were among others; and many wore the glass bangles just now the craze from wrist half wav up the arm which flashed in the sunlight. The attendance on the last day, Friday, was -~uite large for it was another glorious day of sunshine, and at its close one of the most enjoyable Ascots of recent years came to an end. The King and Queen were again present, and Her Majesty wore a lovely gown of silver grey with a lace cape effect at the back and a. grey hat massed with shaded mauve and grev feathers, with the same shades patterned on the skirt ; her jewels of topaz and pearls. The Duchess of York was all in fuchsia pink with a small hat, ana a cape with a chiffon collar of petals and roses—a charming toilette; Lady Maud (Princess) Carnegie, wore brown chiffon ; and Lady Cambridge black embroidery with a gold hat ; Lady Roxburghe, who was with the royal party, wore orchid mauve with a plumed hat to match and beautiful pearls. The delight of the wonderful week of sunshine was not confined to Ascot alone, the whole country was glad. The London parks had never been more beautiful and all the week-end, were crowded with welldressed people listening to the bands or strolling under the shade of the trees over the smooth turf. There is an unwritten law that Ascot Sunday is the day for the river, and the Thames boatmen, who had suffered much by the rain and floods of the earlier season, at last had their opportunity. On Saturday the longest day of 1924, a brilliant sun and blue skv made the open spaces irresistable. In addition to import : ant cricket matches, there were big lawn tennis finals at Wimbledon; Varsity polo match at Hurlingham. The London, Midland, and Scottish Railways ran 59 special trains with 123,000 visitors for the Empire Exhibition (which c-ach day last- week exceeded that number, the attendance having now reached between 4,000,009 and 5.000,000 in the 52 days it has been open till last Saturday). With their Majesties at Windsor on the river, all the private mansions had their guests, and Ascot frocks were seen upon the lawns at Bray. Maidenhead and Marlow. The river side hotels were booked up days before. Murray’s Club and the Brigade of ..Guard’s Club were among those who entertained large parties. On the beautiful reaches of Jhe river from Boulter’s Lock to Henley, the stream could scarcely be seen for the boats and punts and sunshades of blue, red, yellow; striped frocks in all the colours of the rainbow, and frocks of embroidered muslins and every fabric that river-frocks on a summers day should be made of, made a brilliant- kaleidoscope of moving colour far as the eye could reach along the winding ptream over which coloured baloons attached to the sunshades, floated in the sunshine. The Empire Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's Cathedral drew a great congregation of all classes, many people leaving Ascot early on Wednesday afternoon to j be present in the evening, for it gave Empire visitors a desired opportunity of taking part in one of those great National services which distinguish St. Paul’s. . It* was a service of mingled joy and grief, of thanksgiving for our great Empire in which hundreds from its outposts and far countries joined in gratitude for the blessings of our freedom, and in prayers for the bereaved and those who had died for the Empire. After a brief silence, the plaintive notes of “The Flowers of the Forest” wailed through the aisles with heartrending pathos, by the pipers of the Sects Guards, as they passed into view from the South transport, impressively and slowly moving along the aisle in their rich tartans, which now caught the light, and now were in shadow as they passed piping and stood in front of the choir, then very slowly moving Scross into the North transept; the Lament In their passing through the Cathedral liow rising, now falling, till finallv it tiied away in the gloom with almffst eerie

and despairing cries. Behind the pipers marched a tall drummer of the. Guards in scarlet uniform and black busby, and two drummers with kettle drums draped in black. Dean Inge, wearing his cape of gold, read a lesson after Christina Rossetti s joyful ''Anthem to the Memory of tne Brace, which followed the Lament and chased its sadness, and then, after the lesson, the service ended in a note of triumph with the Te Deum Laudamus, oi Doctor Charles Macpherson’s setting. it was a celebration of Waterloo Day as well as an Empire Thanksgiving, the cnoir was strengthened by bands and a large orchestra, and u tremendous body of sound rose in the National Anthem, with which the service ended, and in which the vast congregation joined. The death at Sandringham on Friday morning of Sir Dighton Probyn, 91 years °£ age, after less than a week's illness", the effect of a chill, is mourned bv the whole of the Royal Familv, every member of which regarded him" as a valued friend and m whose service he litis been for half a eentury; but particularly will his loss be felt by Queen Alexandra, whom he served many years as Comptroller of her Majesty s household, and particularly sinethe death of King Edward. It is "feared that the death of the friend who protected hei as far as lie could from the cares and troubles of her high position will be a mo* for the Queen Mother in her f>- a .l ? g< y , r He , was 01le of her oldest and testea friends. Few men have given such Jong and faithful service to their country and the Royal Family. He entered the C V ‘f' Ir 4 1 r 49 ’ and fon o ht on the TransliiGus frontier m 1802, and even his V.C. at Agra during the Indian mutiny, when at the head of his squadron, he" dash-d mto a strong body of rebel infantry, and beared He* I°° T®, from the standardoearei. He also took part in the China Sir Dighton’s first connection with the Court was in Queen Victoria’s day, when Prince 3 of l ° K Ed "ard, then o! . J\ a . es » 111 which capacity he t 0 India - He Comp. from 189? £Zr tt ?n° l the PriW Pm'se tiom 1891—1910, and Comptroller to Queen from then ‘to his Xh mate Lt h? m ° re han fift >" .'" ea rs of intimate service in the royal household he fuTih ofo/ts domestic life and interests, and the devotion of his later years w-s centred upon Queen Alexandra/ who had ll “ *?ul of old'.’f.'stioTOd oourtesv'and Queen Alexandra and Queen Ofra of &ce e M o er V? l ' es . ent at the morning selv cl v, , a f ln3hatn Church on Sunday, Sir Di m? ° f U lllen -onal character tor hvmn« ht lhree of his favourite V m , were sung—“ Onward, Christian Soldiers,” “I Could Not Do Without sf ; r » ,1" ***.•• The icctoi, the Rev. Rowland Grant mid tiibme to Sir Dighton. At the end of " service Queen Alexandra stood while the organist played “ The Dead March re moved°fr’ V °« B *s . Di f hton p robyn was to thl ii *? Sandringham to London and or -rbl f / Kensai Green, on Monday non! 1 w raTrn b - v the General’s pony to the station, and followed bv dr'aW V mdred l K ; o P le - Q«een Alexandra s footmen acted as pallbearers from he house to the train, where numerous Loudnr? We T. C ° nV r Ved with ‘Pc coffin to unrnf The ° ny wreath th at rested Que?n ALxandra. ° f “ B,,Ve flo ™* fro ”

A memorial service was held in the Chape. Royal St. James’s Palace, on the morning of the funeral, which was attended bv many old friends and members of tne Royal Family. Prince Henry ln!-T S ‘n d the Kmg, and Earl Howe he‘r Lmd Chamberlain, represented Queen Alexandra. Many elderly and distinguished people were present, and several aged men were in tears. There was a touching trioute, in her own handwriting attached to a beautiful cross sent bv Queen Alexandra in remembrance of her faithful old friend and servant : For my beloved General Probyn, with thanks for all he has been to me for ad these years—s2 years. We shall miss linn so much that he will draw us up to heaven, where he is sure to go. i: rom Ins devoted Alexandra. The cross was of rod and white carnations edged with delicately tinted irises Only one other tribute lay on the coffin—a small spray of carnations from the Hon Charlotte Knollys, the Quern) - Mothers companion of many rears which bora the inscription: “For" my’ okS and dearest friend.—K.” It is Rose Day to-day—Queen Alexandra s Day, but it was decided some time ?o° that her Majesty would take no part in the celebration this year. It is only lately that we began to think of the beautiful still beautiful Queen-Mother as growing old, and there is something that appeals to the imagination in the realisation that this always-adored Princess and Queen who graced the British Court for so many changing years since England first went mad with "joy at the sight of Edward’s bride, can take part in its pageantry no more, but in the seclusion behind her palace walls lives with her memories. It is a glorious day to-day. and London looks a picture with the white-frocked, flower-wreathed rose-sellers. Queen Alexandra has sent a message to them and to the people expressing her regret that she will not be able, as in previous years, to be among thorn, and gives thanks for the aid to the hospitals in which so much of her interest lies. This afternoon is the garden party of the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace, at which a number of Empire guests will be present. It will be a week of Royal entertaining, as the last Courts of the season take place at Buckingham Palace on Thursday and Friday, among many other important social fixtures.