“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 56

“ALIEN’S” LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially Written for the Ladies’ Paged EXIT MARCH. March 31. The Prince of Wales sailed on Saturday for his six months’ tour to West and South Africa and South America. He leaves bohind him many millions who will miss him in their notional life, of which he has been described as the "sauce piquante.” Millions of others will welcome him in Africa. Those who regard such a tour as an undiluted pleasure trip are mistaken, and can have no conception of the physical and mental strain involved. The prince is a man without liking for ceremony, yet he has to be the

central figure ; n uncountable receptions of a formal character with little personal interest and with natural instincts for unfettered freedom. Wherever he goes he has to make endless sj>eeches, and all the time he is meeting people who, however brief, the contract will receive ineffaceable impressions. But he likes new scenes, and is intensely interested in his fellow-subjects through, nit the Empire, and realises tiiat by his visits he can further the existing good fellowship, and so work for the British cause. We are fortunate in possessing in the Prince a national representative who is the most popular figure in the modern world. All nations wish to see him, and the charm of his youth and personality win gulden opinions for the Empire’s Ambassador. Wearing the undress uniform of a captain of the Royal Navy, the Prince of Wales motored on Saturday morning from St. James’s Palace to Victoria Station, through thousands of cheering Londoners, who left no doubt concerning their feeling—their "God speed” was sincere and heartfelt. On the platform at Victoria about 100 personal friends of the Prince were assembled, but the departure was unofficial, and there were no ceremonies or decorations, and the train moved out almost in silence, the men raising their hats and the -vonieii waving their handkerchiefs. Among the Prince’s private luggage were two ukelele cases and a banjo case, a portable gramophone, a bag of golf clubs, and a typewriter. The bos’n and petty officers of H.M S. Repulse observed the charming old naval custom of piping the Prince aboard. In his saloon, among many other farewell tokens, was a horseshoe of white heather. The Prime Minister announced at the Empire Parliamentary Association the other day that, a parliamentary delegation would be sent to Australia and New Zealand next year. For the purpose of ruch visits, he said he was anxious to see v bether it would not be possible to arrange the business of Parliament so as to get a sufficient autumn vacation to make possible the inclusion of those otherwise unable to go. Mr Baldwin said these visits should be arranged frequently, as all units of the Empire must get to know more about the other units. There should be sufficient knowledge to remove misapprehension and to spread the light as to the potentialities of our people in the undeveloped portions of the Empire. Referring to Australia and New Zealand, the Premier added: "The oroblems are d'fficult, and wc ought to have the fullest understanding witji the people of Australia and see together what their and our problems are. By that means we may be able to do something that may take the development of our Empire a real step forward.” But it is gravely asked, Have we lost the pioneer spirit? Dr Earle C. Page, Treasurer of the Australian Commonwealth, said at a public dinner (I quote Sidney Mervine in the Sunday Pictorial): “ We’ have 6,000,000 in Australia. Help us to get 20,000,000. ” London has a million or two more people than in the whole of Australia. But do men want to leave the crowded cities and go out into the unknown as they did a generation ago? A return to the pioneering spirit is what the whole Empire wants; but the young men of to-day are turned out more and more on the same pattern. They affect to despise the work], as it is, yet lack the something to create a better.” At bottom it is the love of comfort and the increasing dislike of work that keeps men from the open spaces and the contest with Nature. That man’s game means aching muscles. The dole means leaning against a wall till the hour conies to draw it, and convivial company in the publichouse discussing the problem of what we are coming to? As a matter of fact the “ down and out ” of the idle and incompetent class are having the time of their lives while the skilled and industrious work for them. Mr Lansbury, in the House of Commons recently, denounced the dole as the breeder of criminals and incompetent idlers. He was quite right when he said that we should not teach people to live without working. At one time, provided a man did not want to starve, the only alternative was work, but to-day the State, the boroughs, and private charities make starvation almost an impossibility. And while idle, able-bodied men exist on the dole, they create in Iheir shirking cf work the unemployment from which the country protects them. The last tributes to Lord Curzon, former Viceroy of India, who was the chief figure of many splendid ceremonies, were of tragic simplicity. No Abbey service could lack in dignity, and Lord Curzon’s great services to his country gathered to him inside the Abbey as mourners all the foremost men of his generation, and many of the preceding generation, and great crowds of the general public, for a burial in Westminster Abbey is the supreme honour England can give to one of her sons. A noble note was struck by the simplicity. A motor hearse brought Hie coffin to the Abbey, four mounted police riding before the hearse, and a car filled with wreaths following behind. Lady Curzon and Lord Curzon’s three daughters, with relatives, were the first mourners to enter the Abbey. Lord Beatty, Mr Baldwin, Mr Churchill, Lord Asquith, Lord Birkenhead, Mr MacDonald, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lord Cave, the Lord Chancellor, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Salisbury, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, and the Earl of Birkenhead, Secretary of State for India, were the pall bearers, who entered the Abbey early. The wreaths—among them one from the King, and one of old English flowers from Shakespeare's garden at Stratford-on-Avon, sent by the Shakespeare Trust, of which Lord Curzon was a member—were placed along the chancel. The coffin, of plain oak, with a white pall bearing the arms of the Marquis, was carried to the chancel. Near the coffin were the effigies of great statesmen who had passed before, seeming to watch the coming of a kinsman—Gladstone and Disraeli, Earl Channing, Governor-Genoral

and first Viceroy of India, from 1856 f o 1862. On the tablet it is written of him: '* During the perilous crisis of the Sepoy Mutiny he displayed with entire success such fortitude, judgment, and wise clemency as proved him worthy of his illustrious father, and justly entitled him to the lasting gratitude of his country.” The pale sunshine filtered through the windows as the service proceeded; the voices of the choir and the prayers of the clergy, the hymns and lessons, the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury es, with crozier in one hand he outstretched the other, “the Lord give you peace now and evermore,” was more* than a ceremony. The mighty woe of the “Dead March” in “Saul” was assuaged by the assurance, “I am the Resurrection and the Life . . he that believeth in Me shall never die.” “ 0 grave, where is thy victory?” The immortal words that have eased 10,000 hearts fell once again with balm. The King was represented by the Earl of „Shaftesbury, Queen Alexandra by Earl Howe, the Prince of Wales by BrigadierGeneral Trotter, the Duke of York by Commander Louis Greig. After the Abbey service came the most intimate portion of the burial, when the great statesman went the journey from London to Derbyshire for the last time, accompanied by his family. The procession went to St. Pancras Station, via Whitehall, Charing Cross road, Tottenham Court road, ana Euston road. The coffin was taken by special train to Derbyshire, and, covered in a crimson pall, stood all night before the altar erected in the great white hall of Kedieston Hall. The first part of the burial service was held there the next day, conducted by the Archbishop of York, assisted by the Bishop of Southwell, Dr Hoskyns, Archdeacon Noakes, of Derby, and about 20 other Derbyshire clergy. The last portion of the service was conducted in the village church near the Hall, where the coffin was lowered into the vault where lies the first wife of the Marquis. The monument comprises two recumbent figures—that of Lady Curzon and that of the Marquis in the robes of t Viceroy of India. Last week was the big week of sport, golf, lawn tennis, the country Rugby championship worked in between the two great events—the Grand National at Liverpool and the boat race in London. Liverpool, as is usual on its great national festival, closed down its business early in the day, and went out into the country to see the jumping. Most of the smart women who went to the races wore the new masculine-looking double-breasted coats, or severe suits under fur coats. The skirts look almost too narrow to walk in, but there are hidden pleats which spring. With the high necks and cropped heads and small hats, there is a decided mannish appearance about the women. Those who admire the open necks and fluffy styles will be disappointed in the new fashions of this season; but at present most people are wrapped in their furs, for March, that came in like a lion, goes out like a polar bear. Rough, bitter winds, a leaden sky, and the waters of the Thames resembling the Channel in miniature, were the uninviting conditions that ruled on Saturday for the University boat race. Vet, although the social side of the time-honoured contest between Oxford and Cambridge was robbed of its pleasure, tens of thousands of sporting-spirited people massed the banks of the Thames from Hammersmith Bridge to Mortlake, shivering in topcoats and wraps. The excitement of the race, did not "each the breathless interest that is usual, for very soon after the start the Oxford boat was waterlogged, and there was practically no race at all, Cambridge being far ahead all the way. At night the crews, after their months of training, had their usual celebrations, but with less disturbance than on some occasions, as their plans for the evening had been kept secret. With Parliament sitting, there is a certain section of society in town, but with the absence of the Royal -Family, and many other distinguished folk, social affairs are only of a local character. Lent is always a quiet time. The King and Queen are, as in past years, to hold four Courts during the season at Buckingham Palace. Following the now established custom, they will bo held in pairs on successive nights, the cliosen dates being May 21 and 22, and Thursday and Friday, June 25 and 26. Among the many charming debutantes this season will be Lady Alexandra Haig, god-da-ughter of Queen Alexandra and daughter of Lord and Lady Haig, Lady Millicent Taylour, only daughter of Lord and Lady Headfort; Lady Sibell Lygon, second daughter of Lord and Beauchamp ; Lady Margaret Douglas-Hamil-ton, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon; the Hon. Joan Ogilvie-Grant, only daughter of Lord and Ladv Strathspey ; and Lady Irene Pratt, daughter of Lord and Lady Camden. Very little,- as yet, is known of the prospects of the coming season, but it will not be of the same brilliant character as last wonderful Empire year. The Prince of Wales will be missed from the Court and national ceremonies, besides at society and charitable functions, at which his presence makes a tremendous difference.