THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 75

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

BRITISH LEGION FUNCTIONS. GATHERING OF EX-SERVICE MEN. (From Our Own Cobrespondent-) LONDON, December 15. There were great scenes of enthusiasm at Stepney Green, E., the other night when the Prince of Wales paid a surprise visit to a concert of the Mile End branch of the British Legion, held in Christ Church Parish Hall. Some hundreds of ex-service men were present. The Prince met many men who had been at Zeebrugge. Some of them are unemployed, and he expressed keen interest in their lot. During an interval the Prince, on the invitation of Councillor J. F. Mead (licensee of the Bricklayers’ Arms, whose work for London hospitals is well known) went across to the tavern and drank a glass of ale. A number of people were in the bar, and the Prine shook hands with many of them. He invited some to have a drink with him. Going through a private entrance into the bar itself the Prince drew himself a glass of ale and drank some of it. The glass was then handed round.

The Prince returned to the concert hall, and stayed till the end of the programme. At the finish “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow was sung as it was never sung before. A dense crowd cheered him as he camo out, and his motor car had to be pushed through the packed streets by willing volunteers.

A club is to be erected for the Mile Ena branch of the British Legion from funds given by Mr Teddy Hulton, and the Prince expiessed his intention of attending the opening ceremony in the spring. THE PRINCE’S DANCING PARTNERS. Another British Legion function attended by the, Prince of Wales was a dance, held at the, Lambeth Baths. Evidence of the Prince s remarkable memory for faces was given when he led Mrs M’Enroy (president of the women’s section of the Legion ami wife of Captain P. M’Enroy) to the dance floor for a fox-trot “I think we have met before,” said the Prince. “Wasn’t lo™ t >,„ GoV , ernment ball at Madras in , “ Her husband was stationed m India then. The Prince said that he was very much pleased to see what the women’s section of the Legion was doing. A surprise invitation by the Prince to dance tne Charleston with him fell to the lot of Miss Lyhe Huckle, of Kennington, a pretty brunette. ‘I was dancing with niy fiance, when General Trotter, who was with the Prince, asked me to go on. the platform to be presented to the Prince,” she afterwards explained. “The Prince was very charming, and asked me to dance. We started fox-trotting, but after a few moments the Prince led with the ‘flat’ Charleston. The Prmco has completely mastered the Charleston, and is an ideal partner 1 was a little nervous at first, but tho Prince was so natural that he soon put me at my ease That dance was encored three times, so that the Prince and I had' four dances m all.

Although the Prince chatted most 01 the tune, Miss Huckle remained silent on what he said. “I would rather not say what he talked about,” she added, shyly. Miss Huckle, who is 20, and lives on the Prince’s Duchy of Cornwall Estate, is a cashier in a well-known firm of caterers. She made herself the black marocain frock which she was wearing. The first news her family had of the honour she had received was when a newsboy called with a morning paper in which was her photograph. Iler parents were a-leep when the happy girl got home. Another of the Prince’s partners, Miss Charlotte A. Ashton, daughter of a Lambeth councillor and a clerk in the Ministry of Pensions, who danced with him in the “Paul Jones,” declares that he is “a splendid dancer and keeps perfect time." A 16-year-old sixth form schoolgirl. Miss Ada Pool, of Bromley, was tho Prince’s partner in a waltz, but she was so excited that she had forgotten almost everything the Prince had said to her. THE PAPER HAT.

When the novelties were distributed the Prince placed a paper jockey’s cap on the head- of Mr G. Bartlett, the agent for htis Duchy of Cornwall Estate. Later, when he noticed that Mr Bartlett was not wearing it he asked, in mock-seriousness, “Bartlett, where’s that hat?” “Although tho Prince was only supposed to stop half an hour he danced almost continuously for close on two hours,” said Mrs M'Enroy. His partv included Lady Louis Mountbatt.cn. Lady Erleigh. and Lord D’Abernon. A VALUABLE PRIZE ALSATIAN.

The Prince of Wales, who is an honorary member of the Alsatian Club of Great Britain, has recently bought an Alsatian wolf-dog, a 20-month-old sable named Claus of Seale, from the kennels of Mrs H. Howard, of Seale, Farnham. Mr R, Barnes (secretary of the Alsatian Club) states that Claus of Seale has won more han 40 prizes at championship shows. He hopes that the Prince will exhibit the dog at the next show. There is no reason why it should not acquire championship status if it continues its show career. The Prince has always been greatly interested in the breed. This is his second Alsatian. His purchase will doubtless increaso tho popularity of this breed of dog. HOW FASHIONS ARE MADE. The story is told that, after a countryhouse visit recently, a number of pairs of men’s spats were found in various parts of the garden, hidden behind bushes. The reason for this general discarding of a smart and useful accessory of male attire was for a time inexplicable. It transpired,. however, that the Prince of Wales, who was one of the house-party, had arrived without spats,- so his fellow-male-guests thought there was onlv one thing for them to do —namely, to discard them. The garden bushes seemed suitable ambush for the out-of-date ankle comforters.