FEMININE REFLECTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 19345, 10 September 1924, Page 11

FEMININE REFLECTIONS

IN LONDON. TWO GARDEN PARTIES. AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. (By “Daidra.”) LONDON, June 25. On June 25 their Majesties held their first Garden Party of the season at Buckingham Palace. The day was one of brilliant sunshine with hardly sufficient stir in the atmosphere to ruffle a feather —royal weather for a royal party. At 3.15 the palace gates were thrown open, the King’s men, in gold and scarlet, admitted the guests to the number of about ten thousand who itreaming in made their way through the Great Hall of the Palace or along the long garden shrubberies to the central lawn. There w’ere other lawns too, fringed with borders and beds of massed flowers; grassy banks suggestive of the country; shady dells; a lake; the whole giving a sense of spaciousness to a garden worthy of a palace. The Royal Horse Guards’ Band and the band of the Scots’ Guards played alternately at opposite sides of the lawn. About 4 pan. the former of these crashed out the National Anthem. Their Majesties with other members of the Royal family were on the lawn. The halt caused by the playing of the Anthem over, the King and Queen separated and moved in different directions among their guests. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York bronzed and smiling seemed to be everywhere. When the King and Queen appear in public it is the custom to greet them with cheers—not so at their Garden Parties. The sovereigns’ meeting with their subjects there is becomingly quiet and dignified. Queen Mary was handsomely attired in heliotrope frock, hat and parasol all the same delicate shade. Her hat, larger than the Queen usually wears, was trimmed with ostrich plumes. Her waistbelt—she adheres to the close fitting waist—was finished off with a large bunch of the roses of Alexandra Day—flat, pink and artificial; and nearly everyone, men and women alike, wore the same floral decoration. The Queen’s hair is grey, almost white, and the fresh colour seen in the faces of her children is in her face too. Though it was impossible for her to shake hands with everyone most of the ladies had the unique opportunity of curtseying low to their Queen as she moved smiling and gracious among them. Her ladies in attendance and the Lord Chamberlain had a busy time of it for many informal presentations were made on the lawn to both King and Queen. The Queen of Denmark was also present but the King of Denmark was at Sandringham visiting Queen Alexandra, who had become too frail for her custom ary drive round London on Rose Day. The Duchess of York, a very dainty and important little lady wore a colour between cream and biscuit. There was a good deal of lace about her and a long ostrich feather trailed from her large hat to her shoulder. She is prettier than her newspaper pictures. The best looking of all the royal ladies is Princess Patricia, Lady Ramsay, daughter of the Duke of Connaught, of whom her father is justly proud. She wore a lace tunic over what appeared to be a mixture of pink and heliotrope with hat to harmonise. Speaking generally of the ladies’ attire, the eye was met everywhere with exquisite daintiness, magnificence, sheen and glitter all in keeping with the brilliant function. The goodlooking Eastern ladies in their rich silks and gorgeous saris, with fllashing jewels lent a truly oriental touch to the whole.

One fair maiden in pale blue looked exactly as if she had stepped out of an early Victorian painting. However, most of the frocks were of the narrow, slim shape with straight lines. Bare arms and necks were much in evidence. The day being warm the fashionable wraps so much seen in London were discarded for lengths of tulle worn across the shoulders and twisted round the arms. A very distinctive feature lending charm and variety to the whole animated scene was given by the parasols. How can one describe them ? They were as flat as a plate; as deep as a bowl; many ribbed. The handles were mostly of the stumpy order. Their colours were brillaint, often quite Eastern; their materials puzzling and fascinating. Some were handpainted with conventional designs and designs not conventional. One was made of cream zigzag accordion-plaited georgette with orchids for trimming. Many were fringed; not a few had the trailing ostrich feather trimming which is in great vogue at present. Nearly all the men wore the long tailed black coat, dark grey trousers with black stripes, tall black silk hats, gloves and white spats, though many had dispem-ed with the spats and not a few carried the gloves with walking stick. Very quaint do slim youthful figures with boyish faces appear in this most correct attire; which apart from any social function is quite commonly seen in the streets of London every day. His Majesty wore dark grey with frock coat and a tall greyish white hat with black band. Some big Indians were similarly dressed, except that all of these very dignified people adhered to the picturesque turban of their nationality. In an enclosure on the edge of the lake was erected a scarlet and gold canopy. Behind it was a long tent with tables on which was the gold plate of the Royal household. Here were servants in scarlet livery; and here shortly after five o’clock entered the. two queens. As they sat down to eat other Royal people followed. Close by was a somewhat similarly equipped tent for Hie members of the Corps Diplomatique and their ladies. At right angles to these was a much larger tent where the great majority of the guests partook of strawberries and cream, ices, iced coffee, tea, orangeade, claret and various other good things worthy of a royal teaparty. After refreshments their Majesties took up their position at the scarlet and gold canopy where many of the distinguished guests were formally received. One quaint figure among these was a Chinese diplomat from Hong Kong in his Native dress. After these presentations, the King and Queen with lords and ladies in waiting and other members of their family made a sort of slow irregular procession through the party stopping constantly to greet and shake hands with their guests, his Majesty with an occasional joke. As they entered the Palace about six o’clock once again was the National Anthem played, and the gay throng dispersed leaving the palace in three different directions. At the gates crowds of the uninvited were lined up to see who had been to the party. Invitations had been issued to the foreign ambassadors, their embassies and legations; otherwise the guests were British subjects made up of members of both House of Parliament, officers of the army, navy, air force, civil service, clergy, representatives of the musical, dramatic and literary profession, and many overseas visitors from the dominions. In brief their Majecties had gathered round them in their own garden on

that beautiful June day, what might be regarded as a microcosm of the millions that make up the British Empire.. PRIME MINISTER’S PARTY LONDON, June 27. This was at Hampton Court Palace lent by the King for the purpose. Though this palace undoubtedly makes a more romantic and historic setting for an Empire function than Buckingham still in some ways the Prime Minister’s party was eclipsed in brilliance by that of their Majesties, after which it came so soon. The day was warm and fine but the sun was hidden behind the clouds and it seemed as if the guests, especially those from the East, had donned their second best clothes. Many of the men were in mufti. Ramsay MacDonald wore a grey morning suit. Very handsome he looked as he stood bareheaded shaking hands with his guests. This Labour Prime Minister of Britain has a decidedly aristocratic personality. His voice is rich and mellow with a Scottish accent; his language cultured; his bearing unassuming and courteous. In levee dress he is a distinguished figure towards whom all eyes turn. His daughter, Ishbel, who is just twentyone, is probably the youngest hostess No. 10 Downing street has known. At her father’s party she was supported by Lady Patricia Ramsay and another princess. All the royal ladies, including the Queen, are very good to Ishbel. The Marquees were erected and the guests received in the Home Park by the Long Canal. Upwards of 3,000 visitors bore the party badge.

After refreshments many of them went off to view the staterooms of the palace or to wander through the extensive grounds; and so became lost to one another. In this way one was prevented from seeing all who were there; also the public were walking about in the gardens and the park; though on this occasion they had not admission to the staterooms or to that part of the park where the reception was held. During the afternoon the Band of St. Mary’s School played at intervals. Hampton Court, which is the largest of the Royal Palaces of England, was originally built by Wolsey where he lived in the years of his greatness entertaining his king and princes and ambassadors in truly palatial splendour. Knowing full well that the palace was coveted by Henry VIII, he presented it, in 1525, with all its furnishings and appliances’to his Royal master. After Wolsey’s fall the King entered into full possession, enlarging and improving it. Many parts are reminiscent of his different wives. From this time on for more than two centuries the sovereigns of England—Tudors, Stewarts and Hanoverians lived until the accession of George HI, since which it has gradually ceased to be a royal residence. To describe this palace would require the vocabulary of Wren himself who, during his

long career, was more than once the architect for improvements and alterations made by the Royal tenant. It is worthy of note that the mighty Oliver did not scorn to take up residence here when the opportunity came. At the present time the greater part of this palace, comprising about 1,000 rooms is divided into suites of private apartments and ocupied by aristocratic families in recognition of their services to the Crown or the Empire. On the accession of Queen Victoria the staterooms and gardens; and later on the parks were thrown open to the public. This favour was renewed by Edward VII and the present King. The grounds are beautifully laid out and kept in perfect order; a description of the flowers necessitates a poem. The Home Park, in which deer browse, consists of about 750 acres and is bounded on three sides by Father Thames; it contains the Long Canal, leafy bowers, and “living galleries of ancient trees.” Without going into the palace one could find enjoyment for days strolling on the Broad Walk looking at the fountains and the statuary; being lost in the maze; cr enjoying a game of tennis, which has been played on these courts from the days when Henry VIII was allowed to beat his opponent until the present time. It is not so very long ago since the championship of the world was won here by an American in a game with the English champion. On the walls of the staterooms are hung rhe painted portraits of the great people who have lived in the palace as well as

many masterpieces of famous painters of different period?. A very striking one is of Charles I on horseback. e

Some of the rooms are divested of their furniture, in others it is railed off from the spectators. Conspicuous are the old four poster beds hung in ancient looking silk. They are not such as we of the present day would choose. The ceilings above the beds are painted with designs suggestive of sleep —Endymion reposing in the lap of Morpheus, a figure of Somnus with his attendants, Night and Sleep. Old China and various priceless antiquities weary one with looking at them. An interesting variation is the long haunted gallery along which Katherine Howard, when she heard of her death sentence is said to have run screaming towards the royal roue’s chapel where he was engaged in prayer (sic). As her first appeal fpr mercy proved unavailing she seems to persevere still, the sound of her pattering feet and her ghostly screams making this a very eerie part of the palace in the long winter nights. Various sinister legends attach to other parts of the palace or to articles belonging to it. Beautiful tapestries hang some of the rooms, one of Flemish manufacture originally belonging to Cardinal Wolsey illustrates the triumphs of Fate, Renown and Time; and another the “Storrye of the Seaven Deadlie Sinnes.” NEW ZEALAND AT WEMBLEY. LONDON, July 27. On Monday July 21 Women’s Week at Wembley opened with New' Zealand Day. I was unable to attend the morning session at which Lady Allen presided. The meeting was opened by Princess Helena Victoria reading a message from the Queen to the Women of the Dominions. This was followed by papers and addresses on child welfare, education, and the general progress of women in New Zealand. In the afternoon a short concert was given by artists native of New Zealand. Rosina Buckman sang “Waiata Maori” and “Waiata Poi,” with great effect. John Amadio was there with Briccialdi’s “Wind in the Trees” and some encores. Stella Murray thrilled the audience with “Land of Hope and Glory,” in the chorus of which we all joined. Robert Geddes sang “Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes” and Esther Fisher, besides rendering a pianoforte solo, was accompanist.

In a part of the New Zealand pavilion is a room made of native wood. The walls are lined with Rimu or red pine, beautifully marked and all the furniture is of New Zealand timber and manufacture. Here we were presented to the High Commissioner. Outside of this room we stood in a long and broad queue awaiting our turn. Beside us were glass cases full of our country’s blankets and famous rugs; in another case was a great pyramid of wool with a sheep

standing on the apex. As the queue progressed we came alongside of Kauri timber and Kauri gum, and caught glimpses of great ferns and beautiful flowers in the reception room. The walls were decorated with photographs of New Zealand scenery and industries and above the pictures were Wapiti and many antlered deer heads. At last we were in the room, our names were called; the High Commissioner was shaking hands with us, and we passed on to the Marquees for refreshments.

Here was a veritable crush, the majority partook of eatables and drinkables standing and everybody was too warm. The afternoon was damp and hot. Outside the Marquees, handsome half-caste Maori girls danced a poi dance; this was followed by the men going through a haka. These performances were said to be very well done. But we could see only the heads of the dancers. They had come from New Zealand with Ratana so rumour said. At 5.30 those of the party who managed to get seats were entertained in another part of the pavilion at a cinema show of New Zealand life and scenery. This lessened congestion in the reception room where we sat watching the people; and meeting old friends and making new ones.

In the early days of Wembley we were all familiarised with mud and we learned to fortify ourselves against it; but after weeks and weeks of fine weather the Wembley mud was forgotten.

On the morning of July 21, rain fell heavily; in the afternoon in spite of improved paths there was a return of the mud, greatly to the annoyance of the many owners of daintily shod feet as they stepped gingerly from the concert hall to the New Zealand pavilion. However, as we left the Exhibition grounds at 7.30 the sun was shining brilliantly in a blue sky; the atmosphere had become fresh and clear. The ride into London on'the top of a bus was delightful. New Zealand Day at Wembley had been successful and enjoyable. MRS PEPYS’ DIARY. WEDNESDAY, September 3. Do read, and write here for trying at my leisure, a way of cooking a cucumber, the same being to peel and to cut it up into pieces 2 inches long, and then to divide each piece into two. To soak the pieces in vinegar and brown sugar for 2 hours or 3 and to stew them in stock. This to be served as a vegetable. Another way of it being (I also read) to stew the pieces in butter (a little). For this to make a sauce by boiling the peel in milk and butter, then to rub it through a sieve, mix in with care the yolk of 1 egg and to pour over the cucumber. Both these recipes very good, as I judge and worthy to be followed. THURSDAY, September 4. Do start this day, being up very betimes at my housework to get it over, to make for myself a new jumper of the latest fashion of darning on coloured net with wool. The net of the coarse coloured kind to be bought for our casement curtains and the wool to be of strong colours, in stripes if preferred of what width you would choose. Also you may be guided by your own fancy for the shape of your jumper. This I am told, a very good way of using up the oddments left over from your jumpers when you have knitted same and I think a very cunning idea, one worthy of copying. Some, I do also hear, are trimming their jumpers with beads, and a fringe to it also of wooden beads. And so with a stout heart to set forth on a task like to be long in doing but (as I hope), worth it. FRIDAY, September 5. This day I be told of an easy dish of Fish Salad for supper that I might not be heated with cooking at the last moment (a thing Mr Pepys loveth not to see, he says) and much of this to be cooked in advance and yet very good eating indeed. For it needed some cold white fish, cooked, and when you would flake it, have a care that you remove all the bones. Now to mix it in a bowl with the chopped white of 1 egg (hard boiled), a few capers, some shreds of gherkin, and over all to pour a mayonnaise sauce. Lastly to make on a dish a border of lettuce, and this to be torn into pieces and well dried; to place the fish salad in the centre of your lettuce to garnish with water cress, chopped aspic (if you wish) and the yolk of your egg put through a sieve. This a very pretty dish for a hot day whether for your luncheon or supper. SATURDAY, September 6. For our eating on the Lord’s Day do order a roast duck with this I think a very good treat indeed. The manner of cooking the duck, I do write down as follows for the aid-of our maid Jane while she at my church going she having little wit to remember such things for herself. So do bid her draw the duck and to cut off the legs at the* first joint, then to wipe and to put in the stuffing of sage and onions. Next to take off the wings at the first joint, to truss very firmly indeed and to roast in the oven for 1 hour and a half to 1 and three quarters; for this to use what gumption you have concerning the age and the size of your bird. In any case to baste well, to dredge with flour and to brown it properly before dishing it up. The giblets you shall put in a saucepan with a sage-leaf, a little onion and some stock, this and to use as stock for your gravy which may be clear or thickened as you choose. When you would dish up put your duck in a hot dish, remove all strings, garnish with water cress and serve with gravy in one tureen and sauce in another. Thus cooked if you enjoy it not you must be hard indeed to please. And so to bed with a good conscience. MONDAY, September 8.

From my aunt in foreign lands a way to stew us some cherries when they be in season, this a very simple matter indeed, and yet one might well do so ill, as to spoil the cherries, a sad thing to think about. So for 1 lb of cooking cherries to make a syrup with i pint of water, and of sugar 6 ozs. melting the sugar in the water, but not letting same boil nor yet thicken. To pour it over the cherries the next thing, and to bring to the boiling point quickly; then to skim well and to let all simmer very slowly until tender. Boiled custard served with these cherries is good to my thinking, but Mr Pepys. whom likes not custard at all, would have me add that cream with them is much better and of no greater cost if you consider the eggs and the gas used in cooking of them. TUESDAY, September 9.

My thoughts turned to cherries through my aunt’s letter, to write out. for sending Mistress Bassett a very old recipe from my great grandmother both of how she may preserve cherries. The way being to gather your cherries when they are full ripe, to take off the stalks, and to pick them with a pin. With every pound of cherries put II pounds of loaf-sugar. Beat part of your sugar, strew it over them and let them stand all night. Dissolve the rest of your sugar in I pint of the juice of currants, set it over a slow fire and put in the cherries with the sugar and give them a gentle scald. Then take them carefully out, boil your syrup until it is thick, pour it upon your cherries and lie them down close. If she will do this I promise her that her preserve will not go a-begging. A GENTLE REBUKE. My dear Mrs Pepys,—l do see in your weekly diary various items of great interest, especially of a gastromonic nature of which I do the much concerned, for the subject of what to eat and the preparation thereof doth appeal to me exceedingly, and I do marvel at your epicurean report for August 27th in that I notice you recommend the making of a soup from a cucumber of good size—on August 27 th. Then I do see a way to prepare and cool the delicious asparagus which is to be done in from 20 to 30 minutes wholly immersed and I do feel very sorry for the same, this being a vegetable of very tender composition and requiring much skill so that it be not spoilt and cousin Gladys be much perturbed thereby. Now, if you put the bundle of asparagus in boiling water of sufficient quantity to cover the butts and boil for 10 minutes then fill up to cover the middle and boil for ten minutes then fill up to cover the tips and boil for five to eight

minutes the result will be a delight to the partaker and give much joy to the gardener in that the time and attention he hath bestowed on the cultivation of this delicacy be not wasted—Jor you do just cook the tips, the middle and the butts to one even, consistency and the form and texture of the vegetable be not spoiled.

With apologies to the most excellent Pepys for taking this liberty of making to you direct and to your good self for the, • same presumption. II remain, Yours Faithfully, SAMUEL. September 3. f