A London Letter

Southland Times, Issue 20499, 30 May 1928, Page 5

A London Letter

(From Our Correspondent.) London, April 11. There is a growing cult of things Oriental at present which may account for this note having been chosen for the dance which is being arranged for April 27 in connection with St. Peter’s Hospital, Convent Garden. Lord Carisbrooke, Lady Ravensdale and the Duchess of Grafton are among those who are taking parties to Claridge’s for the occasion, and it is lik*ly to be distinguished by rich Ork x'al colour and splendour. There is to be a particularly novel cabaret arranged by Edward Pierce. Among the items promised is the “Macbeth” sketch as stage managed by a ser-geant-major, the sketch which so amused the Prince of Wales and the Queen of Spain when they saw the original production of it. Another charity ball which is keeping its organisers very busy at the moment is the eagerly looked forward to Italian Ball, which takes place at the Savoy on Thursday week. The Queen of Italy is taking great interest in this ball, for which, I am told, some most wonderful Italian souvenirs are being brought over from Italy. These include beautiful china. There are also to be tambourines distributed at this ball, three of which will be very lucky tambourines for those who get them. The many friends of Lady Irwin, wife of the Viceroy of India are delighted that she has come home for a holiday. Lady Irwin is a very open-air woman, who rides extremely well and who adores dogs. She is especially interested in elkhounds, having been one of the first English women to possess such a dog. Next month she is judging the elk-hounds at the Ladies’ Kennel Club Show. The chief reason for Lady Irwin’s visit, of course, is the fact that she has a debutante daughter, whom she will present at one of the first Courts. It is likely that Lady Irwin’s girl and her cousin, Lady Honor Guinness, Lady Iveagh’s daughter, also a debutante, will be presented at the same time. Lady Irwin and Lady Iveagh are sisters and are very much looking forward to meeting again. At present Lord and Lady Iveagh are staying at Farmlegh, Castleknock, Dublin, but only for a brief holiday. Among the most important weddings of the coming season will be that of the late Lord Abingdon’s son, the Hon. James Bertie, and Lady Jean Crichton-Stuart, younger daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Bute. I understand that the wedding will take place in June, and that it will be an out-of-town wedding. The marriage is likely to be at Mount Stuart, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, and will provide a local event of amazing brilliance.