A MAID IN MAYFAIR

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1929, Page 13

A MAID IN MAYFAIR

GOSSIP FROM LONDON TOWN.

, WNCICSS MARY'S BELGIUM VlSl’l

(From Our Lady Correspondent.) Loudon, Nov. T, - Tho recent death of Lord Ilarcwood is ' not, I hear, to make any dilTorcnco to tho visit which Princess Mary and her husband had planned to make to .Belgium this month. Although it is entirely unolllcial, they will bo staying ' with tho King- and Queen of tho Belgians for at least a part of tho time. They two going largely so that they may see something of tho International Art .Exhibition. Tho new Lord Ilarcwood is n connoisseur of pictures and sculpture, and has been looking’forward for many months to this exhibition. Princess Mary has acquired a taste for great works of art since her marriage, and, under Lord Iln re wood's guidance, has quite an expert knowledge now'of tho dill’erent schools’ of painting. They will both bo glad of a change of scene after t! i anxiety and upheaval of tho last few weeks, and Princess Alary will bo interested in hearing of tho wadding plans of Princess .Murie-Joso, whom alio got to know intimately during tho Belgian Princess’ stay in this country during the war, : ITALY’S OPERATIC ARMY. Amongst other items of small talk, I hear that Princess Marlo-Joso likes her Royal fiance's uniform. When ho visited Brussels to ask King Albert’s formal assent to tho engagement, the Prince wore tho fasob>a|ing silveir-and-skyjbluo of tho Italian Army, and very handsome an'* dashing ho looked in it. Before the war tho Austrian Army, notably in its Bh.ako-aud-dolman cavalry, regiments, used to bo tho most, picturesque in Europe, but the revolution Ikrn changed all that, and to-day I. imagine the Italian soldiers wear tho smartest uniforms. U. crack corps, tho Carabinieri, the Alpini and tho Bersaglieri, make our Guardsmen look dowdy so far ns military tailoring is concerned, and even their ailver-bluo uniform, with its very chic high-crowned kepi, is exceedingly smart. , , > . J A PARLIAMENT PERSONALITY. ; ‘ People who knew Miss Ellen Wilkin- ' sdh when she first camo to 'Westminster to toko her place as member for one of tho Middlesbrough divisions look back now and compare, with considerable interest tlio shy little red-haired woman of those days with t'ho self-possessed, smartly-dressed personality of to-day. Tho House of Commons has certainly '‘brought Miss Wilkinson out,” and she has returned this session full of enthusiasm and as alert as any of her :14Vbour contemporaries. Her friendships in tho House are more than interesting. From being a rather aggressive Socialist with little use for Liberals or Oonserva- , t’.es, s'ho has developed a much more tolerant outlook on life, and her relationships in tlio House aro happier than they were a few years ago. She has friends and admirers in all three parties, and her close association with so fine and strong-minded a personality as Miss Susan Lawrence is* bound to have its effect. THE FLYING DUCHESS. Tho flying world is waiting eagerly to hear whether tho Duchess of Bedford, who has done a great deal of experimental flying, will embark with her pilot, Mr. C. D. Barnaixl, on the fourtcenday flight to South Africa and back which ho hopes to undertake shortly. Tho Duchess is keeping very quiet about her intentions, for she dislikes fuss, and, in her opinion, tho only drawback to these adventures in tho air is tho publicity they entail. All her friends, however, seem pretty certain that when the time comes sho will bo found in her Chico in tho machine. Tho flight will o more exacting even than the trip she undertook some months ago. Twelve thousand miles have to bo covered in a short time, and it is a tribute to tho vitality and enthusiasm of tho Duchess of Bedford that her name should be coupled with such an exploit. WOMAN JOINT MASTER.

When tho Quorn hounda assemble for their opening meet at Kirby Gate in the 'course of the next few days, followers will find Mrs. A. E. Burnaby helping her husband as joint master. The Quorn is ■probably tho host-known of the hunts in •the Shires because tho Prince of Wales and his brothers have hunted with it so often in the last few seasons, and the .Kirby Gate meet always attracts hundreds of foot-followers from the district Melton Mowbray. Major Burnaby huq been tho master through many successful seasons, and although Mrs. Butnaby held no official position she has shalrcd with her husband the task of providing good sport for members of the Quoin. A petite little figure, who nearly always wears a bunch of violets in her ridipg habit, Airs. Burnaby, like her husband, is a personal friend of tho Princes. Tho Dnko of Gloucester will hunt with 'the Quorn during the winter, but he has given up his suite at Craven Lodge. THE CAMERONS OF LOCIIIKL. Highland chieftains arc great sticklers for bradilion, and tho Camerons of lax'hiel are no exception, Ono of their more recent traditions has been to marry tho daughter of a duke. Colonel Donald Cameron of Lochicl, who was 53 this I week, is, on his mother’s side, a grandson of tho fifth Duke of Buccleueh, and tho reigning Dnko of Montrose is his brother-in-law. Tho Highland territorial designations full with a strange sound on btassenuch ears, and many a gentle gib. • has "Punch” indulged in at the practice. Perhaps tho classic joke on the subject was perpetrated by tho late Sir Frank Lockwood, who was always a jfrept wpg. The vW !, "s wore t’m nrc-.-1 en hicl-t , v.>-v.r.c tn:

'cd by a Ixmdon butler as "Lochiel and Lady Mavgiuret. Cameron.” Tlio Lockwoods were next duo for announcement, and Sir Frank staggered tho solemn servant by tolling him “10 Lennox Gardens and Lady Lockwood.” Tlio hostess managed to control her countenance, and nobody enjoyed tho sully more than Loehiel, A CONTRAST IN SCENES. Mr. MacDonald camo back to London from Chequers looking much more rested than when ho went away. And no wonder! Cheques Court, is tho most peaceful nlaco in tho world at this moment, and if tho Prime Minister lias seen wonderful tracts of tree-planted country, wonderful scenery in America and Canada, ho found awaiting him under tho Chilterns some of the loveliest and tho most typical country scenery to be found anywhere in England. Lord Lee of Faroham made a glorious gift to the country when ho handed Chequers over. It is almost impossible to describe its beauty, and its quietness and peace are beyond expression. Acres of land —hills, wooded copses, meadows, and park—surround it, and it is wonderfully secluded. No one but members of the Prime Mitv later's own household and his guests have tho use of tho walks and tho open spaces, and ho need never fear molestation when ho wants to be quiet.

NOT THE YOUNGEST NOW.

There arc still many people who remember how Dr. Alfred George Edwards, who has just kept his 81st birthday, was known, when made prolate of tho tiny catliwlrnl “city” of St. Asaph, as “tho youngest bishop.’ His age was then about forty-five. Another memory hovers about him-—that of tho lovely wife ho brought to St. Asaph. Dark-haired, with delicately perfect, features, dark eyes, ami a complexion of creamy pallor, .Mrs. Edwards, when she drove with her pretty little son into I‘hyl or Denbigh, won the eager admiration of the beauty-loving Celts. Sho was the bishop's second wife (he Ims since married for tho third lime) and her grown-up step-daughters looked almost older than her dainty self, Rumour said sho was partly Portuguese, perhaps because of her exotic charm; heir father certainly had business interests in Lisbon.' THE “PLUS TWO” SKIRT. A golfing skirt, wl.'eh is really an imitation of plus-fours but has been named by the trade tho “plus two” skirt, is one of the latest, novelties. It is really

a pair of short wide trousers which fasten just below tho knee, but are cut sufficiently wide to give a skirted appearance though not wide enough to flap about when tho wearer is playing. The “plus two” is carefully pressed so that it looks exactly like a okirt; indeed, when th,, weaver is walking it is difficult to tell that a skirt in not, in fact, being worn. If anything, it looks a little fuller than some of tho skimpy sports skirts which are sometimes seen worn. GRANDMOTHER'S LACES. .Every woman in London who wants to bo “in tho swim” this season is searching diligently through her treasure chest, for relics of her grandmother's days. Tho older and more fragile the scraps of lace sho finds, tho better will they servo their present purpose, which is not so much decorative as sentimental. To wear something that "belonged to grandmother'’ is to bo socially correct, just now, and there is a certain friendly competition to see who can produce the most interesting specimens of early Victorian fal-lals. Old-fashioned bracelets, quaint necklaces, coy fans, and oven silver surrounds of Victorian posies are being eagerly brought out to enhance the charms of ultra-modern dresses. Specially lovely are tho delicate old lace berthas which are now used on tho droop-ing-over-tho shoulders dccollotagcs of 11)29 debutantes. They need no alteration, for the modern girl’s evening frock vf”’’ v'r'di I'ke the non her mother's

SHOES OF TWEED.

English manufacturers of tweeds are going to benefit by a new fashion for walking shoes made of that material. They have proved an instantaneous success in Paris. These Parisian shoes were made in France, but the uppers aro of a special tweed woven in England, which will now bo available for English-made shoes. It is specially stretched before being made up into shoes to avoid any bagginess developing after a little wear. Tho shoes aro usually of the “Court” variety, and have leather heals which arc dyed to match the tweed. Tho most popular colours arc black and white, navy and white, minute ehecks, and heather mixtures. Women who drive their own ears will find these tweed shoes v *y comfortable, as they are not affected by tho heat of the engine. MYSTERY OF DRESS PRICES. Most women of nurture? years can remember how surprised they were when short dresses became fashionable, and the prices of frocks and costumes did not correspondingly decline. They were gravely told tho reason for this was that tho material played a small part in the total cost of a dress, and there was just as much labour to bo paid for in making a short frock. This being so, it is rather a shock to discover how longer skirts have put up tho price of dresses at once. Many of the new picture frocks are made of brocades costing 25s to 30s a yard to tho trade, and between seven and eight yards are required. The woman who used** to pay 10 guineas for an evening dress is now asked at least 15 guineas for a dress of the same standard. SUPPRESSED BATHING COLDS. A friend of mine, who has been full of aches and pains for weeks and felt sure ho was sickening for some awful complaint, wont to see a Harley Street specialist yesterday. After being examined, ho was surprised at boii.g asked if lie spent his holiday at tho seaside, and allowed his bathing dress to dry on him. Of course no had. Tho specialist then told him 'he had treated over 100 patients for an odd form of suppressed chill, which had waited all this time before making itself unpleasant. My friend is to-day in bed with a streaming cold, brought out by a lotion with which he had to rub himself, and some medicine which ho had to take internally. He is to stay in bed for two days, and may then expect to find himself cured. DIETING ONCE MORE.

In spite of the protests of doctors, who would rather, sco their patients plump anti well, dieting is again becoming a feminine craze. Hundreds of smart women have adopted the ‘'three weeks' diet” which has swept New York like a plague, in the belief that it will produce tho slim figure necessary for the new “lino” in 21 days. West End. restaurants are even more unhappy than the doctors, because the dieting craze is affecting their business. A man who takes a dieting woman out to lunch lacks the spirit to cat a satisfactory luneh when his guest confines herself to half a grape frnit, a small cutlet, and a glass of water. From tho restaurant point of view, the worst feature of the diet is its non-alcholic nature. QUEER CUSTOMS.

The lady who runs a well-known West Kensington teashop confided to me that p. weird and unwashed-looking London dramatic critic was not her queerest customer. Dickensian types seem to flour-ish—-or linger—in the semi-genteel backwater of Kensington. There is one genuine Victorian dame, with a big picturehat and a wasp waist, who declares, in the accents of a Mrs. Siddons, that she “loves kedgeree.” And a curious old fellow, for whom every article of the tea service must bo placed just so, is suspected of being "literary.” Ho uses a coronetcd envelope when ho writes a note, and during tho summer months evokes considerable conjecture when, with perfect nonchalance, ho instals a largo bag of green peas on the teatable and proceeds to shell them. POSTCARD FAVOURITES. We may live in a democratic age, but tho fact remains that never were Royal photographs in greater demand. Even in King Edward’s day, as in tho more obvious case of Queen Victoria’s, the picture postcard boom never saw R yalty in tho position known to theatrical people "as at tho “top of the bill.” For every photograph sold of the Sovereign, dozens were purchased of different stage celebrities and footlight beauties. But things are quite different now, even with the boom of the cinema stars. King George comes easily first in popular favour. Since his illness began, 10,000,000 picture postcards of his Majesty have been sold. Tho Prince of Wales, though streets ahead of anybody else, comes only second. A new enterprise is now afoot. An effort is being mado to secure a really good photo group of all the Royal family together. SAME SYMPTOMS. During recent years we have heard almost too much about the decay of Victorian social morality and the extremes of feminine fashion. The best antidote to such obsessions as these is the reading; of real history. I have just been glancing at Mr. Fremantle's frank study of the earlier years of tho 10th century. Th? author is a great-grandson of one of Nelson's captains, and writes with much vigour, llis picture of this country just a century and a quarter ago is one to content present-day critics with existing conditions. What impresses one most of all is a close resemblance to One p..aso of post-war life. Such were the feminine fashions of that date that a Petticoat Lengthening Bill and a Rill to prohibit flesh-colour stockings were suggested.