A MAID IN MAYFAIR

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 13

A MAID IN MAYFAIR

‘ GOSSIP FROM LONDON TOWN. ENTERTAINING FOR DEBUTANTES (Froih Oiir. Lady Correspondent.) Loiidon, May 21._ More private entertaining is / doiie in Mayfair this week; probably; than at any other time during the London season, for the first two Royal Courts are always accounted of great social importance. Debutantes in the old days used to spend tile day of their tiOii iii sefelltsion, and tlie business of dreSsidg—And hair-dressing, decupled most df their waking hohrs. Nolv, however, even a Court gown and train is put on in a matter, of minutes, and fcathcis are arranged beforehand in a bhiidea.il which is fastened in h second. But the modern mother aiid fht-hef like to airange some entertainment to mark the presentation day, and so there are luncheon parties, little gatherings for ten, and a supper party and impromptu dance usually follow the ceremony at the Palace. Soliie Of the debutantes are taken on after tile Coilft to a restaurant khd allowed to dance there, but the older families make the coming-out of Ji daughter a domestic affair and entertain for her at libiile. 1 AN AMERICAN DEBUTANTE. Very little has been heard tills year of the influx of wealthy Americans to London, most of the women clamouring to present their daughters at Cdlift. The list.of preserttSes frofli tile United States IB; indeed, smaller this year than it lias been for a long time. Blit 0110 charrtring. Htble American debutante made.her CUfttey to iiilig George and Qtieen Mary at tim • first Court in the person of MiSs Virginia Dawes, tile only child of the iimei’idan Ambassador ill London, aiid his Shy and very retiring tVife Miss Dawes has bden at fi School oil the South Coast since Geribral Dawes took up his English appointment, biit she is “out’* this year. Looking very sweet aiid attractive in a simple white ahd silver ffock, she whs taken to Cotift by her iiiotlien whb was dressed ih pearl While satin. .Mrs. Dhwes will po a little entettainiiig for her at the American Embassy be 4 fore the season is over. SHY DEBUTANTES. Pretty and Unaffected as so many of the debtitanles are this scasdil, it is floticdible that it is in her second of third season that the girl of tu-iluy makes the greatest impression Upon hbr set. Ili Spite of all that is said abbut the sophistication of- young people, most debutantes are vbfy shy, rather selfconscious, and not lit all anxious to be iii the social limelight. It takes at least a year for that atmosphere of reserve to be dispelled. A gitl who is jttst beginning to “feel her feet” and is proving one of the most vivdclous aiid entertaining nlenlbers of the social circle is Miss Pamela Wellesley, Lady Fitzgeriild’s grand-daughter, wliO CUiiie blit about 18 mouths ago. She lias dark, flashing eyes, a piquant little face, and is fascinating to watch because she is so interested in everything, and so entirely natural. To all appearances she is enjoying London 1 life to the full, and making no secret 1 of it either. I PRINCES AND THE NUGGET. A letter from a friend, long settled in South America, confirms the enthusiasm aroused by the recent Royal visit. There was considerable curiosity as to how “Royalties” would COHipOft thcttisClves to ordinary mortals. Everybody wits charmed with the spontaneous bonhomie of both Princes. My friend tells me Uli amusing tale of their visit to a gold mine. They were shown everything, including several valuable nuggets. T ; ie Prince of Wales remarked to liis conductors that they were very confiding to allow visitors loose amongst such riclies, and that lie whs surprised tbftt before leaving they did not insist on their visitors turning Piit their pockets. In fact, lie insisted that all the party should turn out their pockets forthwith. Everybody was much amtised, and this amusement was intensified when, to Prince George's confusion, lie bliishingly produced a nugget front his pocket. This had been surreptitiously inserted bj f his waggish cider brother. PRINCE GEORGE. Prince George, still very sunburned as a result of his South American tour with the Prince of Wales, is the guest of honour at a great many parties in London just now. One sees him everywhere, going about with liis hosts ami hostesses to restaurants, private dances, the Russian opera, obviously enjoying himself very much, and glad to be back in Loiidon again. Those who cntcrtiiin liiiii declare that he is the most charming of giiesls, that lie fits in to any scheme of things, is willing to bear his share of making a parly “go,” and always delighted with whatever programme is provided for him. He never stands on ceremony, aiid prefers to be treated exactly as ally other guest would be. To be formally received When the occa■sioil is iiot <1 formal one spoils his pleasure entirely. PAGEANT OF THE NORTH. Loiidon is contributing its quota of priictlcal interest to the great historical pageaiit Of Newcastle and the North, which is to take place on Tyneside during July. lii between their social engagements in town a great many tneiubers of North Country families are studying the parts they will take in the pageant" arranging about costumes, and, in some cases, journeying to and from the North to take part in rehearsals. Lady Carlisle is to impersonate Alary Queen of Scots, and Lady Londonderry has been persuaded IO take the part of Queen Pliilippa in one of the biggest episodes. Her daughters, Lady Margatet and Lady Helen Stewart, will be in an interesting parade of period fashions that is being arranged. Tile Londonderry family have been very concerned for a long time about the industrial distress in the North of England, and J-<ady Londonderry, who does not often take an active part in ciitertaiiinicnts, is [helping with the pageaiit in the hope.of indirectly aiding in the trade fillip which is expected.

AMY JOHNSON AGAIN. Miss Amy Johnson is still a great lierbilie when slie appears at London social gatherings, especially to members of libr oivn. sex. Although it is nearly ti year since she did her vVoiulerful flight, and a great many ne\V aviation records have been set up since that lime, tllb siglit Of her handsome figure in a pretty frock at a social gathering is quite 'Sullicielit to set woillen whispering, aiid men angling for iiitrodiietioiis to libr. At a dinner dance one night this Week she tried to slip ihto a corner after she had been received, bdt during the whole Of tlib tiriib slie was there little groups of meh and women Waited to shako hands with her, ahd say some congratulatory thing about her marvellous adventure. She takes it all very quietly lirid is not to be drawn aboiit What she intends to do in the dir in the near future. 1 WOMEN IN CLUBLAND. The last male fortress in clubland is Capitulating under the siege of modern Eve. TliO most conservative of institutions is unable nowadays to shut its eyes to modern tendencies. Men insist bn facilities for entertaining lady guests, and clubs which refuse such facilities are in danger of seeing their waiting lists disappear. The Goiistitutioual succumbed some time ago aiid Jias provided a. private dining room for lady visitors. Now it seems the Reform Club may shortly follow suit. Motoring and golf have hit tlic.AVest End clubs so severely that tbfe ordiiiary club amenities Which sufficed 20 years ago are no longer adequate for modern demands. EARTH’S CHEF D'OEUVRE. Considering modern transport facilities, exotic fruits of the earth arc strangely slow in making their debut. Old folks now living can recall when even the tomato was a novelty. Grape ffuit were unknown at Buckingham Pdlace in Queen Victoria’s and King Edward’s day. And only this week has LOhdoii made acquaintance with the riiangostCen, which Indian Princes esteem the most luscious of all the fruits yielded by the earth. The mangosteen Conies’ ffbm tiuriha, looks like an apple, With the skill textute of Uh orange, lias neither pips nor stone, and the fiavonr of a peach. It sounds like a fruitarians’ ihilleiiiiim. Now that scientific storage enables its transport without detriment to its delicate quality, mangosteens Will be Oh sale at prices democratic compared With early stfawbdffies. ■ BREAKFAST PARTIES. A yoinig man who Works in the city, but is something of a social figure, tells hie lie gets asked to breakfast parties three ot four times a week. Most of these parties life bachelor affairs. Breakfast e.'ltertaiiiiiig is the most popular of all With young men, especially those vvlio have rOCehtly come down from Oxford or Cambridge, where the breakfast habit is well established. Oite of the reasons for tile popuiarity of the breakfast party is that it is a cheap way of entertaining, owing to the tradition that no alcohol- is consumed at it. Cocktails do iiot improve tile average Ilian’s Ability to work, aiid are practically always beyond most young ifieh’s rcsbiirCeS. Tlie latter 110W take a serious view of life. Loiidoh hOStOSsCS lire complaining because their invitations to dances are refused.by men, who say they cannot keep late hours and do a full day’s work next day. LONDON’S LATEST TREASURE. . Londoners lose no time iii verifying their latest treasures, aiid already the Howard Grace Cup, whicli Lord Wakefield has bought from the Duke of Norfolk and presented to the nhtioii, is a centre of attraction at the Victoria and Albert AlUShtim. It is how kept in a glass case on .a wooden pedestal in the centre ot a ground-floor gallery near the nihiii ciitraiiee, ahd captivates everybody by its rich design, which shows how little impressiveness has to do with mere size. After studying the typewritten description appended, visitors examine it in detail for themselves from all sides, spelling oiit the clear Lutin inscription itild iioticiiig the gariiots, hud pearlclusters with; whicli the silver is embossed. The ivory has jtist the ancient line to support the tradition, conceded liy the authorities, that this is the St, ThomaS Cup bequeathed to Catherine of Aragon by Sir Edward Howard, stand-ard-bearer to Henry VI IL, and acquired from the Howards of Corby by the late Dukciat the close of last century. i WONDERFUL VOICE. The banqueting halls of sonic of the newer luxury hotels in Loiidon are not nearly so well constructed for hearing as Arc the older ones. Many people have complained lately of the nervous strain caused during the speeches at public dinners in these picturesque and lavishly decorated apartments, and artists in the cabarets find it no easy task to hold the attention of their audiences, because in certain parts of the room they can hardly be heard. It wits interesting the other night at a banquet to note that, whereas diherfe had to listen most carefully to the loudest male speakers in order to catch what they had to shy, Miss Irene Vahbrtigh got up, and, With UP apparent effort, spoke so that everybody heard her distinctly and with ease. The older members of the dramatic profession had to lehrn to throw tlicir Voices to fill a large space, in addition to which they enunciate so carefully that hot a syllaidc is lost, and when they speak in public they have it deckled advantage. DANCING THE COTILLI.iN. ■ There is great excitement aii'ong Hie young society folk in London about Lady Diana Cooper’s idea of having the cotillon danced at one of the big charity balls in which slie is interested. Hundreds of lovely gifts have been colled cd hy Lady Diana already to serve as favours. These are not to b" distributed in Hie ordinary way, but flung to tile winds, as it were, just b.’fcre the first bars of music for the cotillon a>e played so that there may be a scram No among the young men for the prettiest olnfl’on handkerchief or the most atti active spray of silk flowers to present to the girls of their choice. Whether a Loudon dunce crowd will be aide to cultivate the right spirit for that kind of thing remains to be seen. They were much too shy and self-conscious lor the bal masque Lady .Diana led last year,

ASPARAGUS novelties. A number of new dishes have been inVeiitcd in readiness for the hot wcittlier, by London chefs, and liaVe bebn making their debut this week. Several of the most successful make new uses of fresh aspatagus. There is ati “asparagus ice,” a development of the savoury ice of last season, which is a water ice flavoured with asparrtgUs, and with tips sot in it. Another novelty, a greilt success at cocktail parties, is an “asparagus sandwich,” which consists of a stick of asparagus with very thin bread aiid butter wrapped round it. A mote ordinary “oddment,” wliicli one meets at every cocktail party just nbw, consists of asparagus tips set in aspic, to bb eaten With a cocktail prong. CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Hundreds of little friends of “Christopher Robin” will be interested to hear lie is likely to become a Useful cricketer when he is a few years older. He is the little chap who was the master of “Winnie the Pooh,” and whose father, A. A. Milne, Wrote such good noilsciise stories and poems for hiiii that they went into endless editions after he had been persuaded to publish them for children in general. Now Christopher Robin is growing up and is at a preparatory school, where they have discovered he has a quite marvellous eye and is beginning to show promise of becoming a very fine cricketer, liis father is liiore delighted about it than about any literary success of liis own, and Christopher Robin himself means to work hard at the nets all this suniiner.

RETURN OF THE CURVE. Curves, we were told a season or two ago, were definitely returning io favour. Women, however, went on looking us slim and as straight up and dowii its ever, and nobody took much notice of the development of the feminine iigiitc. But the dance frocks which arc being worn just now are accentuating . the curve idea, and, looking round a ballroom to-day, tlie change in tlie general appearance of all tlie women from, Say, a year ago, is i’eally quite striking. TIIC fact that dresses arc more “iliottkled to the figure” than eVer they word may account for a good deal of tlie difference, but there is much less of the frail “l’m-on-a-diet” look to Which We have got used ip tlie last few years. Necks and arms and faces are pltuiiper, and iii a few months wc niay ekpect an altogether robuster womanhood than we have had for a long time, BEWARE OF THE DOG! Tlie latest gadget in tlie way of eigari to boxes will be anathema to those people who surreptitiously help themselves to their host’s cigarettes. Outwardly there is little to distinguish it from an ordinary cigarette box. When yon open it you find it divided into partitions. Orie contains cigarettes, tlie other a. musical box whicli is automatically set working by the raising of the lid. It is not an inexpensive trinket by rtny means. The one I saw was a positive work of ait, the lid being beautifully carried out in motlier-of-pearl and lacquer. As in addition to tlie musical box there is a tiny electric battrey tiie “toy,” I imagine, can scarcely cost less than a few pounds.