FEMININE INTERESTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18502, 25 February 1930, Page 3

FEMININE INTERESTS.

SOME PERSONAL AND FASHION NOTES. Englishman in Paris: The first thing an Englishman in Paris doesnif he wants to see, and he seen by everyone of consequence staying in that gay city, is to go to the Ritz bar. In London, if you visit the Ritz restaurant either for lunch or dinner, you can feel the social pulse of the Metropolis in just the same way. Recently, Lord and Lady Hillingdon gave a big dinner party there for sixteen. guests, at which the Duke and Duchess of York, Lord and Lady Rosebery, Lady Blandford, Sir John and Lady Carew Pole, Captain Willoughby de Eresby were among the guests. The dinner hour now is much later than it used to be. and it was nine o’clock before this illustrious company was seated at the long table, decorated with many coloured carnations, which Aletto, the famous maitre d’hotel, had prepared for them in the Marie Antoinette room. The huge glass doors of this handsome apartment were thrown, so that it formed part of the restaurant, and the little Duchess, all in apple satin, could be seen gaily laughing and talking—a very vivacious figure and the heart and soul of the party. She took a great interest in the dance music played by the orchestra, and very soon sent a request for her favourite tango, “Le Lys Noir.” She loves the strong, pulsating rhythm of this South American dance. After dinner, the Royal party, and many more of the diners, went on to the Lucky Ball, at the Hyde Park Hotel. • The Duke and Duchess took the floor at once for a lively foxtrot, and later the Duchess was seen whirling gaily round and round with Sir John Carew Pole in the “Merry Widow” waltz, which was played in the real old-fashioned quick tempo, and took the breath of many of the dancers away before the end. But the Duchess finished looking as fresh as when she started.

It was a most distinguished gathering. Youth and beauty, dignity and age, danced and chatted and laughed —and after supper applauded Jack Hulhert for his success as an auctioneer when he raked in the guineas for articles of feminine apparel given by various shops to be sold in aid of the charity. Crewe House: 6 At Crewe House, the London home of Lord Crewe, the Women’s Liberal Federation recently held a bazaar. It is the first time that the house has been lent for such a purpose since Lord v and Lady Crewe returned from Paris. But it is so peopled with illustrious shades of the past that the very walls must be imbued with wit and success and gaiety.

During the last century—and in the 18th, too—as Wharncliffe House, under the witty genius of the Lords and the Ladies Wharncliffe of those days, it used to hold the most famous and brilliant of London salons; when politics were interpreted in quick, flashing conversation, and in subtle undercurrents of crossing comment. Some of that old house remains still—though it was largely added to in 1900 or so—and one of the most charming boudoirs still is hung with the pale-blue damask and gold that adorned it a hundred years or more ago. It is one of the few London houses which still have their own gardens and lodge gates. Lady Crewe, r&narks the writer, is a fit person to carry on the fine debonair spirit of the old house. She is lovely to look at; tall, with a fair skin and hair the colour of a turning leaf. She is witty and very intelligent, and is one of the most popular Ambassadresses ever sent to Paris, probably because she has a real love for French people. She still has a flat in Paris,, and spends a good deal of her time over there. Some Unusual Women: Miss Teresa Feodorowno Ries, though born in Russia, studied for sculpture in Austria, and is the first woman of her profession to have work erected in that capital. The first West African woman to become a doctor is Miss Agne* Savage, of Nigeria, who has qualified recently at the Edinburgh University. To hold a position as harbourmaster is still rare, and mention can .be made of one, Miss Gale, who has been made harbour master of Paignton (England). She is a great yacht woman, while engineering she learnt in her father's works. The Belgian Government we read had appointed a woman, Mile Marcell Benson, as delegate to the conference on the Codification of International Law, which takes place at the Hague in March. The nationality of married women is to be discussed there, so that the election of a woman is important. Speakers will then controvert the average mail who is too much inclined to dismiss the subject with the dictim, “Let the woman take her husband's nationality,” without realising that this often means the poor lady having no nationality at all. So we see the ridiculous position of one woman who was refused hei husband’s nationality, and, therefore, not supposed to be in the country, which, however, she could not leave for her own, because now she is an alien there Novelist Entertained: Miss Edith Lyttelton was the guest of honour of the League of New Zealand Penwomen in Auckland the other day. Miss Lyttelton is a novelist of distinction, having gained fame abroad under the pen name of G. B. Lancaster, her best knowm books are, “The Altar Stairs,” “The Law Bringers,” “A Fool Divine,” “Jim of the Ranges,” “A Spur to Smite,” “The Honourable Peggy,” and “The Savignys.” “The Altar Stairs,” and “The Law Bringers” having been successfully filmed. In the absence of the president, Mrs Victor Macky, as vice-president, expressed the leagues good wishes to Miss Lyttelton prior to her departure for the East, and presented her with a bouquet of pink cactus dahlias and ferns. Miss Lyttelton was accompanied by Mrs G. C. Lyttelton, of Herne Bay A “Herb Lady”: Lady Londonderry’s manifold activities include an interest in herbs and their uses, an interest which has recently resulted in her consenting to become chairman of the advisory committee of the Society of Herbalists, states a Londoner. At Mount Stewart, her Irish home, Lady Londonderry owns a “show” herb garden. This is the garden in vhich are grown the majority of the ingredients used for the pot-pourri sold by Lady Londonderry fo** the benefit of her Guild of Broiderers. Hair Fashions: An authority writing from London states that the controversy about the fashionable length of the hair has died down. According to Worth the new silhouette demands as small a head as nossible, to increase the effect of height and slenderness, so perhaps it \s on this account that the shingle ’-etains its popularity. Even the mannequins who favour extravagances of fashion in hair dressing—it is always safe to model one’s style on theirs — wear the hair cut to the extent of its natural growth at the base of their heads. AH curls are flattened, a soignee eff°ct bein°- preferred at the moment before anything.

WaHzinsr Again: “Th«re have been few nonular dance v--, <-f ipcf ttv-five yeai& that I have not arranged and conduct

ed, and I do not hesitate to say that in two years the ‘old waltz’ will once more be.the fashion and that the foxtrot in its present form will be dead,l” states a noted London conductor of orchestras. “In New York I found that the most distinguished hostesses would not have a saxophone in the house. They were tired of : hot jazz.’ ‘Play us waltzes!’ was their cry, and I think season will find very much the same state of affairs in this country. Already the polka is being revived, and the lancers are no longer found onlv at ‘sixpenny hops.’ Fortunate indeed will be the dance bands that are prepared for the change.”

Wonderful Garden: A marvel of horticulture is being reproduced by Mr Samuel Wallrock, who, during a space of seven or eight years, has reached a pinnacle of fame in the horticultural world, carrying off medals for his exhibits at all the bigges shows in England. He is building a house in his garden a Stanmore to contain Alpine plant* in a series of caves which resemble those at Cheddar. They are built of toofer stone which* has been brought from Italy, and the interior is so realistic that there are stalactites which drip unceasingly in the same way as they do in Somerset. The Alpine plants will represent the sinking of a vast sum of money, for some of the rarest specimens will nestle in this rock, which is all under glass. ITALIAN ART EXHIBITION. VISITORS TO BURLINGTON HOUSE. (From Our Own Correspondent). LONDON, January 7. Those who subscribe to the National Art Collections Fund make a formidable army, and at their private view of the Italian exhibition they turned up in a veritable host to beseige Burlington House. Among the earty visitors was Princess Marie Louise, attended by Mrs Hugh Adams. The Princess wore a coat ol brown pony skin. Lord Passfield, accompanied by his wife, was another morning visitor, as also was Dean Inge and Sir John Lavery. The Dean’s learned head was covered by a top hat, while Lord Passfield wore a bowler, but both faces, which can appear somewhat gloomy in repose, were wreathed in smiles. Sir John Lavery was walking round with one of the Italian directors.

“Ah,” said Sir John, to his companion, pointing to Titian’s picture of the Madonna appearing to St. Francis and St. Blaise, “a contribution from the National Gallery, I see.” The Italian, a venerable man with a'beard, pointed out that the picture came from the museum of Ancona, which is a town on the Adriatic Sea. Even the great are liable to make mistakes.

On the whole, there did not seem to be as great enthusiasm as was apparent last year for the Dutch pictures. “I have not seen anything that gave me the sme thrill as the Vermeers,” was one remark while yet another was: ‘There are too many Madonnas.” Several people prophesised that the Italian pictures would have the same public appeal as the Dutch. This is probably because they are not so decorative in themselvs. and really require the mosaic and gilded palaces of Italy as a background. “Botticelli’s ’Venius’ should never have been hung on a pink wall,” was one comment.

Unlik e a Foyal Academy private view, everyone was discussing the pictures and not just passing the time of day.

Lord Brentford, resplendent in sink hat and black stock was having a few words, however, with Mr J. C. C. Davidson, which did not appear to be on the subject of pictures. But perhaps we can excuse men who have so much responsibility on their shoulders talking a little politics. Lord Reading on the other hand, was entranced with the exhibition. He was continually greeting friends and immediately took them by the arm to point out some picture or make a comparison.

Sir Austen Chamberlain was going round with Lady Chamberlain, who received many congratulations on the success of che Exhibition. They were accompanied by their daughter Diane (who wore green), and their youngest son. Both Lady Chamberlain, who was in black with a red hat, and her pretty daughter, wore large buttonholes of red and white camelias, which with a green background formed the Italian colours.

Another political celebrity was Sir William Jowitt, while the Diplomatic world was well represented toy the Italian, French, Spanish German. Polish. Swedish, and Netherlands and Japanese Ambassadors. It was a very varied gathering. Among the crowd were Rudyard Kipling, Epstein. Lady Oxford, one of the few who relieved the monotony of the black, seen there, by wearing a bottle-green coat, edged with brown astrakhan * and a green hat, Lord Lloyd and Lady Seafield, who looked very smart in black.

Lord and Lady Lucan were two more and Lord and Lady Plumer; she in a bright red Paisley coat. Lord and Lady Desborough, the latter in black velvet, came with the Hon Imogen Grenfell, wearing brown flecked tweed, and the Hon Lady Salmond was also in black velvet. Ladv Dallas,. in a red coat Mmmed with beaver’ was with Lady Welby. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the latter in black, Cora Ladv Stafford, Baroness d’Erlanger. Lady Newnes, in a. sapphire blue satin and a black hat, Mrs Lionel Harris, gay in a hat of bright red velvet and a sauirrel coat. Lady Elibank, in a black coat trimmed with sable and a wine-red toque. Admiral Basil Brooke, Lord and Ladv Sydenham were all conspicuous figures. Black coats and dresses abounded, and in consequence the crowd looked an unusually drab one for a Private View day, at Burlington House. Two extremely attractive wearers of it were L*dv Salmond, before mentioned and Miss Gwen le Bas.

Tv»e palm for the most striking toilette certainly went to Ladv Alexander, in a really beautiful coat ol carnation red velvet, and a toque of the e*me material. She carried a huge skunk muff to go with her skunk collar, and on it was pinned a magnificent sprav of clove carnations.

Mrs Alec-Tweedie. in a mat of handwoven cloth of a futuristic design inoastel colouring and a sisantic black velvet hat, looked her usual picturesque self.