FEMININE INTERESTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18617, 12 July 1930, Page 4

FEMININE INTERESTS.

PERSONAL AND FASHION NOTES. A Night of Laughter: "It is the most excellent variety programme we have ever seen. Every performance was splendid from beginning to end.” This was the judgment pronounced by the King and Queen in congratulating Mr George Black upon the variety show at the Palladium recently for the benefit of the Variety Artists’ Benevolent Fund.

It is said that nobody enjoys fun more frankly and unaffectedly than the Queen. She makes no attempt to disguise her laughter. When she is really amused, she sways backwards and forwards, and this night she was easily the most animated person in the Royal box. The Queen wore an opera cloak of gold lame with a high sable collar, over a beautiful gown of cloth of gold, covered with gold net and diamante, the corsage being embroidered with glistening rose pink pailettes. Her tiara was set with diamonds, and she also wore a rope of pearls and diamond ornaments.

With the King and Queen in the Royal box were the Duke of Gloucester, Lady Elizabeth Motion, Sir Derek Keppel and Sir Harry Stonor. Mr George Clarke, the brilliant "silly ass” comedian, with his comical motor sketch, Mr Gillie Potter, a patter comedian with a novel style, and Mr Will Hay making his third command appearance with a schoolmaster sketch, were the three comedians who caused the Queen to laugh more heartily than she has ever done at a music-hall. Her Majesty’s enjoyment was shared by the crowded audience, and millions of wellwishers listening through the wireless, all of whom were fully sensible of the great stand being taken by the variety profession at this Royal Command Performance. It- was a great night—from the moment that their Majesties, who were accompanied bv me Duke of Gloucester, were welcomed by a huge crowd which broke the police cordon at the entrance of the Palladium.

Early in the programme a flourish of trumpets and the discordant notes of a motor-horn ushered in Mr George Clarke’s efforts with a diminutive new motor-car in a back garden. To see Mr Clarke, in his extravagant Harrow hat and wide flannel trousers, trying to keep a dignified expression v hile wrestling with the machine was a real joy in which the King and Queen obviously shared. When Mr Clarke, talking in his high-class accent, remarked to his "wife” as he contemplated the shining car: “Forget your tramway habits now!” the Queen rocked with laughter, and seemed to be responsive to every point of humour in this cleverly constructed speech Her Majesty, of course, has a fairly wide acquaintance with humble lile, which accounts, perhaps, for her delight over Mr Potter’s story of a highclass Southend waitress who recommended "fyshe and chypes,” but did not recommend the "News of the World” as a container because it would not hold vinegar. You have to hear this sort of thing told in Mr Potter’s near-Oxford accent to appreciate its full flavour.

Nervo and Knox’s burlesque of acrobatic dancing was another turn at which her Majesty laughed heartily. The funny turns, naturally, produced the most noticeable results, but ether performances which shared the Royal admiration were Adeli Careno’s fine singing, De Groot’s violin playing, the dancing of Chilton and Thomas, the antics of the india-rubber legged Mac Wall, and the delightful unison work of the Palladium girls; as well as the sensational acrobataic dancing of Howell, Hanger and Naldi. These three came into the programme through an unexpected incident which left Gwendoline Stone, of the American StoneVernon troupe, who were to have been in the programme, nearly brokenhearted. One of the partners in this quartette went away suddenly ana mysteriously to the Continent, the others being unable to give their performance.

The King and Queen remained in their box during the interval to hear the Maestro Singers in a song about Princess Elizabeth, which ended: "Angels above you Know how we love you, Our little Princess Elizabeth.” At the end of the programme the entire company stood on the stage in their costumes and sang the National Anthem. The sale of tickets produced £3,700,

and with the £SOO paid for broadcasting and the returns from programmes, etc., the total for the Variety Artists’ Fund was about £4,400.

A great crowd, the majority of whom had waited outside the theatre during the whole time that the King and Queen were inside, gave a tremendous ovation to their Majesties as they left.

Long Skirts Persist in Paris: On general lines the ioilettes seen in a Paris collection of advance models for early autumn followed without brusque innovataions, the summer fashions Afternoon and evening gowns were close-fitting, flaring sumptuously from the knees downwards nearly to the floor.

There was, for example a dress of oyster white satin broche, the equal decolletage back and front held up by straight shoulder straps. The robe fitted very closely, by means of a vast number of seams, and then was full, with many gores. At the hem them was about an inch of black tulle making a transparent edging, and tt e short mantle was lined with black tulle.

Black mechlin lace made anotlua evening dress in this collection, with a little bertha-shaped cape that could be slipped on or off with ease. Several suggestions were offered for dark evening dresses, dark brown and dark prune being examples in soft transparent georgettes. This dressmaker is also launching a delicate blue that is almost green, like a "sick” turquoise, which made an afternoon suit with its little coat 1o match

Fur appeared on these early autumn cloaks, used in original fashion. A mantle of dark brown velvet had two shirred panels hanging from the shoul-der-seams to just below the waist, where they were bordered with fur, while another, in beige velvet, had a ‘ sh of fur on the upper arm, but nowhere else.

News is Jenerth. Some e gaily printed mousseline frocks were not cun. <......e length; but most

of the autumn models for indoor wear iust showed the foot in front.

A great range of handsome glass necklaces and wristlets accompanied the dresses in this big collection. Painted Pottery: Lady Oxford's views on art are to be respected, thought it is doubtful if the remarks she made at the private view of Mr Spencer Edge’s exhibition of painted pottery, met with unanimous approval. Perhaps it was the early hour that warned her outlook—she opened the show at 11 o’clock—but her comments were almost vitriolic.

We lived in an age of ugliness, she said, devoid of any art. and we expressed our admiration for artists of the past by copying their ugliest works. The efforts of Mr Edge came thus into pleasant contrast. The company generally to be found when Lady Oxford is about was missfog—this also mav be attributed to the close proximity of breakfast—so there were few of her friends to greet her. She came with Mr Frank Gray, who was at one time Liberal M.P. for Oxford City. Mr Gray is notable for the sponge big trousers and tne cravat which he alwavs wears and for being a champion of tramps. Some time ago he disguised himself as one of them and visited a number of casual wards.

Somewhat similar neckwear also adorned the neck of Mr Spencer Edge, who was showing his work to his friends. Mr Edge comes of a family of potters who lived in the Potteries for some generatiaons, but he has now migrated to the more congenial surroundings of Horsted Keynes, in Sussex, where he does his painting and then sends it to the potteries to be fired. Most of the work on view was of painting on plates and Mr Edge has done a number of reproductions of old masters, which should make a very attractive table service.

Playing Cricket: The advantage of having two elder boy cousins when you are only four years old was demonstrated the other morning when a delighted crowd of Londoners pressed their faces against the ratings of the private gardens behind 125. PiccadiP r . to see Princess Elizabeth plaving her first game of cricket with Princess Mary’s two sons.

Three nurses were helping to field, while Lord I.ascelles and the Hon. Gerald Lnscelles alternated between wicket-keeping and bowling.