LONDON GOSSIP

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19240, 29 November 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

LONDON GOSSIP

DUKE OF YORK IS A KEEN SUPPORTER OF GOLF THE COST OF BEING BEAUTIFUL. (By NEELE M. SCANLAN.) LONDON, October 3. When the Duke of York played himself in as Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrew’s, he had to be up very early. This timehonoured ceremony takes place before breakfast, or to be exact, 8 a.m. And breakfast follows it. It had rained all night, but the dawn w T as clear. Over 5000 people stood round, a terrifying gallery for a nervous man to play such a ceremonial shot. The caddies paid the Duke the compliment of waiting for his hall beyond the roadway, and were rewarded for their optimism. The Duke, in a. light check plus fours, and a powder blue pullover, wore no hat. Old Andrew Ivircaldy, the veteran professional of St. Andrews, teed up a high ball. The Duke took a club, then changed it for a steel-shafted driver, rolled up liis sleeves, and hit a beautiful drive straight down the fairway. The ball flew low and carried the roadway, and came to rest 200vds away. It was the finest playing-in shot for many years. Eight years ago the Prince of Wales was played-in as Captain, when liis ball merely trickled off the tee. As the Duke’s ball came to rest there was a scramble among the caddies for the ball. It had all the vigour of a Rugby scrum, and the winner was accorded the usual gold sovereign, and shook hands with the Duke. Then the old gun boomed out tl#e announcement that another Captain had played himself into office, and the game began. 'While on the Royal family, this morning England is very indignant about ail article in very bad taste, which has just appeared in New York, supplied by Gertrude, Lady Decies, a woman of , title who has been hotel proprietress, rabbit breeder, shopkeeper, and many other things. It states that the Prince gave his solemn pledge to the Duke and Duchess that if the baby was not a boy, ho would get married within the yeai'. It also contains, I believe, some rather unpleasant things. But American newspaper will pay a big price for such news. When I was leaving New York to come to England, one big paper offered me £2OOO if I could give them 24 hours’ start with news of the Prince of Wales’ engagement. Another recent attempt to commercialise the Royal family was a proposal to write the biography of Princess Elizabeth. I don’t know if this has been stopped, but there was an indignant outcry about all the manufactured rubbish that appears about the little Princess, most of which is purely imaginative. Princess Margaret arrived home to 145, Piccadilly, to-day. Yesterday the Duke of York went to the post office at Glamis and registered his little daughter. There was some fear that she would he No. 13 on the register, but by delaying the registration she is now No. 14. ‘ To-night the King and Queen entertain the members of the Imperial Conference at dinner at Buckingham Palace. This will bo an impressive affaii', but those new to ceremonial dining will find the presence of the King and Queen le«3 trying than the terrifying magnificence of the dignified personages who pass tlio potatoes and the peas. Money No Object. This is the cost of a modern beautiful face: Massage and mud pack, three guineas; a good permanent wave, five guineas; that plucking of the eyebrows with a pair of glittering tweezers, one guinea. Then comes the tinting, the cream and roses, the violet shadows that make eyes like forest pools, another guinea. Now ho starts on her lips, the tiny scarlet pencil that curves the Cupid’s how, half a guinea. My lady emerges after about three hours unrecognisable in her new beauty, at a total cost of about ten guineas. Experts now agree that each kiss does half a. guinea’s damage to that work of art—her face. Is it .worth that? Opinions differ. Dog Racing. The doping of racing dogs lias filled the air, and one with inside information has been telling stable secrets. It is not drugs that <lo the damage. Just a change of diet, and your hound may vary his pace enough to win or lose half a fortune. A long fast or a fat meal will make as much difference to his pace as a shot of drills. Now a trainer ha 6 been warned off the racecoiuse because a horse from his stable which won a race was proved to have been drugged. But who drugged the horse? The racing stewards assume that the trainer was responsible. Friends of the trainer have implicit faith in his integrity, and have offered £SOO reward for evidence aft who did the drugging. Scotland Yard is taking a hand. Dog racing lias opened the door for betting among the poorer peopie. Recently a tipster, who went from door to door in Liverpool, selling brushes and household odds and ends to women, was found to be earning £2O a week from selling them tips on-tLe dogs. His brushes were just a side-line, and gave him entre, and also prevented suspicion growing around his frequent visits. He found they could not resist the chance of a, small gamble —that alluring something for nothing. Doctors Differ. One’s faith is constantly being shaken. Now the congress of barbers state that baldness is no indication of brains, that a dry scalp is better than a greasy one, that washing is good for the hair and too much oil is had. That hats have nothing to do with baldness, it is often hereditary. They don’t seem to know their own mind for two minutes, any more than scientists. Now doctors have a new tale to tdll. Heart disease causes more deaths than anything else. Yet the cure seems easy, and not unpleasant. Don’t work too hard; avoid drinking water, or too much water. That will cheer quite a lot of people. Eat sugar. The heart is all muscles, and sugar is the best food for it. Recently we have heard a lot about the stimulating effect of sugar. I often see tired women eat a few lumps of loaf sugar and declare they feel better. What could be simpler? Motor Regulations. England is bringing in a lot of new road regulations, and motor drivers will have to undergo an eye-sight test before being granted a license. They must also declare their immunity from fits and other sudden disabilities. But the amazing thing is that there is no stipulation whatever about a person’s knowledge of a car, or ability to drive. Anyone can get a license for 5/. There is no test whatever. Many of the accidents are due to lack of experience, but not until someone has been injured or killed, and , you are proved not lit to drive a car, are you refused a license.

Do not apply furniture polish to soiled furniture or it will never look bright. Wring a cloth out of warm soapy water, and wipe the furniture carefully. When quite dry, polish as usual. J