JOTTINGS FROM LONDON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 7

JOTTINGS FROM LONDON.

LABOUR’S FIRST BUDGET. ( CHELSEA, May 3. [ Last Tuesday the Cabinet met at No. 10 Downing Street, when Mr. Philip Snowden presented the first Socialistic Budget ever put before a British Parliament. The McKenna 33 1-3 per cent, tariff on imported cars, pianos, etc., is to be renewed until August 1, when it must finally expire. Sugar is to be I jd anu tea 4d per lb. cheaper. Entertainment tax up to and including sixpence is to be abolished while over that amount and up to 1/3 is to be reduced. Cocoa, coffee and dried fruits are also to be cheaper, and an allowance on income tax is to be made to widowers in respect to housekeepers where there are young children. Postage remains the same for the present in spite of some agitation for a return to penny postage. There is no alacratiou in income tax or sugar tax, but motorists arc to benefit under the new Budget. Some slight modifications will be made with regard to motor vehicles as from January 1. Methylated spirits are to be made so nauseous that no one would be likeiy to defraud the revenue by drinking it! The total cost of reductions in taxation is estimated at about £40,400,00(1. VISITING ROYALTY. Mr. MacDonald and his daughter spent last week-end at Winsdor Castle. The Queen has taken a liking to Miss Ishbel, and the apartments assigned her were in close proximity to Her Majesty’s suite, and the Queen herself supervised the arrangements. THE EXHIBITION. I feel I owe an apology for the very brief remarks which I wrote last week on the tremendous Ehxibition, but as soon as it is settled down and is really finished, I intend having a quiet day there and leting you know all about it more calmly and quietiy. The Exhibition was not absolutely finished for the opening day, only a very few of the building had their lighting arrangements ready so people were hurried away before night came down. The New Zealand house was still in the hands of the workmen, while the crush of the huge crowds really made it very difficult to see much. Of course it is impossible to do the whole exhibition in one visit, and suggestions are afoot to have some sort of ticket issued at cheaper rate which would allow of several visits. All the cafes on the opening day were crowded to suffocation with great queues waiting their turn. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, at present in England, appeared at the Stadium for the opening ceremony, and at one point had to be protected by a cordon of police. It was a day of chaotic impressions and tremendous Imperialism. The splendid inspiring music and magnificent singing of the massed choirs, the cheering crowds who greeted the King and Queen, the big genial policemen, goodhumouredly handling crowds, and the host of stately and quaint buildings, all stirred one’s enthusiasm, made on feed proud to be British, proud to be a member of the great Empire that has its outposts flung far and wide across this jolly old world. JOYOUS SPRING. And now we really arc having some spring sunny weather. The trees have taken heart and are sending out a wondrous glory of pale green. Kensington Gardens, one of London’s beauty spots, have developed rapidly since the warm spell at Easter after having been held in check by the cold and late spring. The forest trees such as horse-chesnuts, elm, hawthorn and others are now clothed with a veil-like covering of delicate green, while flowering trees and Shrubs are making pictures of pink and white and cherry against the unusually blue sky. All the tiny squares, so plentiful in London are joyously green and window-boxes are gay with the colourful daffodils and tulips. PLAYS AND PLAYERS. Sir Gerald du Maurier produced A. A. Milne’s “To have the Honour” last week. A delicate airy fairy play with Mr. Milne’s best comedy flashes, but the plot is very slight. Miss Madge Titheradge is the leading woman, and plays her best comedy manner while Sir Gerald is the same polished superfinished artist he always is. Lee WhiJe and Clay Smith are producing a new revue this week “Come in,” in which three Australians brought to England by Miss White after her recent Australian tour to have parts: Maie Baird and her dancing partner Archie Thompson, both of whom will be well remembered from their association with J. C. Williamson’s musical plays and Billie Lock wood, one of J. C. Williamson’s chorus girls, 4 4 discovered ’ ’ by Miss White last year. Fayette Perry will also play a part. DEATH OF MADAME DUSE. Letters from Rome state that Italy is cast into a state of gloom over the death of Duse. 4 4 She has departed without casting her mantle over any sucesser, which adds to the poignant sense of loss.” I erroneously stated last week that Madame Duse died in Italy. She died in New York, but her remains are to be taken to Italy for burial. Gabriele D’Annunzio, in whose plays Duse attained some of her greatest successes, said in a telegram to Mussolini:— 4 4 The tragic destiny of Eleanora Duse could not have ended more tragically. That most Italian of hearts has ceased to beat far away from Italy. I beg that her adorable remains may be brought back to Italy by State. I am sure that my sorrow is the sorrow of all Italians.” Mussolirfi on becoming Prime Minister offered Madame Duse a pension to enable her to return to the rest which her poverty had forced her to forego. She originally retired from thq stage in 1911, »i nd would not appear again until 1921 when she was induced to appear In Ibsen’s 44 Lady of the Sea” at Turin. The State offer of help was refused ana Duse went on working to the end.

It is reported in some obituaries that Madame left Italy with a presentiment that she would not return. The body after lying in state at the Churcn of I Saint Vincent de Ferrer, New York, ■was taken to Italy, where a State burial will be performed. ROMANCE OF THE STAGE. Miss Gertie Millar, the well-known musical comedy actress was married to the Earl of Dudley last Wednesday. The ceremony took place in Paris, and was a very quiet affair. Miss Millar is the widow of Mr. Lionel Monekton, the composer, who died recently. FASHION’S DECREES. Broadly speaking the more gorgeous and dignified fabrics are reserved for evening wear and flimsy lace beauty and simple but expensive cloth for afternoons and mornings or informal evening wear. Of course, there are exceptions. For instance, the very young may wear flimsincss in the evening as suitably as in the afternoon, but on the whole the above rules hold good for the well-dressed woman, who is of an age when good dressing is more important for her good looks than ever. Brocades in lively designs and colours, beautiful beyond description are most desirable for evening wear. The beauty of these materials render any trimming unnecessary and the simplest lines should be given a chance. Only a long and beautiful tassel, or a clasp or buckle of the best workmanship is needed. The brocades are mostly woven in effective patterns of Chinese or Persian origin, which means that they look their best for dresses that are built on long flowing lines. The chemise frock is recommended epecially with a black panel or two side-panels left floating. Evening coats, too, are garments on which to lavish beautiful brocades. There are practically no rules for evening colours. Some of the most fashionable would have only been tolerated for morning or afternoon wear a season or two ago. Grey, tarnished copper and dead-leaf brown are very successful. The grey should h-' most carefully chosen; for it is a colour that may change to an unpleasant tone under electric light. But there are plenty of shades that keep their charm. Cop-per-coloured brocade with gold embroidery makes a handsome picture, while dead-leaf brown brocade looks most effective with a petticoat of metal tissue. Fur is often used on the bottom of brocade dresses, or on tho floating panels and gives a rich finish while a touch of vivid colour will just lighten the dark-browns. Vivid ear-rings ar.d jewellery look their best with these rich dark brocades. The shops are showing new and striking ideas for sports coats. They arc no longer a simple affair of cream wool. Latest models are striped and ribbed velour in tangerine yellow and vivid blues and greens. Charming desgins are made in the new canvas cloths, multi-coloured sampler work lined with soft silk, and cream jacquard. New tennis frock models are showing also and will be smarter this year. Outstanding models are in heavy-weight crepe de chine and Irish linen. The Irish linen frocks are edged at the neck with fine picot or gandie, and are trimmed with many midget pearl buttons. Voile, cotton, georgette, cotton crepe, pique and ratine are the materials used in the loss expensive but equally smart models. The frocks arc all cut on simple lines giving plenty of room for play; several pleats arranged each side ot the skirt are one plan to ensure perfect freedom of movement and yet retain the slim straight outline so fashionable. Black is the colour for summer wraps for town wear; in fact, according to a Paris letter received this week, arr -.ho smartest French women are wearing black costumes or black and white creations, with tiny turned-up hats, also black, but relieved by a coloured bird hatpin. Black silk marocain and reversible satin are the materials for sum mer coats with wide-open slqpves, and the soft gauged collar which snuggles round the neck, while the fastening is always on the left side, most usually a tie fastening.