BLAZE OF JEWELS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 10

BLAZE OF JEWELS

A MAHARAJAH ENTERTAINS The Connaught Booms, London, wore the scene of an extraordinarily picturesque banquet recently, when tlia Maharajah of Alwar entertained some two hundred guests to celebrate the 27th anniversary of his reign. All tho Maharajah’s colleagues at the Indian .Round Table Conference were present, ami tho exotic robes of the visitors from lhe Last presented an outstanding contrast to the sombre and formal alii re of the Western guests (states an English writer). Tho Maharajah hiinself was a. spectacular figure iu his pale mnuve robe, with its elaborate gold facings. Ho wore a picturesque, luauvo hat io the >hape uf an old Hindu crown, in front, of which biased a great, star of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Round his neck was a magnificent chain of rubies, edged with diamonds, glittering gems that, were worth more than tho proverbial king’s ransom. He escorted Miss Ishbel MacDonald into the banqueting hall to tho dramatic accompaniment of a fanfare of trumpets, and ho was .followed by the Primo Minister* ' Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and Londonderry. The gorgeous colours of the magnificent robes worn by the almondeyed Eastern women and tho elaborate turbans of the Sikhs and the Hindus made a. colourful pageantry as tho guests took their places at the small* round tables, and were mingled fantastically with the exquisite Paris gowns and the black tail coats of the English