LONDON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 10, 7 March 1891, Page 11

LONDON.

Dear Bee, January 8. We are in the midst of our winter of discontent. For my own part, I greatly enjoy the frost, but I regret to learn that the extraordinarily cold weather of Christmas week, with its horrible combination of fog, frost, and snow, has caused an incalculable loss of money to London tradespeople. The fancy shops suffered especially, for the biting cold prevented foot passengers from gazing admiringly at the pretty articles in the windows, and then going in to buy. All outdoor movement, in fact, was difficult and dangerous. The old suggestion of glass-covered streets has consequently been revived, but it is very unlikely we shall ever go to that expense. 1 have just seen a photograph of the oldest clergyman in the Church of England, the Rev. John Elliott, Vicar of Randwick, Gloucester, who on December 19th entered upon his hundreth year. He has been rector of the parish for just seventy-three years. A pretty long time, don’t you think ’ He is a little deaf, otherwise he shows few signs of his great age, and can walk quite well. He delivered a short address in September, 1890. His youngest son is sixty, his eldest daughter seventy-two. I am not at all sure that the very latest form of improved dress will be popular, although it has certainly much to recommend it. Mrs Charles Hancock is responsible for the new departure, which is described as having for its most characteristic features the substitution of a waistcoat for the bodice, with neat supplementary chest pieces, an overjacket, a short skirt reaching to within five inches of the ground, knickerbockers in place of petticoats, and gaiters. Lightness and warmth have been studied in the choice of material. It offers no marked contrast with methods already known and accepted by custom, but is rather an adaptation to the conditions of city life in winter of the dress now frequently worn by ladies on the moors or hunting with beagles. The shortness of the skirt is its most striking characteristic, and for wear, cleanliness, and comfort, the shortened dress will compare favourably with the more familiar flowing garment now in use. To ladies who are the slaves of fashion the convenience of reduced length in the skirt may seem too dearly bought at the cost of appearance, but, except for this, the new dress has certainly much to commend it.

I saw a lovely old teapot the other day, made out of—what do you think ’ You couldn’t guess, so I will tell you. A retired general has had the gold lace which adorned his uniforms made into a teapot. The gold lace is really silver, with a gold thread outside. The handle is of ivory, on one side are the crest and monogram of the owner, on the other his regimental motto ; the lid is surmounted by the royal crown. What lovely things some of us could make by appropriating the gold lace of our military relatives ! The marriage of Jeanne Hugo with Alphonse Daudet’s son will take place very soon. These two fortunate scions of a literary house will start life in very luxurious circumstances, for Jeanne has an income of 120,000 francs, and the celebrated novelist is dowering his son with an income of 60,000 francs, and these two sums represent over £7,000 a year. Scribbling pays better in France than in England. All classes, high add low, have an insatiable passion for novel-reading. The Queen spent a quiet Christmas at Osborne, only her three youngest children and their consorts being of the party. Princess Beatrice, who, as you know, has become very fond of acting, is getting up some more tableaux vivants. These must be a delightful break in the monotony of Court life. The Prince and Princess of Wales had their Christmas family party augmented this year by the presence of the Duchess of Albany and her two little children —Princess Alice, who is not yet eight years of age, and the little Duke, who is only six. It was the first time for many years that children’s voices had rung through the corridors at Sandringham at this season—not, in fact, since the young Princesses of Wales were merry children, laughing and romping all through the house, and it must have brought back happy memories of those days to the Prince and Princess; yet the happiness was o’ershadowed as the presence of the little fatherless Duke of Albany vividly recalled the loss of a beloved brother so early called away, the absence (I believe for the first time in her life) of the Duchess of Fife from the home circle, and also of Prince George, who is at present on the other side of the world, made the Prince’s family party seem very incomplete and many loving thoughts ana words were bestowed on the absent ones. The Royal party have had some good sleighing and skating at Sandringham. The Princesses Victoria and Maud, like the Princess of Wales, are accomplished skaters, and cut figures very gracefully, but they chiefly Jelight in playing hockey on the ice, and with their

‘crook ’ sticks send the balls spinning over the ice in all directions. The whole of the Royal party joined merrily in the game this Christmas, and the laughter and shouts from the lively group on the lake broke the solemn stillness of the snow-clad park. The proper place of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale (eldest son of the Prince ot Wales) has just been announced. He is fourth in order of precedence, coming after the Prince of Wales, the Dukes of Edinburgh and Connaught, but before the little Duke of Albany. I think I have given you about enough gossip for this time, at all events, so will close after just describing a lovely gown from Worth’s which has attracted some attention. It was of crepe <!e soie, not amber, not maize, but just the tint of ripe corn. A deep border of bullion fringe shaded with amethysts was round the edge, and this same magnificent passementerie appeared in bands across the full bodice. The fan was of ostrich plumes, shaded from deep plum to palest lilac, and the dainty shoes were plum coloured velvet, with an amethyst on each. It was a robe to dream about. With best wishes for the New Year, A City Mouse. Oicinr/ to the accident to the Tarawera, some of our usual letters have not arrived in time to appear this leech.