THE CRINOLINE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1924, Page 14

THE CRINOLINE

FIRST INTRODUCED BY QUEEN ' VICTORIA. '( • ' • A piquant story of how the crinoline ■was introduced into England by Queen Victoria, is told in a diary in a tin box which was dug up a few weeks ago by workmen engaged at Claridge's Hotel in London, it is believed to have been written by tho late Mr Claridge, who owned the hotel whicli formerly stood on the site of the present ' Claridsre's. j Recording the visit of the Empress Eugenic to the hotel in 1860, the diarist describes her as "A very sweet-looking lady, but sad, and dressed in black. .. . No one recognised her as she entered the hotel, as she arrived in a common cab, and had not much luggage." Queen Victoria visited the Empress at Claridge's, and, on leaving, the Empress accompanied her visitor to the street door of her suite, she (the Empress) wearing one of the hoop skirts which they say she has invented. They were all talking and laughing, and the Queen was admiring it. The diarist goes on to affirm that as a result of the Queen's admiration of the Empress's hoop skirt, "from that moment all England was wearing crinoline," which, 'he says, up to that time had not been regarded with much favour by English women. Entries in the diary for May,' 1876 show that Claridge's, which for the past 115 lyears has received a host of foreign Royalties, had in that month staying in the ho.tel :—Two kin;*s, a queen, a crown prince, a princes?, and two dukes. "The place is full from morning to night. . .. ." says the diarist. "King George's birthday (King George of Greece) occurred yesterday (May 27), and his visitors numbered, hundreds. The Princess of Wales (now' Queen Alexandra) called to se« him yesterday, as Well as the Prince (of Wales?). His Majesty holds a Court every day, and the King of the Belgians does likewise."