"ALIEN'S" LETTERFROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 75

"ALIEN'S " LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially Written for the Witness Ladies' Page.)

THE WANE OF LONDON, July 16. Amongst the most important evenus of the season Vas the dinner given ket Friday by the American Ambassador and Mrs.' \Vhitelaw Reid to the King and Q6een. and Princes Victoria, a number of distinguished guests being invited to the jStnbassy to meet ih-eiv Majestic. The entrance hall was magnificently decorated ■with ferns and plants and flowers, among ■which was a . profusion of .roses, and the Qieen's favourite, pink carnations, and .verbenas, and the handsome marble staircase with crimson ramblers, the effect being like a scene from a fairy palace. The distinguished guests invited to meet the King and Ques.n sa.t down at two large tables, the Ambassador with the Queen on his right, at ome table, and Mrs Wbitelaw Rsid with "the King iri the - plspe of honour at the other. Ths tables were beautifully- d*car*fcpd- wittf -or-chujs, and the silver was magnificent. _'fhe Que&n looked lovely, aa she always does,"* aiid- was wearing saoerb jewels. The Princess of Plase-wore a tiara of diamonds and turquoises, and several Orders. The Dacfhess of • Portland's tiara., contained the wonderful Portland' diamond, > and with her beautiful jewels the Duchess also wore the Queen's Coronation Order, and that of the King. " The Duke of Portland and the Duke of Richmond were among the guests, also the Prime Minister and Mrs Asquith, Count and Countess Becheiidorff, Lady Helen GordoiuLennox, and the Duchess of . Roxburghe (who wore lovely pearls), the Marquis de Soveral, the Danish Minister, Lord and Lady Landsdowoe (Lady LandsdoTrne wearing superb jewels,- and 1 among her many Orders the - Crown of India), Lord and Lady Londonderry (Lady Londonderry's great crown of diamonds being surmounted by pearshaped pearls). The other, guest* included the personnel of the Embassy, Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, and Colonel StreathfieW (in attendance on the King), Dr Darius, Ogdsen Mills (the fatba. of Mrs Whifcelaw Reid)-, Mrs Joseph Chamberlain, - M»" Cornelius Vamderbilt, Mrs John Jacob Afitoi-, Colonel Holford, and Mr Pierpont Moi-gan, and Georgiana Lady Dudley. A.fter dinner there was a short concert, and theoi followed the great ball, which was held in the two ballrooms, and was attended by the P*ince and Princess of Wales and a number of the royalties, incliidmg Princess" Patricia, the Crown Prince- and Princess of Sweden, Prince Christopher . of Greece, Prince and Princess .Alexander of and the Duke- and Ducnees of Teds. A large number of notable Americans in London were present at the ball, and some exquisite dresses and superb jewels were worn. Among the many Americans were Lady Craven; Mrs fcraiiisy "Martin, Mrs George Cavacdish-Bentinck," who wore a loveiy diamond tiara and an exquisite diamond collar wi(h diamond pendants falling from it in a lughly original majimeT ; Mrs Potter Palmer, Mrs Frederick Vanderbilt, Mrs Mackay, Mrs Burns, the sister of Mr Pierpont Morgan ; Lady Granard, with a high, -upstanding tiara of diamonds a.nd a rope of pearls -round hei neck, which fell on a white satin gown embrpldi2i-e.d in silver ; Mrs Harry Higgims, Countess Laszlo Szchenyi, who before her marriage was Miss Gladys Vanderbilt ; ' Lady Cheyleemor.3, Lady Monson, Lady Lister Kaye, Mrs Waldorf Astor, and many others. London is crowded, and the great and lesser West End hotels are refusing visitors every day. The American invasion cci in earlier thi? year than usual, partly owing, no doubt. t< the international polo matches, and among colonials there are an unusual number of Canadians. German visitors are here, too, Ln force. Every year the number of Continental »nd American aaid colonial visitors that pour into London for the eeason is on the increase, , and people who in tbe ordinary way would go, U> the mos^^expe'risiye hotels have overflowed' to the West .End boarding-bouses. Other, hotel proprietors have taken bedrooms, neai for theic guests," who crowd the meal times. One bril- - Hint function- follows another in .quick Mioceesjon. and the w&it&er' alone is reeponsible for^theJajhjie, .of ;anv -qn<e.. for. although this week the rain has not rained every day, amd it its quite a summer temperature, ft rains suddenly and du^pei&tely when it does, fhese are the legitimate .summer thunderstorms, which, coming as spells between long dry weeks, are pardonable, but not fche most conservative defender of the English climate can - see any justification fee- thunderstorms in the -middle of an. odd.. 'ma day between two spans of rain. Such ? storm the other "fine" day swept ov-er Kurlmgham in the middle of a polo mateh — literary swept and Triders and eusctaio:'* off the ground. But it was a fine day for the historic cricket mater Eton v. Harrow, ;it Lord's. There was a brilliant gatheiing. the Prince and Princeas of Wales beirg present, and come lovely gowns wera worn, the blight, warm sunshine making the white lingerie frocks etp2cially attractive. Lords has rarely been mere attractive. The stands were full, and innumerable psrti&s assembled at the luncheon tables laid out undei the trees — almost 290 of thsm, — in addition to the larquees oi the various clubs, artistically decorated with cornflowers, roces, ajftd swe«t peas. The scene was one of great brightness and animation.' the boys proud of their charmingly-dressed mothers, who wee their colours in their beautiful gowns and hats. A fashion specialist, describing quaint touches of the gowns, says : — The sash, the arrangement of which is a special point in t.be gowns of this summar, vu seen everywhere, and worn in distinct ly original styles. Some were placed around th-e flounces of the skirt just below the knees. Others were oaught on the left

THE SEASON. shoulder, whilst the ends flowed down to ihe tern of the diess. Princess gowns had sashes around the hips. Through cne filmy pale mauve chiffon frock a gold satin sash and ends worn in girdle style were visible over the under-dress, like sunrays peeping through a cloud On« quaint old fashion was revived in a white lingeie Princess gown which, had thiee flounces en the skirt, the top one reaching almost to the waist. .Imong tho hoys the " topper " largely preponderated o\er the straw and. other varieties, 0.. which there was a sprinkling, more siik hats being worn than is usual. The ,wet summer >s appreciated by the theatre managers, for the houses have been crowded long past the ordinary reason, arxl thoss theatres which must not of nee?S£.ity close owing to other arrangements have. kep£ open several weeks after their usual closing, time. Eleven of the 30 West lind theatres are closed, and actoi - s and actresses are 'loliday -making — "resting"' after arduous months. Nine other theatres that expected to have to close are still dcdmf,well. These are the Prince of Wales, tliis Playhou^, Lyric, Wyadham's, Xew, Covent Garden, Duke of York's, Comedy, a«d Daly's. London •£ looking forward to the opportuinity that will be afforded this week end for seeing the fleet in the Thames. Right frani Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament to South&nd-on-the-Sea too great fleet will spread, a chain o* chips stretching from London to Gravesend. At the Houee of Oommom there will be four submarines, below Westminster Bridge four torpedo boats, tw< below Hungef-ford Bridge, at Tample pier two submarines ; below London Bridge, two torpedo-boat destroyers ; then in deeper waters the big battleships', and at Gravesend the Arrogant and Venus. Special trains and fares aie arranged to the various points of interest, that the public may tak< the amplest opportunity of seeing the unusual naval pageant, «and it is anticipated that on Sunday, the first day available, many thousands will take the chance. During the wok there will be a series of entertainments ashore for the bluejackets; ' and much hospitality for the officers. The Mayor of Gravesend is arranging great festivities fci the officers and naen of the Venus and A.iToga.nt — < luncheon in the Council Chambers, and to each bluejacket a new shilling. The streets of Gravesend will hs decorated, and all preparations are made to receive .tin many visitors expected from London. In London, also, thers is an interesting programme ot entertainments afoot " for officers' and men ashore. A dinnei will oe given to the sailors of the iteeit at the Guildhall on Wednesday, a short variety entertainment following,, in which a number of popular entertain.iirs will give their talent, including "Harry" Lander , Jay L^urier, Miss Annie Puroell, Miss Marie Lloyd, and a number of others. A disaster in connection with * the Tliamss pageant has cast a gleo-m over th 3 whole fleet — tho sinking of a submarine in a mid-night collision with tfoa steamer Edd-ystone. which cavjsbed into her and tent h^r to the bottom with appalling suddenness, 13 brave rrer going to their dea.tr in their steel cage, only three on the bridge being saved. Ji, is pathetic tha.t ''it peace thepe men should lose their lives "on a still night within half a mile of lights. But the periscope of the little submarine was invisible to ttaa Eddystoine, and. the brave men below were doomed to an untimely f'.iath. Those who «aw the flotilla at Spithead a few weeks ago op the occasion of the -laval display given in honour of tbe pr-es.- d^leir-at?* wore struck by the invisibility of the submarine*, nothing ot which could b». s-eer above th 3 surface in a strong light except the gr-sy-painted hull with the little conning tower. The tragic perils which the men face every hour would seem to be a reason why men rt'ould'be flow to en«asre in ihic .service, but «*• far from this h-amor the caw there are more volunteers than cn.n bs received. The King tel-egrnohed his distreis, at the sad news. One of the witnesses of the accident gives the lollowing account : — "It was a clear night," he raid ; " a nigtit { upon which a di?a='.ar would seem impo*- j ■-ib'e. We vr*-re j-'eaniinft- V> kao^s^ towards { Lawestoft. 'fhe Bcnaventure, tbe paient [ i-hii). was leading. The nin submarines in the flotilla fol'oweQ in lines of three. Cli s'ig'.tly Isad'nfr, with ihe torfsdo boais n. lie© in shoie. All lights were showing — we were like a Ht'te town upon the water. "We could ?ee the Eddyslone coming towards us Sli2 tried to pp c s be.w«°n 'he lir.es ot submarines, and in so doing struck Cll. She ' hit her well aft and cut her ta'l clean ay.-ay. > Th? submarine heeled over aid went dowr like a stone. I heard soir.rone cry ' Man overboard 1 ' and in a nion>e:.t the boa. swain's uipe was givhtg- its call, ' P.pe awcy ail beats' crews.' The . c oar^hli°hi<> from the Bonaventui-a and the torped' boat« wre flashed en. illuminating t' « c cci c brilliantly. I was away in our d-nrjhy within threa minutes and we rcwod about f or hours looking for the crew of the sunken yes. ?'. •' Ths survivors »rero picked by a boat from the submarine Cl? and fnke t3 the Bonaveatute One bo 3* lioca ih^ Eddystore p.l s o put eff Oncj I t':ci'<?ht I heaid a fiy in tha uight. but we couid fi.id no 01.9.' How L. omens"." C. G. BroJie. .he officer coniKTidins; Cli. risked hi= life in saving his or" iher 'ffieer Lieutenant W?tkins was tcld by. arothcr eyp- -<- ilne=-. " Lieutenant Watkins." he^ sa ; d, " was in the conning tower of the Cll when t.he" co'lisicn took pace. Lieuteaan* Brodie was below taking a short rest befcrs coming on duty. Most of the other membsrs of tha crew were also sleepirg below on their mattre'Fea. '• Wben the shock came. Lieutenant Brodie. although the water v.-a= pouring into the s : de of the 'Cll, went round and roused 'the skeping crew. The water wa? up to his waist before he scr?mbled up the thott ladder to the deck above. He had awakens:! several of the ctew. but they could not get out in time to avoid the iush of th* wafer. The Cll sank in 3T3 T from the time she was s'-rnck.

" Able Seaman Stripes in the Cll was the ' onily seaman who managed to get up the ladder and escape in time. Lieutenant Watkins was thrown by the force oi. the collision into the Eea. He was wealing a thick llamaskin coat at the time, a sweater, and eeabeots, and could not keep himself afloat because of tbe weight of his clothing. " Lieutenant Brodie, who with Stripes had sprung into the water, called out to the sailor, 'Are you all right?' " Stitlp-es answered lr cheery tones, ' Don't you wcrry about me, sir.' Stripes was swimming strongly, and so Lieutenant Brodie struck out for Lieutenant Watkins, who was sinking. Lieutenant '"Brodie reacted L:eutenant Watkins just as he was sinking for the. third time, and kept ham afloat for fully 10 minutes, when tliejr were both picked up by a boat from submarine Cl 2. Lieutenant Watkins was at cnoe taken to the s.ck-bay of the Bonaven,.ure, and was kept there. " Tha coxswain of the ill-fated Cll only two days ago at Grimsby received a wir-e anr.ourclng that his wife Ltad presented him with a daughter. " Tbe man who was steering the Cll at the time of the collision -was carried tin<ier water by the weight, of his sea-bcots. " The captain of the Bonaventure was splendid in all that he did, and there was very little confusion, although for some nioznon-ts after the first alarm was raised we did not know that there was a submarine sank. "On cur way back to Sheerness Lieutenant Osborne slipped overboard irom submarine CU, and was "only ; rescued from drowning by a. boat from torpedo boat 103." Tbf moraih has seen many fashionable weddings — too numerous to particularise. Many garden parties this week have been spoilt by the rain, Dut yesterday the Duchess af Buccleuch gavi 0 most successful children's gard-en party at Montagu House, at which ths Princess of Walea was present, with- littlie Princess -vary and a younger brother. The Duchess of Devonshire took her four young daughters and smaill son, an^ Lady Zetland her grandchildren. The children of society folk are not absolutely banished as they used to bs. " Little children should be seen and not heard" may be applicable to the prese-nt day, but they certairely are seen; and the royal children atre f.akei» out «iry often to suitable parties and public amusements.