WOMAN’S WORLDS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1926, Page 7

WOMAN’S WORLDS

A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

GOSSIP IM LONDON TOWN. A REAL LOVE MATCH, (From Our Lady Correspondent.) London, Sept 30. It is not surprising that the Belgian and Swedish peoples are wildly enthusiastic about the betrothal of Prinee Leopold, Crown Prince of Belgium, and Princess Astrid, niece of the Kings of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, whom rumour has affianced so often and so misguidedly since she left the schoolroom behind her. The identity of the real Prinee Charming is now disclosed, and everyone fe delighted, for they are a bonny pair, and this is as pretty a romance of royal lovers as ever brightened affairs of State. No one is more appreciative of the fact than the Queen of Belgium, who herself has worn the aura of a romantic union as unmistakably as will the young couple who car. look to her for special sympathy and understanding. Her Majesty is frankly overjoyed at the propect of welcoming “the Scandinavian rose” as a daughter-in-law. THE FIRST MEETING. “This will be really a love-match,” she smilingly assured a delegation from the Belgian Press. “We were entirely unprepared for it. The young folks arranged it between themselves.” As in truth they did. Prince Leopold first met his pretty Princess at the christening in June last of the baby Prince Michel of Bourbon, and was very deeply impressed by her grace and charm. An opportunity to become better acquainted occurred later, when as guests of the King of Sweden they shared the simple, informal daily life that is customary at His Majesty’s country residences, and took long walks together unescorted about the countryside. This visit set the seal on the romantic betrothal now formally announced. There is another member of the Belgian royal family no less delighted than her parents, and that is the Crown Prince’s strikingly handsome sister, Princess Marie-Jose, who shares any number of interests in common with her sister-in-law to be.

in the Melting pot. Was there ever an age -when Society, with a capital “S,” was cast so continuously into the literary melting pot! If the rumour now drifting round in certain knowledgable circles should ultimately materialise, we may look forward to a very out-of-the ordinary book of memoirs from .the Countess of Oxford's racy pen. But the work would not be autobiographical. M. Reville, the Queen’s dressmaker, has long coquetted with the idea of publishing his reminiscences. And he Mrinks no one could do better justice to the, wealth of anecdotal gossip at his command than the illustrious “Margot.” Lady Oxford, I am told, is not wholly averse from acting as the great dress-artist’s literary sponsor. The matter remains in abeyance, however, until M. Reville makes up his mind whether he shall postpone the publication of such a book until he has definitely retired from business. Meanwhile, I fancy there must be somewhat of a flutter in Mayfair dovecotes! CANDLELIGHT VOGUE. Though damask clothes are still used in the royal palaces, the modern tablemat and polished wood surface style is preferred both by Princess Mary and the Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness is also an advocate of the candlelight vogue per se, as distinct from the electric light fantasies which simulate the real tiling on many fashionable dining-tables. “Ladies like a soft light,” he once remarked with a whimsical smile. And his own dining-table is always illumined in this manner. There is a distinguished Mayfair hostess, too, who has set a particularly attractive fashion in very tall wax candles placed in quaint old brass candlesticks, as ! a finishing touch to antique chests in dark oak which furnish spacious landings on the broad staircase of her London home. THE “LITTLE SEASON." Even before the September heat wave had subsided, there were signs that the “little” season would see no lack of social activities; and the town influx now continues apace. Hotels are doing good business because quite a number of important people are still shut out of their London homes, the decorators not having completed their various renovation undertakings. Back from the Italian Lakes, Lord and Lady Reading are among the temporarily houseless folk, prior to their occupation of their new place in Curzon Street, and the AViceroy of India has been putting in a considerable amount of theatre-going. I have heard it whispered that some of the London plays have brought a blush to that distinguished cheek; a blush that on one occasion was deepened when his feminine companion, misreading life immobile countenance, whispered: “Didn't you see it? Never mind! I’ll explain afterwards!” SUZANNE AND HER CIRCLE. When the redoubtable Suzanne turned professional, there were many shouldershrugging false prophets who foresaw an eclipse of her social sun. But Suzanne is well established in her circle of fame, fashion, and fair .names. Her detractors and as all the world knows, they are legion—are bound to admit that. Hie loss of her amateur status has in no wise dimmed her social light. She is still seen in the company of. "the best people, who show no signs of losing interest in her piquant personality, and who are acquainted with Suzanne in other aspects than .the moods of the tennis court. More than once I have heard one well-known English hostess taking up the cudgels hi her defence, and delineating the real “Mademoiselle Lenglen” as a creature of moods, it is true, but whose heart is in the right place, despite her “nerves,” and whose natural animation and not inconsiderable wit make her an acquisition U a congenial dinner-table. STAGE “SPECS.” Curiously illustrative of the'intensely

speculative element in all stage judgements, even in the case of notable histrionic authorities, is the amazing Tchekov vogue. The revival of “The .Cheery Orchard”, reminds one that the Fagaiis’ original venture was greeted with admiration, but with considerable scepticism, by their friends, and notably by that hardy theatrical adventurer, Mr. Nigel Playfair. He was frankly astounded that Tchekov could keep an English box-office busy. On the other hand, he did not hesitate to give a chance to two clever young artists whose nineteenth-century song turn has been one of the hits of the season in “Riverside Niiights.” These same young artists were summarily turned down by another theatrical producer who declared he saw “nothing in it.” ' Harold Scott and Efea Lanchester are shining examples of a stage “spec” abundantly justified by results. GROCERY EXHIBITION. What those in the grocery trade regard as their great tournament has been taking place this week at the Agricultural Hall, the display of foodstuffs is wonderful, and the competition in window-dressing exceptionally keen. Here are seen experts in the fine art of bacon slicing, sugar weighing, cheese cutting, coffee making, and tea tasting and blending. For the champion in the last named art there was an handsome challenge cup, together with a diploma, and many other competitors and budding Liptons will return to their shops in the country with valuable testi monials after a glorious week of it at Islington. The tea-tasting display attracted considerable attention. Rows of men, young and old. had a dozen teapots and cups each, together With small bowls, while chefs in white stood before cauldrons of boiling water. Competitors mixed teas of all prices in thetwelve cups so as to produce an ideal blend at a certain price per lb. The anxiety of the competitors at the work showed that their task was anything but an easy one. TWO OTHERS. To Miss Rosa Rosenberg fell the distinction of being the first lady to act as personal private secretary to a Prime Minister. She is a bright alert, young woman, who possesses Mr. Ramsay Macdonald’s complete confidence. As she proudly asserts “I’m always Rosa to Ramsay.” She has an uncanny gift for getting things done, and is no believer in trying to do anything herself. Another notable lady secretary is Miss Felicity Taylor, secretary to the At-torney-General; and Sir Douglas Hogg would be the first to admit that her Christian name is an appropriate one. She acted for Sir Douglas during his first term of office, transferring to Mr. Baldwin’s secretariat in 1524, but returning to the Attorney-General after the election of that year. Miss Taylor has decided views on what she will and will not allow-, and lias a genius for preventing unwanted callers bothering her Chief. LADY SECRETARIES. Most so-called lady secretaries would -be more accurately described as short-hand-typists, but there are rare birds who really merit the title of secretary. I suppose the first Prime Minister to include a lady in his secretariat was Mr. Lloyd George, and many of his official secrets must have been shared by Miss Stevenson. Then Mr. Bonar Law-, as Colonial Minister, found a treasure in Miss Watson, who was one of his secretaries throughout all his subsequent official career. Miss Watson is possessed of tact, resource and initiative, so Mr. Baldwin availed himself of her assistance when he became Prime Minister. Being a civil servant, Miss Watson remained at No. “10” with'Mr. Ramsay Macdonald. In these days her responsibilities include Mr. Baldwin’s disbursements, and the collation of the material upon which the Prime Minister bases his replies to questions in Parliament. PAID TO GOSSIP. One of the oddest jobs yet thought out for women has been brought into being this week by one of the largest industrial firms selling a household commodity used by every housewife. This firm has engaged- six “tactful women” at a salary of £3OO a year each, and has given each of them a small two-seater. These women are to travel round the country calling at the small shops where the firm's goods are sold, and are to “get friendly” with the proprietors of the shops without disclosin'' at first who they are. The idea is to discover exactly what complaints, if any, these shopkeepers have, and to make a’ study of their psychology. Each day a report will be sent direct to headquarters which will be analysed with a view to making any desirable changes in sales methods or manufacture. The only qualifications required for the job are an ability to “mix” with other people, and a capacity to observe. WOMEN'S MANY INVENTIONS. The arrangements for the second International Exhibition of Inventions, at the Central Hall, Westminster, are now almost completed. A striking feature of it will be the many devices thought out by women, who are exhibiting in a much larger number this year than last year. Captain Drury Coleman, secretary of the Institute of Patentees, says that some wome;i who showed their inventions last year are exhibiting their goods this year in the class devoted to goods which are now on the market. They- received so many orders and inquiries last year that they- decided to manufacture and sell their inventions. Lady Strachie, wife of Lord Strachie, the agricultural expert, shows a new type of curtain hook which, unlike so many others, does not become unhooked at the wrong moment. Many visitors to the exhibition will, no doubt, be amused by- an ingenious devise for securing comfort when sitting on hard-backed chairs. This, which is also a woman’s invention, consists of a removable lining that can be put inside a coat and can be inflated to provide an air cushion for the wearer. There are other novel feminine ideas skilfully worked out, siieii as improved type of scissors, a new pastry and cake safe, and a device 'enabling a kettle to be boiled by the heat from anelectric radiator. which will be exhibited by- a girl all t ? way from Canada.