RECEPTION AT REIGATE PRIORY.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 2, 1 August 1895, Page 4

RECEPTION AT REIGATE PRIORY.

Lady Henry Somerset gave a delightful and much appreciated reception at Reigate Priory, her Surrey home, to the delegates attending the great uternational meetings of the World’s W.C.T.U Twelve hundred persons, nearly all ladies, and representing twenty-one nationalities, took advantage of her invitation. They left Charing-cross in two trains, and arrived between half-past two and three o’clock at Reigate Station, where carriages were placed at their disposal. Miss Frances Willard met the visitors at the entrance to the billiard-room, which opens out of the courtyard, and the hostess in the adjoining Holbein Room. All the rooms in the fine old Priory were opened to the visitors, and a good hour was spent in examining its many treasures of art. The two rooms which aroused greatest interest were the “ dens ” of Lady Henry and Miss Willard—the former on the ground-floor, the latter above, and both overlooking the garden. Tea was served in the grounds, beneath the shade of the fine old trees, and there was a heavy demand for the large supply of strawberries. Among the few gentlemen present were the Rev. Mr Isitc (New Zealand), l)r Docking (who chaperoned thie American ladies on the Berlin), and Mr Herbert Stead. There were many picturesque groups formed on the lawn. Madame Thoumaian,ina flowing garment of white and red striped silk, Miss Krikorian (also from Armenia), and a young Hindu girl, in soft white muslin, being the chief centres of attraction. The music was contributed by the Blue Zouave Orchestra, ranged round a tree trunk decorated with white ribbon, and by the choir from the Royal Normal College for the Blind, who came on their tandem cycles. Madame Antoinette Sterling sang several songs standing under a tree, and Miss Hallie Q. Brown, teacher of elocution in the Wilberforce University for Coloured People, U.S.A., gave an amusing recitation. Several large groups were formed and photographed, the most picturesque being that of the foreign delegates. In the course of a short informal meeting the delegates expressed by resolution their gratitude to Lady Henry Somerset for giving them occasion to see her in her beautitul English home. Many of the delegates returned to America to-day.