London, May 18.
The two Royal Command perforimances held within a few days of leach other carried the London season jon a successful step further from its brilliant start, 'The frst of these pei formances, a musie-hall variety enter. tainment in aid of the Variety Artists' [Genevolent Fund, brought Londoners [through the rain in their thousands to ithe doors of the Palladium, where Imembers of the audience who arrived lon foot had to be shepherded through the mass of sight-sers thronging the An unusually mixed team of artists, selected not only from the muse-hall Istage, gave a show which gained the warm approval of the King and Queen, Sir Cedric Hardwicke supplied a serious note to the programme and Sophie Tucker, singing one of her [characteristic songs, provided a mystery" turn included in an item of Jack [Hylton and his band. Such other favourites of long-standing as Violet Lorraine, singing "Let the Great Big [World Keep Turning," and George Robey, who is known to be. the [Queen's favourite entertainer, stirred packed audience to real enthusiasm, jand the finale, supplied by the band lof the Ist Battalion Coldstream [Guards who played the National Anthem, earned special praise from the King.
The second Command Performance was a more serious entertainment ithe Albert Hall, in aid of the Muslclans' Benevolent Fund. Richard Tauber and two celebrated operatic prima donnae—Eva' Turner and Conchita Supervia—sang before a distinguished jand crowded audience. 'The Royal JAmateur Orchestral Society, of which ithe King is Patron, and which was {founded by the King's uncle the Duke lof Edinburgh, was conducted by Sir Henry Wood.' The Royal party, which Included the King and Queen and the Princess Royal, listened with obvious enjoyment to the concert which ended In tumultuous applause.
A Victorian's Nightmare At the Runnymede Film Ball, to be held in connection with the Runny-mede Pageant this summer, a little irl in a big white chiffon crinoline with pale blue bows s to represent la Victorian maid who has nightmare lon reading history. A huge history book will be tet down onto the stage jand through it will step the centuries in the persons of bye-gone kings, queens and other celebrities.
Such a scene might well be said to represent, in another sense, the spirit Jot Mayfair to-day. For Mayfair is lin danger of suffering the same nightmare. "It has gone history mad. Ispends its time studying the manners, [clothes and personalities of past, centuries. Debutantes hunt up family [neirlooms, so that they may go to balls. ttle hats which the French horses plant between their ears in the summer—lace even has returned, black lace with pink roses, beloved' of the Edwardians, will be worn by their ea-Georgian daughters, and the grapes which they placed amid the luxuriant foliage of their hats, will be seen, looking much more charming, sciously dipping hat of white dressed as their own ancestresses or Jenact the roles of ancestresses at one Jot the great historical pageants in June and July. Hostesses sit around committee tables, discussing phases lof English history with the seriousness lof the real student, while they leap Jat any mew social event which may give them the necessary excuse to Jdetve still deeper into family albums, historical diaries and biographies.
Rothschild History The film of "The House of Rothschild," which tells of the rise of this {family of financial princes, has provided the latest interest for these enthusiasts. "Members of the House of Rothschild will, of course, visit the cinema where the film premiere is shortly to be shown, with Mr. George Arliss in the principal role of the Patriarch, Meyer.
Mrs. Anthony de Rothschild who is helping to organize the premiere, will find no dim culty in getting a packed audience, For instance, the Duke of Wellington's family will be particular ly interested in the scenes in which the Iron Duke appears and all those great families whose history is directly Jor indirectly affected by the coming fof Nathan Rothschild to London will throng the cinema on the opening night.
Caledonian Market The fact that Mayfair has become s0 imbued with the spirit of the past Is largely responsible for the sudden invasion of the Caledonian Market in Islington by a new type of visitor Jduring recent weeks, This market, in lone of the busiest and most cosmopolltan spots in the heart of London, has tong been familiar ground to' the hunter of old treasures in furniture, object dart, pictures, books, orna~ ments, jewellery, which may still be picked up for the proverbial song.
But, nowadays, 'Mayfair to haunting the' Caledonian {in search of all sorts of articles which might prove useful for the many popular social "dressing-up" occasions, /Smartly attired young women can be seen wandering in and out among the stalls, bargaining over a cameo brooch Jor a filigree necklace, putting silver Jand coppers into the grubby hands of Jsalesmen and carrying off their wares pieces of newspaper.
This month, the Market's most distinguished visitor has been the Prin-Jcess Royal, who spent a whole hour Jone afternoon last week as an injcognita bargain-hunter. Tt was her love of antiques, which she shares with the Queen, which took her there, Jand she was able to examine countless old-world trinkets and pieces among. the avenue of stalls before she was recognized by an American lady.
Recognition brought a crowd. instantly about the Princess and her visit Jeame to a hurried end. But this was not before she had bought many purchases, among them an old pomade pot with an enamelled lid, bearing the portrait of her great-grandfather, the Prince Consort. Other of her put: chases were a pair of silver grat scissors, a Georgian silver and pearl box, at the price of thirty-shillings, [small silver bow! and a quaint, carved ivory figure, for seven shillings and sixpence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.