London, June 20.
When the shops -announee their summer sales one does feel that the fend of all things is in sight and before they have fairly begun. Until a week ago there was no sign of summer, the weather being incomparably Bleak and cheerless. Sales have therefore been advanced; several biz stores are simply throwing all their stock out at sale prices, the demand for summer clothes having been so Jsmall. It seems-hard on them, but as they work on a very large margin we need not waste too much sympa~ thy. Indeed one has heard that they ook on the low-price, but cash basis Fetums of the sales'to compensate for the long-delayed payments and bad debts incurred on the original price transactions, Quite apart from summer frocks, the sales offer wonderful opportunities to stock oneself /up for the whole year.
For the @rst time for many years the Sovereign is going abroad for his holidays. Queen Victoria favoured the South of France, King Edward 'VIE used to go to Marienbad, the late King was happy with Cowes and Balmoral. King Edward VIII reverts to the taste of his great-grandmother, and has rented the lovely villa at Cannes, called the Chiteau THorlzon, built about five years ago by the American actress Maxine Bliott, It stands in a lovely situation on a terrace close above the sea—from the swimming pool in the garden a water chute goes right down, Into the sea—between Juan les Pins. and Cannes. It is understood that the King will go there at the end of July, though probably not for more than' Ave or six weeks, Tt fs rather sad to hear that that gallant old yacht the Britannia is to be sunk in the Channel. But better 0 than be broken up for the sou-vanir hunters. The King does not care for yachting, and though the Britannia can still hold her own with most yachts in a strong breeze, she after 43 years of racing past her best work. "So when the high tides come next month she will be towed out beyond the Isle of Wight ant honourably buried in, the scene of her many triumphs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.