Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29
CHILL FOR LONDON SOCIETY
Sudden Change Of Weather 0ompels it to
Dof Spring Finery,
LITTLE VARIATION IN STYLES SHOWN
slim Attendance ut the Lcvcc of the
luke of CannnuEht-Drrsses OF
the Women the Only At
trnctiyc Feature.
LITTLE VARIATION IN STYLES SHOWN

Copyright. 1896, by the Associated Press)
LONDON, March 2S.-Londoners during
the early part of the week were revealing in
sunshine and the mercury at the 20 mark
In the shade. The parks and main thor
oughfares were crowded with people, bask-
ing in the sunshine aud airing their spring
costumes. But on Thursday and Friday
there was a change; heavy gales swept
around the coasts, discarded overcoats and
winter wraps were again brought into use,
spring lnery was under a cloud and the
parks began to look forlorn again.
The exceedingly mild winter and CORE
spondingly early spring has had much to
do with the prompt display OF the seasons
fashions, both for mems and women's wear,
and the leading tailors have been display
ing their wares for some time past, and it
Is noticed that there Is little changes in
styles from last autumn. The double
breasted frock coat is still de riguer for
semi-dress occasions. 1t Is made, as for
merly, of rough material, either in black
or dark gray. The only difference is in
the length of skirt, which is a trifle shorter
than before. The trousers, which are shown
in infinite variety of dark colors, are made
somewhat narrower and have the least sus-
picion Of a spring at the bottom. For morn
ing coats the single-breasted cutaway still
holds it's own. These are made somewhat
longer than before and all varieties of ma
terial are used. Some of the fashionable
tailors urge a diagonal cheviot upon their
customers. This material is either of the
three colors, black, brown or gray. The
sack coat Is made somewhat more closely
fitting than before, is a trife longer than
last season and has a straight back with
sides splits.
IN MOR SUBDUED COLORS.
The leading haberdashers have also long
displayed Their stocks. OF neCkwear, the
plain and made scarfs are generally seen In
more subdued colors than a year ago. The
straight collar is again to the fore and is a
trlfle deeper.
The levee of the duke of Connaught, it is
noticed, was more SHINY attended than
usual upon the occasion Of such functions.
Incidentally, an unusual privilege was
granted to G. ID. Gibson, the artist, who was
allowed to sketch the ceremony in the throne
room.
Society during all the past week has been
focking to Chelsea barracks, where the
annual burlesque, acted by officers of the
guards, was the great attraction. This year
the play was written by Colonel Sir H. Col
vile, the music was by Edward Jones and
the title was Nicotine" But it was a
very poor production. although nearly all the
smartest young officers were in the cast
and the chorus was composed of well known
society ladies', wearing diamond tiaras and
tne COSllleSI anu HCSt ATTRACTIVE COSTUMES.
In fact, it has been stated that never before
had such jewels and dresses been seen on
a stage.
The American tourists are beginning to
arrive in London, prominent among the
early birds of passage being Mr.. and Mrs.
Chatfeld-Taylor of Chicago, who reached the
British metropolis this week from Spain,
where they received much attention. Mr..
and Mrs. Taylor were received in audience
by the queen regent informally in a small
room of the royal palace. Her majesty spoke
of the relations between Spain and the
United States and deprecated the ''interfer-
ence of the latter country In Cuba"
The Chatfeld- Taylors are attending many
social functions here and will sail for New
York on April 4.
and sister, is still here. but will start
for the continent on Monday. While abroad
the party will visit Florence and other Ital-
ian cities, after which the young literateur
will go to st. Petersburg. Mr.. Davis tonight
will attend the reception which Henry M.
Stanley 10 giving to DIR. L.. s. Jameson, the
raider of the Transvaal, and the latter's
officers.
The annual fur sales. just concluded. at
which the best furs in the world are dis
posed of and which are attended by whole
sale buyers from all countries. were very
successful. Chinchilla established a record
price, several lots being sold at Ell Q05)
4 dozen. Several specimens of silver fox
Drought ga edCn. Two unusually HHe Specl-
mems of sea otter were bought by the court
furrier of Berlin for 81 200 each. Russian
sable showed an advance of 20 per cent
over last years prices.
ENTERTAINED CELEBRITIES.
Mrs. RoHalds, the charming American
hostess, had most OF the celebrities In Lon
don at her musicale last Sunday, including
the duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gctha, William
A.. Aston, several ambassadors Including
Thomas f. Bayard), Mesdames Moreton
Frewen and Jack Leslie and many others.
Nine. Ilka Won Palmay. the popular prina
donna of the Savoy theater, was among the
singers, and Fay Davis Of Boston, Mass.
recited.
It is reported that one Of the reasons
which prompted the marquis OF Salisbury
to go to the Riviera after leaving London
was the desire Of the queen that her
daughters. Prinecesses Christian, Beatrice
and Louise, should be made duchesses In
their own right. 1t is added that her ma
jesty was also desirous Of comforting a duke
dom upon the premier, which honor he de-
clined a few years ago.
The baroness de Roques has been In town |
all the week, indefatigable in her efforts to
procure the release from prison of her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Florence Maybrick. She has seen
the lord chief justice, Baron Russell OF
Halloween, the officials OF the United States
embassy and many others on the subject
and on Thursday the baroness went to Ais |
bury prison, where She was allowed thirty
minutes' conversation with her daughter In
the presence OF a warden.
The baroness de Roques and other friends
of Mrs. Maybrick will not accept the recent |
announcement of Sir Matthew White Ridley, |
the secretary of state for the home depart
ment, as official and they will not relax their |
efforts to obtain the release of the unfortu- |
nate woman.
1t is reported that the betrothal of David
d. Wells, second secretary Of the United
States embassy, to a young English woman |
shortly be announced.
Mrs. Langtry has sold to Sir Charles Rivers
Wilson, president Of the Grand Trunk rail- |
road of Canada, her beautiful home, 81 Pent
strest, near Cadagan Place, presented to her
1891 by the late Abingdon Baird, the we'll
known sporting man. The house originally
cost f32. 900.
According to a weekly paper the total
amount OF the fortune of the Rothschild
family here and on the continent Is
f4O0, 000, 900.
GOSSIP OF THE THEATERS.
The next production at the Criterion will
be the new play by Messrs. Parker and
Carson. entitled Rosemary" The play Is in
acts, the action Of the first three pass
ng at the time OF the queens coronation,
while the fourth. which Is almost a mono
ogue for Charles Wyndham and reveals him
n the character OF an octogenarian, takes
place on jubilee days.
Il. s. Willard, who returned to London
his week from B~ournemouth, is busily en-
gagged In rehearsing the new play by Henry
Arthur Jones. which he hopes TO produce at