The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-08
Society is Preparing for
Five Fancy Dress Balls.
Queen Victoria Invites DOrO-
thy Drew TO Luncheon.
Funds for Charitable Purposes--Mr.
Astor's Recent Tea Party.

copyrighted, 1897, by Associated Press
London, May s.-Cold weather prevails
in most parts Of England and on Wednos.
day last there was frost in London.
Although the town is full and the sum
,ner clubs, like the Hurlingham and
Ranelngh, are open, outdoor gaieties
hang fire. The Indies are still wearing
their furs and oyercoats are quite COM
Portable. Society Is already on the qul-
vive i'm anticipation of the live fancy dress
balls 90 be given by prominent hostesses.
They promise commotion approaching
the Bradley Martins ball. Tney are all
TO be rcprescntatiOns of different periods
OF history and Will entail great expense
"A feature of the Duchess Of Devonshire'
will be an oriental quadrille with Lady
de GRAY as Cleopatra and Lady Dudley in
q Byzantine costume.
Mrs Arthur paget, Lady Galebrooko
and Miss Muriel Wilson will give the
second ball at Holland House. The guests
will appear i'm the costumes OF their an
oestors as painted by GansbOrOugh and
REYNOLDS At Mrs. Cavnndish Bcntick
ball. the costumes worn VIII be similar
20 those which were the fashion at the
beginning of the reign OF Queen Victoria.
Lady Naylor- Leyland formerly Miss Jane
Chamberlain, of Cleveland, o., will also
give costume ball
A Graceful Act.
The queen did graceful thing on
Thursday and delighted Mr.. and Mrs
Gladstone by summoning their grand
daughter, Dorothy Drew, To Windsor
Castle. Her majesty was anxious TO see
the child who has figured so prominently
In Mr.. Gladstone's : domestic life
Dorothy left Hawarden on Wednesday,
accompanied by her mother, and from
London To Windsor travelled with the
Princess Louise. On arriving at Windsor.
III. IInn
william II. Il. Darlington, one OF the
rquerrles in ordinary, with royal car
rage TO take them 10 the castle. Dorothy
wore an olive green costume After lunch
con with the queen Miss Drew returned
TO town.
The Prince and Princess OF Wales and
Princess Maud OF Wales (Princess Charles
of Denmark) are spending sunday with
the Duke OF Westminster at Eaton Hall,
Chester, wheyc large party has been
Prince and Princess Of Wales will drive
70 Hawartlen and lunch with Mr. and
Mrs. Gladstone Each member of the
royal family VIII plant a tree at Hawar.
den as a memorial OF the occasion.
Appeals TO Charity.
The appeals TO tho charity of the Lon
doners are endless and arc generally
answered generously. The Mansion
House Indian famine fund has now
($2, 800, 000) or j, 900 pounds (S95, 000) more
than was raised during the whole course
of the last famine. Every class has con-
tributed. The children of London board
ing schools have given 1900 pounds
(S75O0). 1t is understood that the efforts
TO raise money for the relief of Indian
sufferers will in no way be relaxed, as
the famine will be severely felt through
out the year. The Daily Chronicle
within week, has raised nearly 5000
pounds ts45, ODOl for the Greek wounded.
The Prince of Wales hospital fund alone
hangs fire. The yearly deficit OF the Lon
don hospital is over 100. 900 pounds $500,
000), and the prince hoped To raise
1900, 600 pounds tSl5, OO0 000). II is doubt
full If even 800, 600 pounds e., 800, 000) will
be obtained, but the Prince of Wales
will personally address meeting of
bankers. merchants and other prominent
people in the city and will appeal for
more money for the hospital fund.
Astor Gives Tea.
Mr.. William Waldorf Astor gave a tea
on Tuesday iii his Office building on the
Thames embankment, the inside of which
has just been completed. The United
States Ambassador, Colonel John Hay.
Nrs. Hav. the Duchess Of Cleveland, tho
Duchess Of It Albans, the Duchess OF
Buckingham, Lady Vernon Harcourt,
Viscount Peel, Mr.. and Mrs. Bradley
Martin Colonel Ralph Vivian and Mrs
were present. One Of the features of the
building is marble staircase leading to
the second floor. Mr.. Astor was showing
this with great gusuo To the Duchess Of
Cleveland, when she said: Yes. iu's far
finer than mine at Battle Abbey (Scssex),
where the steps are spoiled 10y the marks
left by the knighted spurs
Transvaal's Breakdown
Great importance is attacnod to the de-
oision of tho Transyaal Nolksrad at a
secret session held at Pretoria, tho capital
on Wednesday last, To repeal the TranSvaal
immigration law. The meeting was held
60 discuss the answer To be made To the
dispatches of theli5ritish secretary OF state
for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph Cham bcrlain,
who demanded repeal Of the law. Tne
law was repealed: but it is expected this
step was taken not because the measure
was "A breach Of the London conventions
but, because il was distasteful Co ncigh-
boring states Tho Iransvaal state
attorney tendered his resignation i'm dis
approval of the repeal. This action Of the
Transvaal government, IL is said here
clearly indicates a backdown upon the part
of President kruger and theVolksrad and
makes the changes Of war remote. It Is tho
most important concession yet made by
the Transvaal and removes the chief cause
of friction. not only between the Trans.
vaal and Great Britain, out between Cape
Colony and the Iransvaal. liz was ON
this point that Mr.. Chamberlain's dis
patch took almost the form of an ultima.
tum.
The retiring United States am bassador,
Mr. Thomas L. Bayard, takes back with
him to the United States an enormous lot
of English goods His personal baggage
consists OF 20S pieces, with many more TO
follow as freight. lie aiso has four dogs.
The Daily Mail, which celebrated it's
birth this week has been the greatest
success known I'm England. It is now
selling about 10000 copies daily It's
building is the largest newspaper building
IN London and oil its proprietors are
under thirty-three years of age