The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-11
|PEERESSES
GAIN FAME
AS ARTISTS
Work Of High Rank
Exhibited in
London.
King Edward Sets New
Style Of Wearing
Gloves.
British Ruler Creates a Stir
by Leaving His Left Hand
Uncovered.
Special Cable to The Call.

LONDON, June 10.-There are more
brains and ability in the aristocracy.
particularly in the feminine contingent
than it is usually credited with pos
sc ssing on the other side That was
made evident by the picture exhibition
of the New Gallery. The writer was
surprised both at the number of the
titled names that appear in the cata-
logue and the general excellence of
their work.
A partial list includes the Marchion-
ess of Cranky, Lady Victoria Manners.
Lady Jephson (whose recent book,
Letters to a Debutante.' shows that
she also has considerable literary
talent), Lady Wenlock and Lady Lii
liam Yorke. The Kings niece. Princess
Louise Augusta of Schleswig Holstein.
shows no less than sixteen examples
of her exquisite enamel work. TT he
Grand Duchess Melita displays some
clever still life studies Countess Eco
dore Gleichen is represented by a fine
memorial bas-relief and that wonder
of Wemyss, has a magnificent statue
group in bronze of Venus at Her
Toilet, Assisted by Cupid"
1t is by no means all "friyol and
folly in so-called upper class society.
There are more people in 1t than is
generally believed who take life seri-
ousIy and try to make the best of them
selves. But the things they do are not
the things that make lively reading
and little is heard of them.
KING CHANGES FASHION.
Swells, old and young, are anxiously
asking If King Edward really intends
to alter the masculine mode of glove
wearing. An observant Frenchman nc
ticed that while in Paris recently the
King always appeared in public with
his right hand gloved, but not his left.
His momentous discovery was tele-
graphed to England and published In
all the leading papers. AS it is the
common practice to carry the right
glove loose and not the left. much
speculation has been aroused hJ his
Majestys reversal of this custom.
One learned French writer has sus
gested that it is due to a sound per-
ception of hygienic propriety. The OBJ
ject of a glove. he says, is not to adorn,
but to protect the hand Obviously the
right hand has the more constant work
and comes oftener into contact with
microbes. Wherefore the King. never
knowing with whom his good nature
might impel him to shake hands. ex-
hibited his unfailing good sense by set
ting his defenses at the point of dan
ger
Should he follow up the notion in his
own domains and appear In his walks
abroad with his right hand gloved and
his left unprotected 1t is bound to be-
come the fashion. 1t is a singular fact
that his Majesty Is the only member
of the royal family whose example in
social matters is followed by those who
pride themselves always on doing the
correct thing and being up to date.
Just to mention one thing-the popu-
larity of that most comfortable form OF
masculine headgear, the soft felt hat
is entirely his doing. While the wear
ing of them was confined to American
visitors. Englishmen scorned to adopt
them.
The example Of Queen Alexandra has
never had any appreciable effect on
the fashions. She has always been ad-
dicted to small hats. Despite that. the
big picture hats were long the srage,
and the revival of the pork pie" bor-
net has nothing to do with her par
riality for the toque. Nor has she been
able to stay the march OF fashion and
retain the popularity Of the high-dress-
ed hair with which her charming face
is always associated.
DUCHESS DEMOCRATIC.
Among those who view society main
Nv from the outside, 1t Is often re-
marked to the credit OF the Duchess OF
Manchester that she is democratic. This
opinion is largely due to the fact that
when in London she is frequently seen
riding about the streets In cabs and
hansoms, seemingly preferring the in
conspicuous licensed vehicles, in which
ANYBODY can ride two miles for Is cents.
to the luxurious and imposing private
brouxham. When the notion takes her
she often rides in an omnibus. and for
a Duchess that is supposed to repre-
sent the greatest achievement possible
in the way OF condescension. Many Of
the conductors know her by sight and
in awe-stricken whispers reveal her
identity to the other passengers.
one afternoon. shortly after her re-
turn from America, she Lailed q bus In
Piccadilly The conductor recognized
her. and, seeing that she appeared to be
In a hurry, offered to summon a cab for
her: but she declined. She was over
heard to remark laushingly to friend
who accompanied her that buses were
patronized by Lord Rothschild, and
what was good enough for him was
good enough for q girl from Cincin-