The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-08
BRILLIANT RECEPTION
 AT DORCHESTER HOUSE

l titles, and that was.a a return ticket to America in the fall SThey are beautiful in evening dress-these English women
 beautiful And all the things I had said about their blurry dressing I was shame facedly forced to retract. Our American women, in street or afternoon dress, are
 far and away better dressed than the 1 English women, but in evening dress they certainly more than get even. They
 have a grace of carriage and a lack Of angles which it is a sheer delight to be- hold And really, their lines, from the daintily coiffured head to the tail of the long, shimmerng train, are faultless
 T spoke before of the way English girls hold their chins, but 1t impressed me
 again that night as being peculiarly | characteristic. The American girl has trick of polSing her chin out bit, in a tantalizing way which is wonderfully pretty: but the English girl draws her small chin down until 1t nearly touches her throat, and then looks up in a little shy way out of her appealing eyes-and 1t is quite as pretty.
 Nearly every man present was deco rated in some way. Either he wore his ! insignia across his shirt front. or on his lapel, or suspended from a narrow red ribbon around his necll-or all three. It made brilliant effect in contrast with the delicate gowns and the jewels of the women.
 Mrs. Reid stood at the head of the great stairway to receive her guests She is just as charming as can be- for she has, even on so formal an occasion as thls a simple warmth and sincerity of manner which makes people feel really welcome. All of a sudden. even in so stately a mansion, you feel drawn into friendly homelikeness. She was very attractive | in her heavy lowered brocade. with very many and very beautiful diamonds Next her stood Mrs. Longworth, meeting all London with a sweet composure and possibly a little new dignity. Her hair was dressed very high, in soft mass of little puffs and curls, and holding a dia- mond tiara She wore two diamond neck laces, one a broad band of three or four rows of diamonds, fitting close to the throat, and below 1t a single string of perfectly matched stones. Next her the ambassador was shaking hands in the gracious fashion which has made him so thoroughly liked by all Londoners, for we learn from many sources in the city that MT. and Mrs. Reid are very popular indeed.
 We were nightly interested In some of the nobility. The Duchess of Bucking- hdil' TUT exdHIple-Sucn splendid look ing woman, with her commanding figure fair hair, and alert face She was in pale blue satin-one of the handsomest gowns there-and some rare jewels. She Is a genuine duchess-she looks the part thoroughly. Another young woman who s sbreathed aristocracy to the fingertips was the Hon Violet Vivian one of the queens maids of honor. Her hair is very dark, and her cheeks of that delicjous rose color which only the English girl seems to manage. The lord mayor of London with his quiet face, pulled at the heartstrings a little. He looked sad, some way with his dark eyes and snow white hair and beard.
 "It was rather funny to hear the com ments, here and there, as we sifted through the throng All were of Mrs. Longworth, and all, too, were very graf- flying indeed, for she evidently made a very pleasant impression. Once however we were immensely amused Just in front of us monocled gentleman, whose being was emblazoned with jeweled insignia, turned suddenly and said, in bewildered way:
 " 'uh-uh-which is-uh-Mrs. Long, worth?
 Why, the one next Mrs Reid. said the pretty woman with him.
 " 'Ow! How very extrawdnryp said the gentleman, peering through the monocle.
 Why, Lord-' laughed the lady; you shook hands with her
 This time the monocle fastened on her.
 'Ow! Mowst eXtrawdnryv' he ejacu- lated. Then they passed on. We did not know that it really existed, and were highly edihed.
 MT and Mrs. Longworth went down last Saturday by motor to Wrest park, the country home of MT. and Mrs. Reid another historic old estate which they have taken. Wrest is said to have the finest deer park anywhere near London, and one of the most interesting old houses. The rest was welcome one to the American visitors. for the week made many demands upon them, and poor Mrs bongworth looked really very tired on Friday. when she visited the House of Commons and afterward had tea on the beautiful terrace, overlooking the Thames. The informal dinner given by MT. and Mrs. Ridgely Carter of the em-
 bassy and that of Mrs. Bradley-Martin last week. Friday night at which Melba sang, were both very successful affairs, | and while MT. and Mrs. Longworth are. perhaps wisely, saying very little about their reception fin England, it Is evident that they are having a royal good time. | This continued this week. when they
 were entertained at luncheon by his | majesty in the private pavilion within 1 the royal inclosure at Ascot | If anybody thinKs it is cinch to be in | MT. Longworth's shoes just at present. | he Is exceedingly mistaken. No good | democratic American man can stand, | without eXcruclating agonies, all of the I following which is vouched for as genu- 1 inc!
 | Here 1t is.
 l Coat-Black silk velvet, standing collar,
 single breasted. Plain. round gauntlet
 cuffs; pocket flaps with three points on
 the waist seam. Six buttons on the right | forepart and six dummy holes on the l left, two buttons at the waist behind and ! two at the bottom of the coat tails. White silk lining throughout
 | Waistcoast-made entirely of white satin, fastened by four small buttons. l Breeches-Black silk, velvet bound at | the knee with steel buckles. Tie-White linen in bow. | Gloves-Whte kid.
 | Hose--Black silk
 | Shoes~Black patent leather pumps with ] steel buckles.
 | Hat--Black silk cooked, with steel loon on a black silk cockade.
 l Sword-Steel hilt with black scabbard
 and steel mountings.
 1 Sword belt-Blacik silk web waistbelt.
 worn under the waistcoat with black vel | vet frog for sword.
 Buttons-Shining cut steel.