The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-28
ENGLISH SOCIAL AFFAIRS.
BY LADY MARY MANWARING

London August 27.-(Specia1)-T Duke
of Connaught will travel in state filling
his high mission when as representative
of the King he goes to South Africa in
October to open the South African par
lament
The royal party will sail from South
hampton on the Union Castle liner Bal
moral Castle and on the outward jour-
ney the Duke of Connaught will call at
St. Helena. A stay of almost two days
will be made at the island where the
Duke and Duchess will be the guests
of the governor Cape Town will be
reached on October 81, and a stay of
about a week will be made here, during
which time his royal highness will per-
form the ceremony of declaring the first
parliament open. At the conclusion of
the week the royal party will board the
train which has been specially built by
the Central South African railway for
the royal tour and proceed to Bloemfon-
ten. After a brief stay in the capital
of the Orange Free state, the royal party
will proceed direct to Victoria Falls,
reaching there about November II. A
few days will be spent here, after which
the journey will be continued to Sails
a day or two, and then go on to Bulu-
wayo. Leaving Buluwayo on November
%, Pretoria will be reached on the follow
ing day In the Transvaal capital and
in johannesburg, where the duke will
carry out numerous public engagements,
practically week will be spent in sight
seeing and visiting places of interest.
1t is proposed to leave the Golden City
at the end of November. The following
week will be spent in visits to Pietermar-
ftzburg firstly and Durham lastly. Here
the royal party will re-embark the
Balmoral Castle. and England will be
reached shortly after Christmas, proba-
bly, in the first few days of January.
The itinerary of the tour will involve
between 5000 and 1000 miles of railway
5ourneying. For the convenience and
comfort of the royal travellers. special
train has been built by the Central
South African railway.
The construction of the train has been
carried out at the Pretoria works of the
Central South African railway whilst the
fitting up and upholsterng of the royal
saloons has primarily done in England.
The royal train will be composed of 10
coaches, each 60 feet in length. The or
der of the coaches as from the engine
end will be as follows
!. Kitchen staff and baggage.
q Private coach.
g. Duchess of Connaught's saloon.
J 4. Duke of Connaughts saloon.
s. Royal dining car.
! g. Observation car.
I Z. First-class coach for suite.
s. Dining car.
q. Second-class car.
10. Kitchen staff and baggage.
All the cars are accessible to each
other by means of corridors The gen.
eral arrangements Of her royal hghness's
saloon will be primarily in blue. The
day portion of the coach, which will be
the rear half. will be furnished with a
large settee. two large divan chairs and
several small chairs. The structural de-
sign of the settee and divan chairs is
simple but one which is very much
favored by members of the royal family,
and the chairs will be upholstered in
fine light blue and cream brocade The
smaller chairs will be covered with uncut
elk velvet of a color to match the
easy chairs. Structurally. the coach is
solidly built, with double roof, In order
TO keep the saloon cool during the day
time, and every attention has been given
TO harmonizing the internal fixtures. The
wall pannelling is of South African wal
nut and Rhodesian teak, and the writing
table and other small tables are made
of the same wood. Lighted by electricity,
mercurial fittings of late Georgian design
have been used Soft deep velvet pile
carpet of a light color has been laid.
The coverings and hangings are also
treated in light blue, In order to lessen