The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-05

don when on her annual visit to her
mother. They think. perhaps naturally.
that as the first woman in the land, shs
ought to buy all she wants in their coun-
try. But Queen Maud having been used
to some of the best London shops, it is
not to be wondered at If those of Christi
ana do not come UP to her majestys ex-
pectations.
Queen Maud has trim, pretty figure,
and absolutely declines to clothe it with
any but frocks and other garments of the
very best cut. SO, just before the opera
ton, from which she is now recovering,
she laid in her usual stock of London
gowns, and will now face the music of
the critics on her return. She is still In
haff-mourning for her father-in-law, the
late King of Denmark, but her frocks
do not lack distinction on that account,
black and white being one of the most
fashionable combinations of colors at
present One of her dresses is a soft
white satin, nearly entirely covered with
jet embroideries, and another, also white,
has an overdress and tapering train of
that uncommon substance, white jet
Florence Popular
Florence has been gaining favor so rap
idly during the last few years that it al
most threatens to rival the Riviera re-
sorts. This year, 1 hear, it is full of
smart folk who have taken I'D winter
quarters there. and Americans are decid-
edly in the majority. Indeed, it was
they who pointed the way, the permanent
American population of the town being
an extraordinarily large one.
One of the most beautiful of the houses
of your countrywomen there is the villa
Granduchessa, now occupied by Mrs.
Dearbergh, wealthy American woman.
I@x. l..
George Keppel.
Mrs. Keppel always was fond of Amer
ican women, and had hosts of them
among her friends in London when she
lived here. She met Mrs. Dearbergh on
the continent last year and such a strong
mutual liking grew up between the two
women that Mrs. Keppel invited her to
stay at Klinguedaal her sisters beau
tiful place at The Hague, where she en-
tertained many friends at the end of last
season. Mrs. Keppel is now returning
the visit of her friend, and when she
leaves the villa Granduchessa' will take
a villa there on her own account, so as .
to be near her new friend. Mrs. Dear
bergh had made lots of friends in the
place already, but she is, unfortunately,
rather delicate, so is not able to go about
much. She has young daughter who
is at present at the famous school in
Dresden where pLady Rosemary Leverson
Cover, Lady Enid Fame and Monica Gren-
fell finished off their education, and her
mother intends to present her in Lon
don next season. She is extremely pretty
and rich, and is sure to make sensa-
ton here.
The wettest and worst English autumn
experienced for many years sent people
flying from these shores earlier than
usual this year and consequently the
season at Cannes, among other places,
has begun earlier. Lord and Lady Chey- y
lesmore are starting this week with their
two sons, the Honorables Francis and .
Herbert Eaton, for their beautiful Villa
Priest, where they will spend the holi-
days with Mrs. French. Lady Cheyles-
nore's mother. The Grand Duke Michael.
his wife, the Countess Torby and their
two pretty daughters, the Countesses Zia
and NADIA, have also gone to the sunny
south.