The New York herald., 1921-06-26
REGATTA AT HENLEY
A SPUR TO LONDON'S
SOCIAL BRILLIANCY
Charity Ball at Lansdowne
House Attracts NOtables
of British AristOcracy.
THEATRES GET NEW LIFE
Increasing Number Of House
Parties and Many Weddings
for Present Month.

Special Gable to THE New YORK HEPALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, June %.
The Henley regatta is the next item
on London's social programme. There
Las been a strange revival during the
last two weeks in the London season
which when it started was overloaded
with gloom due to the coal strike and
other industrial troubles. A feeling
nearer to optimism regarding affairs
probably was heightened by the ire
sistible appeal of weeks and weeks of
wonderful sunshine, thrilling racing
and polo.
But whatever the cause the festivi-
ties have been revived to a remark
able extent and the Henley programme
promises to have all of it's old time
brilliance. The formal regatta begins
on Wednesday and the houses near
the river have already all been taken
even the largest ones which went beg
ging last year on account Of the diff
ficulty of obtaining servants.
usual will be among the most important
hosts during the great river week The
finals will be rowed on Saturday. and the
Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and
Prince Henry have arranged to attend.
The international entries thus far are
disappointing. the most serious chal-
lengers for the cup being the Norwegian
Kristiania Rowing Club.
The brilliant revival of the season
reached a climax last Wednesday night
with the charity ball at the Lansdowne
House. loaned for the occasion by Gordon
Selfridge. Everybody who is anybody
jammed the beautiful big rooms and the
lovely gardens. especially Illuminated to
make sylvan fairy ring in that remark
able oasis just where gloomy Mayfair
touches glaring Piccadilly.
Queen Mother Alexandra was the Of
fetal patroness of the ball, but as she
was tired after her annual drive through
the city during the day she did not at
| tend. The Princess Alice was among the
members of royalty to arrive early how
ever. and after midnight a boyish figure
slipped In and whirled off with a pretty
girl. II was the Prince OF Wales, who
came after having attended the polo
match and presiding at a dinner Of his
regiment
The ball. which attracted a great
deal of attention. Is described by the
society correspondent of the Evening
Netcs as follows:
"The rooms cleared and two were set
aside for dancing. Lady CGrzon ar
rived early and soon afterward Lord
Curzon himself came from his duties at
the imperial conference. Then Lady
Desborough turned up and Lady d'Aber-
non, and one caught sight OF Lord
Beatty wearing many ribbons. looking
brisk and nautical as he danced with
Miss Julia James
princess George of Greece arrived a
little later and Mrs. Chamberlain about
the same time. And what a fine, fren-
zied sight it was. Medals cleaned on
many manly breasts and Jewels SPAR
killed. upon the bosoms of fair women.
and the entire ballroom seemed to be
revolving, SO interlocked were the
dancers
"At the side stood a gray haired man.
deferential and amused. Mr.. Gordon
Selfridge himself, and alone. seated in
an alcove. watched fascinated the dear
est old ringleted lady. Mr.. Sefridge's
mother, well over eighty, but as fresh
as the youngest in the room"
The theatres also have reported re-
covefy In attendance just when II was
thought that dozen would have to
close. There Is continuous round OF
smaller parties. together with number
OF important weddings scattered through
June. and every week end sees an In
creasing number of house parties.
| With the big Meadow Brook polo con-
tingent here there is a strong American
note at all the parties. Neither the Brit
| ish polo players nor those officers who
visited Long Island in the R-34 are for
getting the good times they had in
America, and II the American polo team
members and their friends accepted all
the invitations they are receiving to big
and little parties they would never walk
again. much less ride a polo pony.