1960-06-20 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, JUNE

1960.

Duchess of Bedford

talks of life

without

THE

the Duke

DUCHESS OF BEDFORD was at the ironing board when I arrived.

But it would be unwise to draw the conclusion from that statement that the Duchess, who obtained a divorce from her husband in April, has exchanged the glories of Woburn for the pinching and scraping of a suburban housewife.

Sul, she was at the Ironing board getting ready the rooms for her daughter, Lorna, who is coming back for a holiday from New York, where she lives with her husband, Timothy Elwes.

New pattern

by DONALD EDGAR

be near Eton for my young son and near London for me.

"Yes," she said, with her blue yes looking rather sad, "it was ghastly to leave Woburn. I

But, although the framework found it

hateful

and fish dishes.... In fact, making up cold remains Into dishes seems to be my forte."

She said that last sentence rather sadly. It was as if it utterly had a symbolic reference to her

of the ironing-board is a lovely hateful. Still, there you are, life,

Neither of timbered house which was

liked it. She made another remark in the the same vein when I asked the ber if she liked travel. "No," an she said. "I am always a slow an starter,"

mentioned in the Domesday You see, I used to do all all Book, still the break from Bowers and arrange

rooms. I would know if Woburn was considerable,

ornament had been moved inch,

And I wanted to know how she is, in her early forties, re- creating a new pattern of life.

The house is Burrow H Farm, at Chobham, in Surrey.

the

"It was the first, indeed the only house 1 suw," said Duchess. " liked it. And was just where I wanted it to

Brides are told: Don't

goosestep

it

WEDDING day advice

Valuable

་་

She talked about her in- terests her trips to London for the theatre."I never stay the night; I drive myself home" - about her reading,

for she talked with "No," she continued, "I didn't example, like all the publicity stunts at sensitivity and understanding of Woburn. When I heard the Pasternak. She talked of her just love of pictures "I think I didn't believe it. nudists were coming I

I feel that

know where every painting is in the Tate." Woburn can stand alone as an attraction. And then there are all the animals for the child- ren."

"And what about your life now?"

"Well, I still do my pottery. I sell them to some of the big stores in London." She pointed 10 a group of charming little figurines finished in a grey- green glaze.

4

"Do you still keep your doll

"Oh, yes," she replied, "I've

"And of the future?" I asked.

"I've got my home here. The two boys. I think I shall try and write articles. I've written a few already, I like writing."

Sensitive

1 was forming a picture of a sensitive, but practical woman who inevitably is rather sad.

11

and became

delightful Victorian

scene daughter,

In the

"Ob," said her

THE OLD VICCE

TOMMY STEELE

ra Dek

-CLASSIC-

"SHE STOOKS TO

CONGUER

13180

"Sid, Tommy Steele playing the Old Vic is fine.

A

AGENT

Your wonder-boy playing King Lear ain't." ́ London Express Service.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF

THE film industry has always been a strange,

fascinating and irritating affair. Yet in Britain at least it has seldom reached such an extraordinary battle as that which raged recently between two major companies which were working like mad to win not merely an Oscar but to be the first with the film based on the tragedy of Oscar Wilde.

CONSCIENCE

-LONDON LETTER-

by Sir Beverley Baxter, M.P.

terment, Silence!" roared

whose attacks on Oscar Wilde

"Just a

the

minute," said the

from the gallery? It so, would the evening dress station in the stalls make a counter demon- stration with loud applause?

The play had been running for about ten minutes when the cue came for his appearance on the stage. When he appeared there was a ripple of subdued applause

and nothing more. the yet clearly, Somehow,

dice actnowledged him a

How swiftly and strangely values can change. She is the daughter of Lord Ten years ago a play on Wilde's life story was Churston and Jessic, a music- Brisbane.

brought them from Woburn. hall star, who married again refused a licence for theatrical production and had

show you them."

the Duchess of to be content with a cheap production in a small bimself on a temper that and Clerk of the Court, In the hall, behind glass, was Leinster she is still as active theatre club which did not come under the dis rorised even his friends, is given in his parish magazine by the grouped round a staircase, with as ever.

And then there was a typical cipline of the Lord Chamberlain who combines his as a degenerate, at last decided director, and the tension in the artist and nothing more r Wilde to sue him for stander. studia relaxed. "You public less. It was exactly right just as Rev Evan Wetherell, women in crinolines.

ather rooms are other charting war tragedy. Lydude duties at the Royal Palace with stage censorship. Understandably was a cause people in the court must be it was very English rural dean of East Bris-scenes. One of them is Alled Buller, as she was, married Ian

of Do the memory

the famous celebre that shook soclety to its startled, shocked, embarrassed, In my opinion there is in the wall. They all light up de Hoghton Lyle, who was bane.

at night. I should say they are killed at El Alamein. They had subject which cannot be dealt playwright the Mayor placed very foundations,

with in

the front door a plaque extremely valuable.

the theatre provided on a son and daughter.

these simple words After the war, in 1947, she that the author writes with with married John Russell, who in sincerity. Therefore some years engraved: time inherited the Dukedom of ago I joined a group of Bedford. He had already lost a theatrical people who went to wife.

St James's Palace and protested to the Lord Chamberlain, in his capacity as stage censor.

BRIDES should not be late.

little "Any bride can be a late," says Mr Wetherell, "but she should not be late by inlen- tion, believing that her privilege. "Nor should she stage a

entry, walling ceremonial the door until the bridesmaids It. have reached the chancel steps, and then move down the aisle at

Her interests

We looked out into the gar- at den. There are three acres of

a snail's pace, sometimes with a kind of goosestep; one foot being drawn up to the other be fore the next step is taken,

"Oh, we all garden madly," she said. "You see, the people who had the house before kept two gardeners. But can't afford that. We have a man in four evenings a week. Other- wise we do it all ourselves.

I

It would only be fair to say

I think the Duke would admit it himself -- that the Russells have never been the easiest of people to understand.

They had a son Lord Francis Russell.

We

OSCAR WILDE 1854-1900

WIT AND DRAMATIST

LIVED HERE.

the Tharries with

DEGENERACY Degeneracy is one of the

or amused. Think it out, Tura and talk to each other and when the Prosecutor shouts Silence in prices which old civilisations have to pay, and the irony of it the Court!' see to it that you all is that the degenerate,, al- give me silence."

"Knock off for five minutes," though an enemy of society, is said the directer wearily. An so often gifted in the arts. Yet 1 actor dressed as a policeman lit am glad that I joined the march his pipe. Members of the public to the house where Oscar Wilde had lived and it seems to me in the costume of 1895 with that by the presentation of these

wearing large

women

hots

and themselves in the feud two Oscar Wilde films we may experience the cleansing quality of tragedy. atmosphere.

603-

RELENTLESS But almost from the very beginning It was evident that Wilde was mad to have brought the action. Cross-examined by the relentless Edward Carson it was made cruelly clear that pointed out to him that there And there it remains today in Wilde had sought the company was no theatre ban on the all weathers only a little way of young louts whose morals its were as low as their intel- licenticus, the brutal nor, the from

ligence, In a desperate and seductive, Further than that cleansing Udes.

Se how as we come lo thê end ARTIFICE we told the Lord Chamberlain Not long after that event I partially sincere attempt to conduct he sald

question of Oscar Wilde and his relentless of this London Letter we mast that no subject in the theatre met Oscar's surviving son, a justify his is obscene in itself but merely middle-aged, quiet fellow with in answer to a question from

enemy, the Marquis of Queens-Doise this in the treatment thereof. As it no glamour or romanticism. He the opposing barrister that he berry, exchanged views as to solence. Should the thus have been made? To my mind there rooms liked people who were young, what horse would win the 8.80 is no subject that cannot be was getting near his lunch lived in a humble set

careless and at Epsom: Four minor actors dealt with in the cinema, or the re- There were the years farming Ume the State Guardian of our for the simple reason that he bright, happy,

who had very small parts were theatre providing that it is surfacing. It will be a long in Africa. There was the time morals brought the conference had no special talents and be original. do not like them

Channel Islands to an end with an be time. I think, before we have spent in the

based on sincerity and integrity. uncom- cause the copyright of his sensible, and I do not like them

Then back to work! "Tale dead sober. "Those doses of that done."

when the Duke could not make promising negative uttered loud father's works had run out and old. I don't like social distinc- Playing bridge in the hall.

sata the your glasses!" any publisher could publish tions of any kind and the mere off Dutch courage which the best

We did a tour of the house. up his mind to come

Wilde without paying royalties. face of youth is so wonderful director to some members of the man sometimes insists upon are it is, tn, fact, two houses, One England and face the huge

to me that I would sooner talk jury who were still studying Truly this is а monstrous altogether unnecessary and smaller where the manservant death duties and the problem

young man for half an racing form. Thus even in the of Woburn. sometimes worse."

and his wife live.

cross-examined setting of artifice we are faced You cannot call it a life of

with reality, And thus came the adjournment for lunch.

THEATRICAL

'Behind those trees is "This looks too theatrical al-tennis-court, but it needs together."

BRIDEGROOMS should

ABSENT FRIENDS, says Mr Wetherell, should not send off colour telegramis.

"These dreadful things seldom are original or clever and in-

variably are in dubious taste." London Express Service).

with a fine hammer-beam roof. and

"Do you cook?" "Oh, yes," she said.

Abroad

full of

back to

and clear.

NO GLAMOUR

Tite

So

no

His

Wilde and Carson who had been inviting ach other all morning lit a friendly cigarette. Two young louts who bad bears among Wilde's grubby Javourites entered into a high-brow discus- sion as to whether Wilde was a poet or a posar.

30 cwt.

of art

goes up for sale

Yet only a few weeks after thing. If you own a piece of to a GUESTS should not stage a

large gathering of land or a house they are yours hour than be miniature wedding reception in The other, the main house, pain and woe. But the links in wards a

and critics lunched at the copyright runs out anyone can

DISASTER the aisle. It spoils an otherwise has a glorious big sitting-room her life have been complicated famous theatre stars, authors for ever but when an author's by an elderly Q.C.” psychologieai dignified service,

There was slaughter in the It is a large house.

Three pressures which can make even Savoy Hotel and then marched publish his books and pay

the Embankment to royalty. But when I raised it bathrooms, for example, and a the most prosperous circum- along

Street in Chelsea, to the in the House of Commons at Court but the fates were draw splendid new kitchen.

stances difficult,

time I had only one sup- ing Wilde to his doom, asked.

We walked down the drive in house where Oscar Wilde had that

who, like Wilde, was attempts to describe his asso- "Both the sunshine. "And now," she lived. There they were met by ́porter

ciation with young illiterate Mayor of Chelsea and an Irishman, my sons and I cook. I love said, "I must get back to the the

fascinated was I in my louts as the natural affinity of doing great dishes of risottos ironing-board.""

after a few moving tributes 10

youth in Toronto by Wilde's age with youth fell flat despite books and poems that on reach the beauty of his language.

Then come the disaster. on a rival studio was racing ing England with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Wilde's principal counsel asked against time to produce their 1914 war I made a pilgrimage permission to withdraw from version of the tragedy of Oscar

the case. From that moment Wilde. With some knowledge of bronze sculpture, to Reading Jail where Wilde, during his two years imprison Wilde was doomed. His friends the lm industry and the cinema ment, wrote that supero, if urged him to leave the country public I would imagine that worth perhaps £70,000, at once and there is evidence each version will help you stands in a heavily somewhat self-pitying

that the authorities would have larise the other, Having partly fucilitated his escape, bul

Oh, that was dead clever of yer Sid taking the mickey

PLEASE

whittlin', yar bird

London Express Berušos.

poem,

"The Ballad of Reading Jail."

been

which he

INFERNO

a

And while all this/was going,

By JOHN RYDON

ONE and a half tons of

seen this file in the making barred room at the back The warders could not have numbed and lacking all moral nothing, not even the discipline of Bond Street. It is to would prevent me attending its be sold at Sotheby'a on more helpful nor more fibre he stayed in his house of the Conservative Cider Whip,

prendere. completely at a lose. Could I until the police arrived with a

I am sorry to have dealt with July 7, tell them how to spell the warrant for his arrest on name? What was the date on charge of indecency.

Thus the second trial took a subject which basically pre- The collection consists of 53 sents one of the most degrading words by French Impressionist incarcerated? was What was he in for? They were place and I suggest that we problems that confronts us master Henri Matised collec- now motor with my friend society. The forthright, down- tion that would be virtually. not putting on an act. Sun

to assemble Bay: Cecil Douglas to the right man whom all things are impossible Lord anxious to be of assistance they

soene simple would send every horno where else in the world today called in a senior warden who studios where the court

with Wilde as the accused faces sexualist to prison, and keep because It illustrates the said that he knew the name his relentless prosecutor. We him there. One the other hand artist's development as a sculp but could not say when or why the prisoner Wilde had been were duly given seats. In the there is the sensitive, under- tor from 1999 to 1960.

setting of the Old Bailey, standing man who contends that Although Matisse worked as there.

as hot

and fetid by treating homosexuality as a sculptor for all these years, Now let us come down the It was

Africa but the electric studio criminal offence you drive this bronzes were never seriously years. The Blitz was on and lamps knew no more pity than into the organised underworld considered fine works of art; Hitler's bombers were turning the Black Douglas,

Some years ago when I was until near his death in 1954, London into an inferno, Lord There in the dock was Ostar the theatre critic of the London

UNUSUAL Cech Douglas was dining at wilde, not quite so gloated as in Evening Standard Lound.my- my house in St John's Wood. real life, and facing him was the self faced with a dilemena which The collection is being sold by But so violent was the bombing relentless Sir Edward Curson could not be set aside; One of its Swedish, owners, Mr and that he agreed with me that it as the prosecutor. #Silence!" our most famous and knighted Mirs Theodore Ahrenberg. of was foolsh to risk the bombs shouled the director. "Complete actors had been arrested on the Stockholm, who collected it In the open streets so I put him rllence!" Then came the tech- charge of soliciting a mile for piece by piece during a life- up.for the night,

denical number of the "relake" for improper purposes. In this Lime's atrociation with Matisse

It ranges in size from a five- When I went into his room they had been at this one stort, case, however, the magistrate next morning to announce that vital scene all morning." mingled mercy with justice. indh high fernale too, wishinat breakfast was ready - any ex- James Mason an the proscou The disgrace, and the tragedy of scarcely est ounces, to a three- traordinary sight met my eyes. tor, facing the accused, asked it did not need the extra hame foot-high reclining made.com- Beside his bed was a perfectly Wilde If it is true that when of imprisonment. That was the pleted in 1908:00 09 shaped leg completely detached he had some young fellows at wise decision of the courtant The plaster (for, this, "worki

actor from his body. He had always his fat he kissed one whose The In question did not limped slightly but not unill name was given in court,

withdraw from the range, In- them at 1 mon that as a very gelainly met, and Wildnessed there came the renonce young sirman in the 1914 war and why not?” asked the ment that he would bowl be he had been shot down and his promontor cally

Jeg had to be ampulated,

..:

PELTHE

Cecil.... Douglas is the grand-answered Wille,

son of the famous Eghth Mary -- Under.

quis of Queensberry known as extris the Black Douglas, who prided, jury

opening in a new play it the Haymarket Thewien in London. As a critic I was sistomatically owd of invited but never did. I appro

Would there be a detsors

the

foot