LADY RANDOLPH CHURCHILL IN HER WORKSHOP.
Lady Randolph Churchill, in her new role of editress of the “Anglo-Saxon Magazine,” has adopted a working dress which is very sensible and not as ugly as one would expect. To eyes accustomed to seeing her ladyship in an exquisite evening dress, the sight of her in such plain habiliments is a shock. But after a while you get used to them, and then you rather admire her in the plain garb. Lady Randolph Churchill is not playing at work. She is actually editing; and the magazine will show her handiwork more and more. Of course she is assisted by her son, that wonderful young Winston. Leonard Churchill, but she does the heavy part herself.
Each day finds Lady Churchill in her office. “Lady Randy” she is called in London, and from 10 to 4 it is perfectly safe to call upon her. You will surely find her in.
Lady Churchill arrives at her office mornings in a cab. It is not an automobile, though she is partial to one. It is an everyday hansom, with very nice, broad windows, her Ladyship's own turnout.
When she has hurried through the waiting crowd to her office and has removed her wraps, you observe that she is attired in a working suit, and you note how sensible, yet how becoming it is. The suit regularly worn by her is a brown serge of rather smooth quality and of hue known as “tobacco brown.” It is not the color, but the pattern which is unique.
A visitor at first glance would declare that Lady Randolph Churchill had adopted the big-sleeve style for constant wearing, but the truth is that her Ladyship is not over-attentive to fashion these days, and, having the brown business suit on hand, is wearing it.
The waist is what is known as a “round” one, without a suspicion of blouse. It is snugly belted, and the belt is a silver one with a silver buckle. The sleeves are baggy at the elbows and have a long deep cuff.
The skirt of this titled American woman's business suit is trimmed with braid around the foot, put on in Indian arabesques. In fact. Lady Randy always wears something Indian since her Indian decoration by the Queen. The skirt, instead of being fitted to the hips, is rather full and the fullness is nearly equally distributed all around.
In the winter her Ladyship wore a becoming little toque. Just now she is wearing a flat hat trimmed with blue velvet and blue flowers. Around her neck she wears a double frill of blue chiffon. Blue is very becoming to her, and she resumed it as soon as she left off mourning.
A business suit is an Englishwoman's delight. Englishwomen are more progressive than Americans think. They are eager in politics, apt in business and less given to frivolity than Americans. Canadian women are idle compared with their English cousins.
Lady Randolph Churchill wants to make money in her new enterprise, and she is writing, editing and judging art work with a steadiness that would wear out a less industrious person.