WHEN THE KING VISITS PRIVATE HOUSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2128, 29 February 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

WHEN THE KING VISITS PRIVATE HOUSE.

THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IT COSTS, TILE R ETTNUE 11ETAKES WITH HIM, AND THE LAVISH UREUARATIONS THAT ARE MADE.

( By W. G. Fitzgerald in the “Ladies Home Journal.”) Entertaining Royalty is tho supremo test of a hostess. To bccomo the guest of a subject is the greatest personal honor which a Sovereign can bestow; but the subject, -thus honored, pays a big price for it, both in anxiety and in money. For example, when Lord Lonsdale entertained tlio German Emperor at his home in tho. North of England it cost the Earl half a million dollars to prepare for his Imperial guest and entertain him for a few weeks; and the Duchess 01 Roxburgho (formerly Miss May Goolet.) spent more than one million dollars in remodelling the interior of her Scottish home, Floors Castle, for tho reception of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Tho famous French decorative artist, Boulanger, was called from Paris especially to draw up a color-scheme for the Royal apartments, and everything else was planned on the same elaborate and expensive scale. If the truth be told Royal guests, while greatly to be desired from a social point-of view, cause almost endless work and expense. Even Queen Victoria, beloved as she was, was a most fastidious and trying guest. For instance, her high-c.isto Hindu attendants who waited on her as Empress of India could not partake of any food or drink that had been touched by Christian hands, and in other ways her retinue was difficult to entertain. In the case of King Edward and Queen Alexandra, their rare tact and vast knowledge of the world mako them much less formidable as guests in a private house. It is said that King Edward turned aside from Dublin Castle while in Ireland rather than put Lord Aberdeen, who is 110110 too wealthy, to .the great expense of entertaining his Sovereign in full state —an event which would have cost at least seventy-five thousand dollars.

There are three classes of visits by Royalty: “full state,” the most formal of all; “semi-state,” generally when a public institution or exposition is to be opened; and “week-end visits,” the most informal, and frequently prolonged to last tho entire week. THE WAY AN INVITATION IS EXTENDED. Of course any “invitation” to Royalty is necessarily farcial, as Their Majesties always invite themselves. This is done in the following manner: The subject whom tbe King wishes to honor receives a letter from His Majesty’s private secretary saying Their Majesties would be pleased to honor him with a brief week-end visit. Would the prospective host therefore write direct to tho King or the Queen, as the case might bo, saying that ho had become aware of the situation and offering the use of his homo to his Royal guests? This is clone, and the usual holograph letter of acceptance is sent—a charming and gracious epistle—and tho thing is done. Once this important point is decided it is well that the hostess should thoroughly realize her responsibilities. Preparations must begin immediately, for no matter how remote the place and how informal the visit state business must be transacted there. The first thing is to ascertain whether or not Their Majesties desire a house party, and whether only the King is coming. This simplifies matters greatly for the hostess, because when Her Majesty goes also tho etiquette is far more formal. Usually, however, a house-party is made up, and, of course, invitations arc greatly to bo desired when the King and Queen are to be present. Consummate art is needed in the making up of this party. There may be a great wit like the Portuguese Minister, the Marquis do Several, brilliant women like Lady Arthur Paget, clever amateur actors or actresses, a few good singers, and a sprinkling of crack shots and billiard players. All these, of course, are fellowguests and quite apart from the professionals, who range from Melba, Paderewski and Kubelik down to a couple of golfers from St. Andrews. Before the invitations are sent out the list of proposed guests is sent to Lord Kiiollys, King Edward’s confidential private secretary, and b him put before His Majesty. It is very rarely that a name is struck off as “undesirable,” but it sometimes happens that the host ami hostess have been unaware of an episode well known in the Royal household. Formerly tlie Sovereigns “commanded” that such-and-such persons be invited to meet them, but this is no longer the custom. Nowadays tact and graciousness accomplish tho same results in a far more pleasant manner. EXPENSE ENTAILED IN GETTING THE HOUSE READY. After the list of guests has been decided upon tho alterations to the house must be considered, and this entails enormous expense. The Countess of Warwick spoilt two hundred thousand dollars in redecorating Easton Lodge for a brief Royal visit, and Lord Derby and tho Duchess of Devonshire hive spent more than twice this sum. The first thing to be done is to overhaul the drainage from top to bottom —a troublesome and . costly business. The almost fatal visit of King Edward (then Prince of Wales) to Lord Londesborough in 1871 is always borne in mind, as it was then that tho Prince contracted the typhoid fever that almost cost him his life. As to the housing of tlie Royal party, there must be a menage entirely separate, with private entrances, possibly on to a garden. Many of the princely mansions of England have “Royal suites” furnished in arcord nice with the tastes of both Sovereigns. These apartments are in a wing quite remote from the other guest-rooms, so as to insure absolute privacy as well as the safe transaction of state business. There are separate suites for both the King ancl Queen and their respective trains of attendants. Each suite has magnificent sleeping-rooms, with dressing and bath-room, which ill most cases is decorated and furnished anew for each visit. Where no Royal apartments aro kept up there is redecoration and reupholstery on a lavish scale. Ok furniture is taken out an;} new put in, and tho tastes of both guests tiro

considered in art objects and Moral decorations. Then there are the lords and ladies in waiting, private secretaries and servants to be considered. Both Sovereigns take a large stall ol their own servants with them wherever they go, for they like to have familiar faces about thorn. These servants keep near their Royal master and mistress at dinner, and receive the dishes brought to them by tho footmen at tho house. There are also the animals to be taken care 01. King Edward generally takes lus favorite cob, while the Queen goes nowhere without her pet dogs and birds —and Ajieso must have special iccomniodation.

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN WHEN THE KING TRAVELS. But a Royal visit means'soiuotliing to other persons than tho host and hostess. Let us see what it means to tho railroads. Of courso the Royal party goes by special train, and this is a most elaborate matter, adeeting every one in the railroad service, from the president, who is probably a peer of the realm, down to tho humblest laborer on the permanent way. The Royal train is naturally most sumptuous, and is kept in a speeiil shed with even temperature, lest the exquisite decorations sillier from th(> heat, colcl or dampness. Tho King’s ear contains a smoking-room, day-room, bed-room, dressing-room and bathrooms, and a multitude ol electrical devices are provided, from

fails and electrical headers to cigarlighters. Very dainty is the Queen’s own car, with sofas and chairs, writ-ing-tables, curtains, carpets and electric lamps worthy of Buckingham Palace itself. It is furnished in satiuwood, ivory, rosewood and mahogany. In a storeroom at one end of the* train are the miscellaneous bo longings which the Royal couple always take with them. When tho Royal party arrive at the station in London to tako tlio train they are received in a special room, and most ol tho great London terminals have Royal waiting-rooms with awnings and crimson carpets in readiness, as well as time-tables for the Royal saloons printed in letters of gold. One hour belore tho King and Queen get aboard the whole special train of six coaches is thoroughly examined, while a competent stall ol telegraphers under an electrical engineer inst-al themselves, with their instruments, in one end, which enables them to establish communication at any point on tho route. Meanwhile instructions have been Hashed along to all stations. The finest locomotive on the Hue his been selected by the superintendent of rolling stock, and both tho chief engineer and the permanent way engineer accompany the train, which is driven by tho most respected veteran of the service. Fifteen nunutes ahead of the Royal special rims a “pilot” passenger train carrying tnc Royal mail. Lor at least thirty minutes before the special is due no train excex>t the pilot is allowed on or across the track. All facing points are locked, and stations and crossings guarded against trcspassois. Lastly, a whole army of watchers is spread out along the lino every low hundred yards, each man armed with a green and red Hag. As many as live thousand of these vigilants have been employed on the journey from Euston to Carlisle. THE WAY HE IS RECEIVED AND THE DAY'S ROUTINE.

When the train arrives at its destination its Royal occupants are elahonvtely received. As to this rcccption, lot us take a recent visit to Ohatsworth. The nearest railroad station was liung with bcautilul tapestries and curtains, and made gay with rare iiowering plants fiom tho vast conservatories. Tho village streets wore overarched with electric lights, and even tho avenues of firs carried thousands of glowing bulbs all the way along a drive of touimiles. .Stately carriages with postilions and outriders were provided, and as the great mansion was approached many hundreds of men employed on the Duke’s estates lined the road, darning torches in hand. Behind came other carriages for tho suites and servants, as well as wagons for the mountains of baggage. The hostess, the stately Dncliess ot Devonshire, received her guests in tho vast entrance hall, and for their entertainment had arranged to bring down from London an entire company of star actors and actresses, with two special trains containing tlie properties. . As to the day’s routine, when a woman inis Royal guests in the house, I may say that the only meal at which tlie King and Queen are expected to appear is dinner. Breakfast is always taken in their own apartments, and possibly luncheon, unless a shooting-party or something of that sort lias been mado up ; State business is transacted by the King in the morning. Important dispatches frequently arrive from foreign Rowers borne, by the famous “Silver Greyhounds,” as the King s messengers are called. After breakfast, perhaps at eleven o’clock, a visit may be arranged to some place of local interest, or there may be the inevitable memorial trees to be planted in tho park. In such event the Royal guests will take luncheon with their host and hostess and tho house-party. There may he a scries of small tables so that Their Majesties and the host and hostess will sit together: others of tho company being honored in turn with an invitation. All tho party meet. at afternoon toa in the great drawingroom, tho most informal time of the day. On tho other hand, dinner is most stately. The guests assemble in tho drawing-room about five minutes before nine. An avenue is formed, with men oil one side and ladies on tho other. At length the King and Queen enter. His Majesty, of course, takes in tho hostess,while the Queen goes in with the host. These four walk right down tlie avenue of guests, who courtesy low and then follow according to rank. At dinner, too, only tlie, Royal personages are provided with menucards, and liiigcr-bowls are conspicuously absent at dessert. This is the result of an accident of the Jacobite

days, when an ill-affected guest hold bis glass ’across the bow), thus ill-inking to the Pretender, “the King across tlie water!”

Their Majesties dislike long, heavy dinners. The King himself rarely lingers at tlie-- tabic, an exit is mado within an hour—the men going to the smoking room and tlio ladies to the drawing-room. The circle is soon enlarged by the advent of noted personages and other guests, and by way of evening entertainment there will be torch light- processions, tbe illumination of some mins in the park, or fireworks, or again it may be a concert with star singers and instrumentalists, or perhaps amateur theatricals.

The Royal party retire about midnight alter an informal discussion of next morning’s arrangements—golf, duck or pheasant shooting, a motor run, or perhaps salmon-fishing, of which the King is very fond. Or tliero may lie a function of local interest, such as laying the cornerstone of a hospital. SOME POINTS OF ETIQUETTE AVI HCII MUST BE FOLLOWED

There are many conplieated little points of etiquette inVolyecJ ill flic entertainment of Royalty. Although tho King and Queen like every one'to he at ease, the strictest line is drayvn between the exceptional intimacy of tho occasion and undue familarity. One curious fact 'about the guests’ wardrobes is that they must include hot]) mourning and half-mourning. King Ijjdward and Queen Alexandra are so closely allied to all the foreign Courts, front Madrid and Berlin to St. Petersburg, that sudden mourning is often necessary in varying degrees. And every guest present must appear in just ‘ that degree of mourning. Then, again, if a Royal Princess takes the floor in any round d nice it is not considered good lor my other eouplo to occupy the floor at tho same time; but this rule may bo broken many times at the express desire of tho Royal ladies themselves. When tho _ King and Queen sign their names in tho Visitors’ book a brand-new pen must he provided, and jt may not be used by other guests,

or even by the host ami hostess unless handed to them by tho Royal guests But here again exceptions have, been made with tho gonial tact for which King Edward is famous, lie was once the guest of the great Roman Catholic College at Maynootll, and a splendid gold pen was especially provided for him to sign his autograph in the Visitors’ book. Tho moment the Prior tendered it, how‘ovor, His Majesty paused and asked whether tho College did not possess a pen that had been previously used by Pope Leo NHL This was found by tlie delighted priests, and tho King used it forthwith. Another singular point is that a bachelor may never entertain a Royal lady. The only exception to this rule ever made was in favor of the Duke of Fife, and at that time when lie was just about to. become Queen Alexandra’s son-in-law. The Duko gave a grand ball, at which Lady Dudley acted as hostess for him, and tlio then Princess of Wales was present. IT TAKES KINGLY WEALTH TO ENTERTAIN! NG KING LY VISITORS. American Duchesses have been gi'oatly favored by Royal guests, tlio Duchess of Marlborough having boon particularly fortunate. On one occasion tlio Queen walked all through tlio great Italian gardens of Blenheim accompanied bv tlio Duchess and olio gardener, whom Her Majesty graciously told to retain his bat, as tlio day was chilly. The Queen remarked with perfect truth that lor size, beauty and arrangement ol colorschemes the Blenheim gardens nro unequalled in England. “11 1 only had your conservatories at Sandringham,” Her Majesty remarked smilingly to the American Duchess. And forthwith the conservatories were plundered for geraniums and orchids wherewith to deck the Royal special for its journey back to town, One night when the Duchess of Roxburgho was entertaining the King at dinner the Bishop of Loudon, who was also present, omitted to say grace. The Duchess suddenly remembered in some alarm, but His Majesty turned to her and said; “Your Grace is sufficient.” And so while the honor ol entertaining a King and .a Queen at- one’s house over Sunday is a mark .of high favor, the attendant expense is something enormous. A three days’ Royal visit, from Tuesday to Friday, means anywhere, to the host and hostess, an expenditure of from filt.v thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. Hence, only those of 'kingly wealth can afford to have Kingly visitors.