ROYAL DUKE IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14933, 5 March 1912, Page 9

ROYAL DUKE IN AMERICA.

HUMOURS OF THE VISIT.

A COMMOTION IN "SOCIETY."

[from orrt own correspondent.]

London, January 26. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Princess Patricia have been paying a short visit to New York, and have been treated right royally, Delirious excitement, however, seized on certain sections of society, who feared that if their names did not appear as present at one of the various functions arranged in honour of the Royal visitors they would be relegated for ever to the outer pale. Mrs. Ogden Mills and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid were credited with the ambition to effect a drastic reduction in the number of those claiming membership of circles socially elect, and that they intended to make the Royal visit the occasion for showing who belonged to "society." These ladies published indignant disclaimers, and it was explained that " Mr. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid have been so long absent from metropolitan society that they cannot pretend to know even a. tithe of those entitled to social distinction. Tho idea that the list of those invited to meet tho Duke and Duchess is designed to constitute a new social register is, in fact, so distasteful to them that they will refrain from publishing the list."

Tho newspapers made merry at the expense of the society people. "In no other country," observed the New York Times, " would the advent of the uncle of a reigning monarch, accompanied by his wife and daughter, cause nearly so great a social stir, engender so many social complications, or occasion so much heartburning as in this country, where the superiority of kings and the social claims of their kinsmen are supposedly not recognised. The obvious reason is that we have no aristocracy, and consequently no leadership which is not purely official."

Additional comfort is conferred on the uninvited by the New Y"ork Sim, which explains that even the publication of the list of the people asked to meet Royalty would cast no social slur on ladies and gentlemen who have not been asked. With sweet reasonableness it points out that, as the Royal visit is occurring at the shortest notice, many people of the best society have already accepted invitations to functions previously arranged. The New York American suggests that it will be a good opportunity for Princess Patricia to choose an American millioniarc for her husband. After recording as a fact that the" Duke has approved the list of the 200 people invited to meet him, the American . proceeds :-—" Princess Patricia will have the first opportunity of inspecting the young men of America at close range. Every door will be open to her, so that she can judge of tho American suitor on his own soil."

Snapping the Duke. Armies of newspaper reporters were engaged to follow the Royal party about New York, and it is admitted that the public behaved splendidly, very different from 10 years ago, when Prince, Henry of Prussia, was greeted with cries of "itullo. Hen, how's brother Bill?'" The Evening Journal thus describes the Duke :— " It was a very good-natured, kindly, jovial member of English Royalty that set out from the home of Whitelaw Reid shortly after nine this morning. The Duke was accompanied by Captain Rivers Bulkeley. his A.D.C. For the information of "those disciples of Beau Bnimmel, who love to copy English styles, it may be said that the brother of the lato Edward wore a black Derby hat, a dark sac suit, and a large blue overcoat of Ulster pattern. You could not have told his outfit from the regular kind that are. sold in New York clothing stores for 20 dollars (£4). Tho photographers gave the Duke a salute of 21 snaps and then fell into line behind the reporters. The Duke seemed deeply affected by this tribute, so deeply that .he was grinning broadly as ho strode along at a rapid rate. ' Now then, photographers, run in front of the Duke ; make sure ho is all there, and then take, a few snaps of him.' This seemed to appeal beyond measure to his senso of humour, for ho, smiled outright. Yes, gentle reader, members of Royalty can laugh as heartily as a longshoreman off duty can." Incredibly Democratic. Tho Evening World declares that the democratic manners of tho Duke aro to perfect as to bo incredible. Full of admiration, it ' describes how the Duke was at first adamant to the appeals of tho photographers, but finally stopped, and, laughing heartily, exclaimed:" I capitulate ; I am your prisoner. Primo your weapons, gentlemen, .and fire» away." After the pictures were taken the victorious army of photographers raised their hats to salute, and the Duke acknowledged tho salute by raising his "derby." The reporters then tried to interview the Duke; ho showed himself to be a "rare diplomat. He smiled most affably when a question was put to him, but, not not a word did he utter. His smile was so charming that the reporters could not possibly feel the least bit peeved (sic).

Describing another scone the Globe says: "The Duke and Duchess seemed annoyed at the throng of the curious, but tho beautiful Pat. smiled beuignantly and enjoyed the scene hugely. Up 45 stories of the highest building the Royal Party were whisked until at an altitude of 700 ft. Mr. Reid exhibited to them a bird's-eye view of New York. Gasps of wonderment escaped the lips, of Royalty. ' Isn't it marvellous?'. Such .was the appreciative comment that came from tho lips of Patricia, while her Royal mother expressed her wonderment in a more royal and hence more conservative manner. Tho Duke, finding he needed a new pair of eyeglasses, drove to a Forty-Second-street optician. He purchased glasses in an aluminium case, and Colonel Lowthor drew a wallet from his hip-pocket, exposed a roll that resembled several million dollars, and paid the optician. The Duke thanked the optician fervently, and as ho left the shop lifted his hat, while tho shop force gazed on the scene in blank amazement. ' Thai the Duke?' exclaimed the optician, wiping his brow and shouting. 'Gee!' More ho would not say for publication."

Mr. Reid's mansion, where the Royal guests are staying, lias been beseiged by " cranks" desiring to promote their pet schemes with the aid of the Duke. One aged woman, carrying a bundle of tracts, rang the bell and explained that she attended a reception, given by the Prince of Wales at a Fifth Avenue Hotel two generations ago. "I do not know the Duke," she blandly remarked, " but I want to tell him all about the visit here of his dear lamented brother. I recall the visit very clearly. There was an awful crowd at the hotel." After the old lady had departed a man in clerical dresp appeared and declared: "I must see the Duke. T want him to petition Congress to take the tax off beer."