ROYAL DUKE IN AMERICA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12707, 9 March 1912, Page 7 (Supplement)

ROYAL DUKE IN AMERICA.

HIWIOR.S OF THE VISIT

COMMOTION AMONG HOSTESSES

SOCIAL AMBITIONS

LONDON, January 24. 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 hot appear as present) at one of . the various functions arranged ,in honor of the Royal visitors, they could be. relegated for ever to -.the, outer pale. Mrs Ugden Mills and'' Mrs 'Whitelaw' Reid were credited with the ambition to effect a drastic reduction in the "nifmbef "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 ladied published indignant disclaimers, Jandijo wiij\ explained that "Mr aind.-. Mf4 Whitela-w Reid 'have been so long absent, from metropolitan . society that they; cannot pretend to: know, even, aj tithe of those entitled to, social distinction. The idea that the list of' : tHose invited'' to meet the Duke and Duotiess is designed to constitute a new social register is, in fact, so distasteful to them that they wi}l refrain from, pub-lishing-the list.;"".. '■ .'-V . . ' ■>.''.' »ri

The newspapers made merry at the expense .of .'the society,., people. '•■"ln fio other country," observes the "New York Times., ( "wo.ul.d the advent -.-of. the uncle of fv reigmhg : moriaixhi aocortipamed b^/ his wife and daughter, cause nearly so great a social stir, engender so many social complications 1 , or occasion, &oiriiSch 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 tna-'t Kve-Jiave- rio"aristocracy, arid fconsequentlvriib'leadershfp Avliicli is not "purely official.'^ „--,- p „.' ■ , .;••.;^ I % - Additional* comfort is' conferred on the unjnvited by the New York , Sun, whicl^ eic'ptaahs'-i'tliat 1 ev^en' the : publication- ;1 of t!ie list of the people asked to meet royalty would cast no social slur- ;$n ladiesand gentlemen who have not been asked. With sweet reasonableness it points out that, as the royal visit is dco'i|i'^jng afc „the slioi'test notice,- many jjeopl^ of i!he,;best sobiely,. nav^s already :.mvitatio;ns.-trto iunetions-'prei viously arranged. The New York American suggests that it will be » good opportunity for Princess Patricia, to choose an American millionaire, for her husband. ing % > <^\i%^v/that 1 fitjija! "t)uke-}iafc approved the list of the 200 people invited to meet him, the American proceeds : "Princess Patricia will ---have the fiyst opportunity|'of (iiisTpecJiing the youngfneii of AmeMca,.lat v clbse^range'"' Eveify H ddor will be open to her, so that she can judge of the American suitor on his own soil." ''HTia 1

SNAPPING THE DUKE

Armies of newspaper reporters were engaged to follow 'vthc Royal paut^ 1 about New Yorky . Rnd it is admitted that-, ! the publics .behaved splemiily, very: different froin- ten years ago when Prince Henry of Prussia was greeted with cries of "Hullo, Hen, how's brother Bill?' 7 •-. .>..>• <

The Evening Journal thus describes the Duke : "It was a very good-natured, kindly, jovial member of "English royalty tliat set out froW the home of Whi.telaw Rqjd .shortly' after -nine this' |morhinfe| •The Duke was- accompanied 'by Captaflf Rivers Bulkeley, his A.D.C.* For the information of those disciples of Beau Brumm.eJ.^vho love , to. copy ...English styles it may J h&\ said that the •brother of'the Late Edward wore a black Derby hat, a dark sac suit, and a large blue overtifepat of iilster pat'tern. "Y,ou cd\i|ja''not 'have 'fcold K hif ' outfit;!. front theft^gn^r kind that are sold in New York clothing stores- for 20 dollars (£4). The photo-•gl-aph'ersi^a^ the,* D i jakejrV'sj(jiate^f.^ sriaps-'and then fell into line behind the reporters. The Duke seemed affected by this tribute po deeply that he was .grinning-..bi'oadlyv.aa he' --strode -along" afe a rapid rate. 'Now, then, photographers, run 'in front of the Duke, make sure he is all there, and then take a few snaps of him.' This seemed to appeal beyond measure to lm sense of humor, for he smiled outright. Yes, gentle .reader, members of royalty can laugh just as heartily as a longshoreman off duty can." :

INCREDIBLY DEMOCRATIC

The Evening World declares that the democratic manners of the Duke are ko perfect as to be incredible. Full of admiration, it describes how- the Duke was at fii-st adamant to the v > appeals of the ■phoforrraptters, l>ut stopped and, laughing heartily, exclaimed, "I capitulate:* I am your prisoner. Prime your weapons, gentlemen, and ftre away," •<Aftei\ the- pictures were taken the victorious army of photographers raised -their,;, hats tO'^alute, and the Duke ac-.knowledgfid-V^he, salute by raising his Derby. The reporters then tried to interview, but he showed himself to' be r a" rare diplomat. He smiled mQsjt, affably when a question was put to him, but not a word did he utter. His ? m ?te^Vftß So charm nig that the reporters could, not possibly feel the Jekst bit ipeeVed -(sic). '• ■•'• Prescribing another , aceno the Globe says': "The Duke and Duchess seemed .annoyed at the throng of the curious, but. thq. •., beautiful Pat. smiled benignantly and enjoyed the scene hugely. Up forty stories of -the highest building*the royal party were whisked until afc.a.n ■altj&ude of 700ft Mr Reid exhibited, to them a bird ? s-ej r e view of Nfew Yprk. Gagps of wonderment escaped the lips of royalty. "Isn't it marvellous?" Such was the appreciative comment that came '^rom the lips of Patricia, while her royal mother expressed her wonderment in a more royal and hence more conservative manner. The Duke, finding he .needed a new pair bf eyeglasses,, drove to. a : ifprty-aecoiK^ , street optician. He p.urphasp4 glasses in an aluminium case, and Colonel Lowther drew a wallet from his hip-pocket, exposed a roll that resembled several million dollars, and pafd the optician. The Duke thanked the optician fervently, and as he left the shop lifted his hat, while the shop force gazed on the scene in blank amazement. "That the- Duke?" exclaimed the optician, wiping his brow and shouting "Gee!" More he would not say for publication..

Mr Reid's mansion, where the Royal guests are staying, has been besieged Jby "cranks'' desiring to promote their pet . aefiemes with the aid of the; Duke. One aged woman, carrying a bundle of tracts, rang the beJl 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 M)f 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 dress appeared and declared : '?I must -»t\9 the Duke. I waiit. him U> petition Congress to take the tax off beer."