The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-09
PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN.

IO attend the queen , uIdWlLS- room," which to an English maiden is only second in importance to her mar riage, is simply an episode of travel to most American girls, many of whom do not even use the privilege as an open seasame to English society, merely taking it en route as an experience which 1t is desirable to have, says the New York Tribune. Even to them, however, the preparation for such an event involves great deal of time and attention, for the occasion is of suf1i- cient importance to wish to appear at ones best do credit to ones country,
 "As soon as the date of my presenta- tion was arranged for" said a New York young woman, relating her eX- perience, ''mother and went over to Paris to get our court dresses.
 q simply fell in love with my eX- quislte gown, and when we went back to our rooms in London could hardly bear to have it hung out of my sight in it's paper muslin bag. Then came the rehearsals A grand parsonage was recommended to mamma who had coached no end of Lady Marys and Lady Emmas and the Hon. Miss This and That, according to her account, and for a week preceding our presenta- tion we had lesson every morning. 1 would be the queen for mamma and mamma would be the queen for me, IN. rN1s1 n era our trains, which were made of calico for the practice
 Finally the day arrived. It was one of those soft spring days that seem lovelier somehow in grimy old London than anywhere else--when the flower girls are calling Sweet villets" in the streets and the air comes in through the half-opened windows deliciously fragrant.
 "We were not to be received until 3 o'clock but the only hour we could se- cure the services of the fashionable hair dresser was at a. nl., the consequence being the longest and most tiresome morning I have ever spent My spirits revived, however when I put on my court garments and found them perfect and with our trains over our arms we sailed through the corridors of our ho- | tel between a line admirng chamber maids and walters and entered our car- riage, which for hired affair was eX- cedlngly smart Two men were In cor rect livery on the box, each with a large nosegay In his buttonhole. I felt grand at first but soon realized my in- significance as we joined the splendid procession going through the park. Never had I seen anything half so grand l as the tiptop coachmen and equally tlp- l top hunkies with powdered heads, won derfully developed calves and huge bou- quets fastened to the lapels of their gorgeous coats.
 "rhe duchesses and countesses and other fine danes of quality could not hold a candle to them, although the finest jewel in England flashed in the bright sunshine, for shades were up and windows were left open so that the admiring mob might gaze it's fill, the block being so great that carriages moved like snails
 Before entering the palace gates we had at least hours wait in the park, | where We felt rather out of it as the fine ladies in their carriages held regu- { lar receptions. Gayly attired officers, i diplomats in their splendid court dresses and the numberless officials attached to the household who were present at the queens drawing-rooIn, visited from car riage, while we of course, being stran- gers, had no one to speak to us. All the same, 1t was amusing and inter- esting, and I did not feel the wait tedi- ous. At least the line of carriages began slowly to move, shedding under the great porte-cochere their freight of
 grand ladies; finally our horses, too pranced under the stone arch, and then 1 for the first time l was seized with stage fright, and the stout little old lady I was to see, whom I had heretofore regarded with scant reverence, became suddenly invested to my mind with the awful grandeur of royalty-the living representation of the long race oi kings who had governed England for so many centuries, and republican as was, I felt as if I were going into a shrine to worship her majesty.
 "The feeling was momentary and quickly passed away, and as I swept ur the great staircase, my train over my arm and my bouquet my hand, through the file of sentries and guards into the great reception-room full of magnifi- cent ladies and gorgeous diplomats one or two among the latter coming UT immediately to talk to us--I felt as if
 we, too, were personages.
 | Mamma looked very grand and seemed quite at her ease, so my short attack of reverence for the divine right of kings came to an end, and after that I had not a trenor Finally Mrs. the wife of our minister, who had nod ded cordially to us when we entered the room, beckoned, and I knew our time had come. We pressed forward. felt like calling 'Stop!' to Mrs. as she disappeared through the doorway Then mamma followed and for one try ing moment I was alone Then I, too passed through the magic portals.
 II saw mamma ahead of me with heI train spread out for the first time keeping me at an awful distance. Then my train was taken from my arm, two officials with golden sticks on either side of the doorway spreading it out as i I advanced. l heard mammals name called, saw her make a deep reverence and then, as if in a dream heard my