The San Francisco call., 1899-06-11

London, and 1 must tell you
IN about my trip.
l told you we were thinking
too much of It, but we did not know any
thing for sure. but Mr.. White, the charge
d 'affafres, who Is, or was, the momen-
tary Emba ssador until the arrival of
Mr.. Choate. wrote us and asked II we
would like to come over for the first draw
ing-room. 1t was a chance not to be de-
spised, for no Americans or AustrahahS
are ever accepted at the hrst py tne
Queen, as she then receives the Engl1sh
peerage. But the new Lord Chamberlain
made an exception in this instance Mr.
White having doomed us considerably
and we flew to London, all In tremnle
and a furry.
Well, Wednesday dawned bright and
early. the first day Of March coming IN
not as usual, but like lamb. l started
to get up and could not for l was giddy
and sick. Poor Aunt Flora was ter
ribly frightened. and doctor came,
stuffed me full Of lot of something, ana
1 arose. 'Well. Bunko Bill Cher pet
name for her father you would reallv
have been impressed with your last at
tempt" for she was quite imposing in her
white satin gown-an white, with one
black bow on the shoulder, just out or
courtesy to Victoria, as she is in mourn
ing, and so is the court. My train was
seven and a half yards long, and [ wore
g. tuIle veil with three Prince Of Wales
feathers in my hair, all of which IS DE
rigu eur" you know carried buncn Oh
lilies of the valley and wore all OF Aunt
EYora,s Jewels that I could carry. My
gown was made by Nine Ge.ber. and was
trimmed with white roses and lilies OF the
valley. The train was satin, like the
gown, and was fastened by sort of I'm
ish Of O. collar, embroidered In silver. My
dress in the back was very decolete, and
nv train was fastened to the edge of the
decolletage by Aunt Flora's diamond pin
and caught on one shoulder by her neck
lace So 1 played Vanderbilt for three
hours
Now for a description of Mabelle. You
would have been dazzled could you have
seen her, for she was queenly Worth
made her gown. and 1t was very, very
beautiful. The train was trimmed with
orchids. Oh, I forgot to say that my
train was all beruff1ed inside with Chan
tilly lace Mabelle had no trimming at
ell on her gown, and the satin was a lit
tie stiff, but she carried it off beautifully
tust as though she had been born in it.
Well. we were ready at last, and Aunt
Flora went with us in the carriage-a
usual court carriage--with coachman and
footman in red cloth, powdered wig. short
trousers and black slippers. The foot
man wore lilies of the valley and orchids
mixed. and so did the coachman. The
two white horses mad big pompons of
white ribbon at heir ears, and the
harness was all white.
AS Mabelle and 1 came out of the hotel
there was a crowd standing in the street
and around the red carpet, which spread
to the carriage We really felt like royal
~ we started for Buckingham Palace,
following q long line of carriages exactly
like ours When we reached the entrance
we drove under a great red canopy
fringed with gold and held up by eight
men, and into the courtyard where the
Queens band was playing. OF course,
Aunt Flora did not get out, but we
descended, helped by our footman. and
passed a line on either side Of her
Maiesty's Officers of the Guard, who
shrieked out one to the other:
"The Honorable Miss Swift" and like
wise my name.
Ny! but 1t does give you funny feel
ing 1t almost seems as though 1t were
the first time you had ever heard it.
Up we went the marble staircase with