The San Francisco call., 1899-07-16

n room, and judging from the
ever-increasing number Of Americans
presented at court on these occasions
the approach of spring must be sig
nal for almost as much of f1utter on
our side of the Atlantic as that which
disturbs the peace of the English fire.
side. 1t creates a stir throughout the
country, compared to which that al
most national event in England, the
spring cleaning, fades into insignif1-
canoe. While from a social point of
view the drawing rooms are great
events, the chief benefit derived from
them is the impetus they give to the
trades Of the dressmakers, the florists,
caterers and photographers, and the
Queen is largely influenced by this con-
sideration in the number she holds dur
Ing the season.
Not content with tremblingly enter
ing the presence Of the sovereign once
a great many English women go
through the ceremony a number OF
times. being Represented "on their
marriage" ION their husbands promo
ton" etc From 10 in the morning un-
til evening on a drawing room day one
meets carriages containing white
gowned and plumed women rolling to
and from Buckingham Palace. Every
house from which some one is going to
be presented is marked by carpet eX-
tending from the front door to the car
riage, each side Of which is lined with
open eyed and mouthed people
waiting to see madame sail forth in all
the glory of her presentation gown.
There are numbers of country people
who come to London just to get
glimpse of all the fuss and feathers and
who, while the carriages wait in line,
sometimes for hours, before reaching
the palace, pass from carriage to car
riage peering in at the proud and
happy occupants, who regard this as
part of the performance. Even when
the palace door is at last reached there
another wait follows in the ante-room
but there at least one can admire or
pick to pieces the gowns of the other
women and exchange condolences about
the conditions Of ones nerves with
ones friends. The most difficult thing
in connection with the presentation is
the management of the court train, and
even after the drilling which every one
goes through before the eVentful day
one must feel some misgivings at the
last moment.
One is inclined to ask if the time,
worry and expense which a presenta-
ton entails are worth the very few
moments of the actual ceremony. One
is announced. enters, bows to the
Queen and other royalties, advances to
kiss the Queens hand, and backs out.
1t is generally conceded that those few
moments are very trying ones, and
many amusing stories are told, though
of course the most amusing ones are
attributed to Americans. One is TO the
- e. E,~..-
ness and beauty made so pleasing an
Impression on the Queen that her Maj
esty impulsively leaned forward and
kissed her. Our compatriot, either from
surprise or ignorance Of court etiquette,
returned the salute with great gusto!
Another American girl in an agony Of
nervousness, seeing the Queens hand
extended instead Of kissing it shook it
and murmured confusedly, How do
you do?"
Probably the greatest charm of the
presentation lies in the fuss made over
It by the debutante's friends. It is
talked of weeks before and weeks after
and the day itself is one of long and
delirious excitement. Immediately
after leaving the palace every one
drives to the photographers to immor-
talize the gown. 1t is difficult to i'm
egine how the photographers get
through such a day. for not only have
tney SO many appointments, put tney
are all for nearly the same hour. Near
ly every woman who is presented issues
Invitations for what is known as a
drawing room tea" and Immediately
after her return from the studio and a
short turn in the park she stands for a
couple of hours while her friends flock
in to admire her gown. talk over the
presentation and congratulate her. If
at no other time in her life she is queen
of the assemblage, she is this once and
she enjoys it as fully as only her femi-
nine nature is capable of doing
How differently the men take their
presentation to the Prince of Wales
when he holds a levee. They drive un-
concernedly through town in hansoms
their brilliant uniforms or court dress
standing out against the dark back