The age-herald., 1902-03-23
The Week in London

London, March 14-(Special Corre- spondence )-Modern England has been electrified by the brilliancy and splendor of King Edwards court Beside 1t the quiet drawing rooms of Queen Victoria assume republican simplicity. The mag nif1cence of her successors court which exceeds the traditions of the French em- pire is more in keeping with the feelings of our times. Our shop-keepers and Lon don generally wants brilliant court. It sets the pace for fashion. The rich spend money and visitors pour into London. Some gouty old fellows in the shires grumble and complain. of the evil effects of extravaganza and prophecy the coming of the empires doom. But this is all non- sense. The King knows what England's people want commercially
 For years King Edward then Prince of Wales, wondered if he would ever be King or whether he would die during the life time of the Queen. Well, he is on the throne and he proposes to shine as King. The constitution leaves so little to a King beyond a high school function that he might as well reign with all tra- ditional splendor. Court is being held in the evenings at Buckingham Palace, and this removes from the streets of London those rediculous looking, old and young women seated in carriages, in low necked dresses to be guyed by the street urchins who are no respecters of peeresses. The differ ence was perceptible, not only in the brilliancy of the general scene, but in the display of magnificent jewelry. The toll cts were unprecedented, and these seen under the myraid of lights in the great ball room which is one hundred feet long, naturally eclipsed what was possible to an afternoon function as the Queens drawing room.
 The arrangement of the reception was quite different. At the drawing rooms Queen Victoria stood at one end of long line of royalties. beginning with the Prince and Princess of Wales, and every lady as she was presented had to make a courtesy to each member of the royal family placed at very short intervals. This awkward performance is now abol- ished.
 The members of the royal family and other members of the court are now ranged in long line behind the Kings and Queens throne chairs. Several yards in front of the thrones the King and Queen stood and those presented bowed to them alone. This saved much time. as
 
 bassadors and Ministers shook hands, whereas all the debutantes used to do so.
 Queen Victoria invariably retired be- fore the end, the highest member of the royal family present taking her place. Tonight, too, Queen Victorias daughters and daughters~in-law, Princess Christian and Henry of Battenberg, and the Duch- ess of Argyll, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Albany and Connaught gave precedence to the Prince and Princess of Wales the Duchess of Fife and Princesses Victoria and Charles of Denmark who, now. as the reigning monarchs children, are of higher rank and take the foremost posi- ton after their majesties.
 The wives of the Ambassadors and the ladies / of their embassies entered first and were presented by Lord Landsdowne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in their or der of precedence, which was decided by the length of their respective husbands stay at the court of St. James. The next presentations were those of the Ministers and attaches and their wives and those privileged with entree, the function ter minating with ordinary introductions made by Lord Chamberlain. Among these were six American ladies. all of whom were presented by Ambassador Choate. They were MT. and Mrs. Ermentrou of Philadelphia, Mrs. Francis H. Leggett of New York and Miss Sturgis and Mrs. and Miss Florence Padelford.
 The famous gold plate. which hitherto has been kept at Windsor Castle and only brought to London on rare special occa- sions, was on view for the first time since the luncheon at Buckingham Palace to Earl Roberts on his return from South Africa.
 The King wore the uniform of field marshal and on his breast were many orders. The Queen wore cream satin dress yelled with cream mousseline de soie, embroidered with rose point lace and studded with diamonds. She wore also a diamond crown, diamond and pearl necklace, the order of the Garter and other orders. The Princess of Wales wore an ivory satin dress with Q train nf