The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-15
OUR FOLKS IN LONDON
THE FAVORED OF ALL THE CoRO-
NATION VISITORS.
ROYALTY SEEKS THEM OUT.
THE CHOATE DINNER AN INTER
NATIONAL EVENT.

Special Ambassadors WhifeIavv Reid
in Great Demand, Gen. Clous Hob
nObs With Lord Roberts and Gen.
Wheeler, H. Clay Evans and
Others Are Popular Social Favor
jtes-The Bradley-Martins, MRS.
John w. Mackay and Reginald
Ward VIII All Entertain on Night
of June 23-No HandIxissing for
Americans, Says King Edward.
London, June 14.-Seldom has Lon
don seen such profusion of American
entertainments as occurred this week.
The greatest international and social
event of the season was the dinner of
Joseph H. Choate. the United States
ambassador, and Mrs. Choate to King
Edward and Queen Alexandria, on
Wednesday, and since the arrival of
the United States special ambassador
to the coronation, Whitelaw Reid, all
officialdom has been busy leaving
cards at the residence of Americas
special envoy.
Mrs. Croker and her two step
daughters, the Misses Rutherford, have
been entertained at Claridges. Gen.
John w. Clous has been hobnobbing
with Lord Roberts and other English
army dignitaries and Gen. Joseph
Wheeler United States Consul Cen
eral Henry Clay Evans, the members
of the American polo team and their
4-I@1 -
are frequently seen at social gather
ings. Presi6Rnt Roosevelts two sis
tiers, Mrs. w. Sheffield Cowles
and Mrs. Douglas Robinson,
have been overwhelmed with
invitations, and have arranged
various entertainments at the house
they have taken in GrosYenor Cres-
cent. The Mackays, Bradley-M Martins,
Wards, Marlboroughs, and almost
everyone of London's well known
Americans, are seen nightly at the OPP
era, afterwards fitting from one ball
to another.
June % will be a gala night for the
American colony. The Martins will give
a very elaborate dinner at their house
in Chesterfield Gardens, which is like
ly to out-rival in luxuriance the fa-
nous Bradley Martin ball. The same
night Mrs. John w. Mackay's Carlton
House Terrace mansion will be the
scene of a big dinner, while also the
same night, Reginald Ward will give
a dinner of eighty covers. On the fol-
lowing night the Ogilvie Hays win en-
terrain.
Considering that London's streets are
already bedecked for the coronation
with festoons, flags and arches, though
bedraggled by rain, it is small wonder
that the King fills the center of the
stage. popular thought and society
gossip.
No kissing of Hands There.
Prior to the dinner of Mr.. and Mrs
Choate it had been the custom of those
meeting their majesties at private
houses to kiss hands, but His Ma
jesty sent special word that he desired
that this ceremony be not observed
when he set foot on American soil,
which Mr.. Choate's house is supposed
to be. The omission created considera-
BILE comment among the English
guests, but it was no small relief to
the Americans. However, society had
already had some warnings of the
Kings wish, for at Epson he had the
word passed around that he did not
desire any public hand kissing in the
enclosure, which has been a sight for
all Derby day crowds. One very fash
lonable woman, dtsregarding the in
formal injunction, grabbed the Kings
hand and kissed it, much to the Kings
embarrassment.
Wants New Parliament.
The relations between King Edward
and Lord Salisbury do not seem to i'm
prove. According to general belief
among members of the House of Com
mons, the King wants Lord Salisbury
to dissolve Parliament after the coro-
nation, and Ego to the country" other
wise have a general election, and the
premier refused point blank. He evil
IDENTIFY sees no reason why the gov
eminent should not get the fruits of
the recent victory for the next few
years. The King, on the other hand,
and as he is supposed in this to be
much influenced by Lord Rosebery be-
lieves in the ancient custom that the
death of the sovereign involves a dis
solution of Parliament. King Edward
is the first sovereign whose succession
has not been followed by a mechanical
dissolution. The King is understood to
take the stand that this is not his
Parliament, it having been elected
prior to his succession, and
apart from any political prejudices, he
wishes to feel that the House OF Com
mons has been elected by the people
under his rule according to all prece-
dent, So strongly has this report gain
ed ground that the party organizations
are already taking steps TO tentatively
select candidates for the various seats,
though even the highest officials seem
to have no definite idea of how the
struggle between the premier and the
new sovereign will eyentuate.
Lower Prices for Seats.
Spectators in street coronation
seats, who at first were charging ex-
orbitant prices, are now lowering them
by leaps and bounds. A general slump
is setting in. The best West End sit
uations are now at a minimum of two
guineas instead Of three @uineas.
THEIR MAJEsTIEs AT ALDER SHOT.