The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-17
GAIETIES PRECEDING THE GREAT.
EVENT
CIVILITlES To AMERICANS
Banquets t. nd by Americans are
the SO i. London-Handsome En-
tertainmeEts by Leading United
States yisitors This week-The
King Assumes Democratic Ways in
Their BoI-Disagreement be-
tween EGws rd and His Premier.
The Latte, Refuses Consent to a
Dissolution OF Parliament.

Dissolution Of Parliament.
London. June i4.-Seldom has Londen
seen such prCfusion of American enter
tainments as ot otcurred this week. The
greatest international and social event
OF the season was the dinner of Joseph
II. Choate. tho United States ambassa-
dor, and Mrs. Choate, to King~Edward
and Queen Alexandra, on Wednesday
and since the arrival of the United
States special ambassador to the coro-
nation, Whitelaw Reid. all officialdom
has been busy leaving cards at the res
idence of Americas special envoy.
Mrs Croclser and her two step-daugh-
ters, the Misses Rutherford have been
entertaining at Claridges; General
John w. C!ous has been hobnobbing
with Lord Roberts, United States con-
sui genera: Henry Clay Evans. the
members of the American Polo team
and their supporters, notably James r.
Keene, are frequently seen at social
gatherings.
President Roosevelt's two sisters,
Mrs. w. Sheffield Cowles and Mrs.
Douglas Robinson, have been over
whelmed with invitations. and have ar
ranged various entertainments at the
house they have taken in Grosvenor
crescent. The Mackays. Bradley-Mar-
tins, Wards. Marlborough and almost
every one Of London's we'll known
Americans are nightly seen at the
opera, afterwards fitting from one ball
to another
June 23rd will be a gala night for the
American coicny. The Bradley-Mar-
tins will give u very elaborate dinner at
their house ia Chesterfield gardens.
which is:1ikeiy to. outrival in luxuriance
the famous 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 right, Reginald Ward will
| give a dinner of eighty covers. On the
following night the Oglivie-H will
| entertain.
| Considering that London's streets are
| already bedecked for the coronation
| with feStoors, flags and arches, though
sadly hedragglcd by rain, it is small
wonder that the king fills the centre of
the stage, popular thought and society
| gossip. Prior to the dinner of Mr.. and
Mrs. Choatc * had been the custom of
those meeting their maiesties at private
houses to kiss hands," but his majesty
sent specia, wcl d 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 considerable comment
among the English guests. but it was
small relief to the Americans. How
ever. society had already had some
warning Of the kings desire. for at
EPSON he had The word passed around
that he did not desire any public hand
kissing in the enclosure which had
been sign. for all Derby day crowds.
One very fashionable woman, disre-
garding the Informal Injunction, grab
bed his majesty's hand and kissed it,
much to the king embarrassment
The relations between King Edward
and the premier, Lord Salisbury, do not
seem to improve. According TO general
belief among members Of the house of
commons. .tHe king wants Lord Sails
bury to dissolve parliament after the
coronation and "go to the country
otherwise have a general election. and
the premier has refused point blank. He
evidently sees 40 reason why the gov
ernment should not reap the fruits of
the recent vlclory for the next few
years. The king. on the other hand.
| and he is supposed to be much in
| duenced by Lord Rosebery, believes in
the ancient cAstom that the death OF
the sovereign involves a dissolution OF
| parliament. KING Edward is the first
! sovereign whose succession has no,
been followed by the mechanical disso-
luton. The king is understood to take
the standpoint that this is not his par
lament, it having been elected prior to
his succession, and, apart from any po-
litical preju1ices. he wishes to feel that
the house OF commons has been elected
by the people under his rule. according
to all precedent. So strongly has this
report gained ground that the party or
: ganizatfons are already taking steps
tentatively tD select candidates for the
. various seats, though even the highest
|. officials seem TO have no definite idea OF
how the struggle between the aged
premier and the new sovereign will
81 eyentuate.
Spectators in =treet coronation seats
who were at first charging exhorbitani
. prices, are now lowering them by
bounds. A general slump is setting in
: The best west-end situations are now
; / at q minimum Of two guineas instead
L of three g1IiHpas