Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-06
"A MATTER Of FORM
Presidents Correspondence
With Foreign Rulers.
LOTS OF RED TAPE
RIGID ETIQUETTE THAT Gov
ERNS IN SUCH MATTERS.
Letters That He Never Reads-Samples
of Fine Penmanship-The
Great Seal.

The recent birth Of royal prince of Eng
land will soon be made the subject of a
very formal and cercmonious correspond
ence between President Roosevelt and King
Edward. Although our chief magistrate
learned by cable Of the happy event in the
household of the Prince of Wales few
hours after it's occurrence the royal grand
father Of the new prince will deem it es-
sential to good form ard etiquette to have
mailed to the White House an autograph
letter informing his fellow-ruler.
Indeed. President Roosevelt continually
maintains voluminous correspondence
with the royal personages of the world.
Whenever a royal BIRTH royal marriage
or royal death occurs he is apprised OF
the fact through a miSSive signed by the
reigning sovereign'S own hand. All such
letters demand immediate replies. Royal
families as rule are large. and their MEM
bers make their exits and entrances from
and to this mundane sphere al quite the
usual rate. Moreover. they marry early
and often. all of which means that the
Presidents royal mail is sufficient to Keep
the average social secretary busy during
the active hours of the day. Furthermore.
whenever new ambassadors or ministers
are accredited to this country the royal
epistolary activity finds new motive.
The presidents royal autograph miSSlVes
are technically known as ceremonial let
ters' They are survivals of antique forms
prescribed by the diplomatic etiquette of
long ago. Kings are as loath to aban-
don the quaint ceremonial formulate of ex-
the centuries past as are barristers and
ecclesiastcs.
Royal Etiquette's Demands.
The royal etiquette of correspondence OBJ
tanning in most countries demands that the
monarch commence his ceremonial letters
with formal assertion of his divine right
to rule. For instance. King Edward. when
notifying Mr. Roosevelt of the birth of his
grandson will begin thus:
Edward. by the grace of God, of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire
land. king. defender of the faith, Emperor
of India. etc, etc, etc. To the President of
the United States of America sendeth greet
ing
Then will follow the form of address:
Our Good Friend"
The letter will close:
Your Good Friend.
Edward r. and t.
Throughout the letter, the words I'VE"
Us" and Our" will commence with cap
ital letters.
King Leopold of Belgium. when recently
announcing the death of his wife, Queen
Marie Henriette. addressed the President in
French:
tires cher ct grand ami very dear and
great friend) and closed the communicate
''Votre sincere ami your sincere friend }
The King of Italy after asserting that he
is king ''by the grace of God and the will
of the nation writes: THE queen and we
have received with satisfaction, etc"
The Car of Russia can boast of the rec
ord title. and this he unfailingly affixes to
each ceremonial letter by way of introduce
ton. thus:
1--WE. Nicholas. Emperor and Autocrat
of all the Russias. of Moscow, Klow, Via
dimir. Noygorod Car of Casan Car Of
Astrakhan. Gar of Siberia. Car of the
Chersonese. Car of Georgia, Lord of Plos-
cow and Grand Duke of Smolensk, Lithu-
ania. Volynia. of Courland and Semigalle.
of Bialostock. PORN. Viatka and other
provinces. Lord and Grand Duke of Lower
Novsorod. of CZernigo. PoIotzk. Rostow.
Iaroslaw. Bolovsersk. Oudor. Obdor and
Widopsk. ruler of all the country of the
north. lord Of Armenia. hereditary prince
and sovereign of the princes of Circassia
and other princes of the Highlands, lord OF
Turkestan. &c. &c. &c"
Having made his identification reasonably
secure he some times inparts some Informal
.tion occupying less than half the space de-
voted to such an Introduction.
His conclusion is:
We pray God that He will keep you and
the United States of America in His holy
keeping. NICOLAS"