Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-07-01
HOUSE PARTY IN ENGLAND.
An Exceedingly Tiresome Affair, Not
Only to Host, But to Demo-
cratic Guests.

CIal1C QUSSISs
Persons who are privileged to play
host and hostess to the king have a
good deal more to go through than Is
imagined by those who read the de-
scriptive reports in the papers, and adj
mire the successful and satisfactory way
in which everything has gone off. In
truth, a royal visit, if it reflects GER
tain share of honor and glory on those
to whom it is paid, entails also on them
a great amount of worry and trouble,
says the Brooklyn Eagle.
The whole business is amusing and abb
surd to Americans and the fiunky
'body bending" is ridiculous to repub-
leans.
The first anxiety of the host and
hostess is naturally the selection OF
those who are to be invited to meet the
illustrious visitors. Not only has the
name of every guest to be submitted
for approval, but it is the usual Gus
tom of the king to signify his wishes
as to who should be asked to meet him.
1t is not even deemed necessary for the
host to be already acquainted with them.
1t is true that certain of the great ones
of the land, with, perhaps, an old fash
Toned idea Of what is due to themselves
as hosts, have from time to time objected
to invite perfect strangers to meet royal
ty under their roof.
The personnel of the party being at
length fixed, elaborate preparations have
to be made for the actual housing Of the
royal guests. Painters, paperhangers
and so on are busily at work all over
the house for some weeks beforehand,
and most special and particular atten-
ton is paid to baths, water supply and
sanitation generally-a precaution that
has been strictly and invariably OBJ
served ever since the disaster Of 1871,
when the prince of Wales was brought
to deaths door through sojourn in a
badly drained house in Yorkshire. Pre-
liminary anxieties are not, Of course,
ended when the house, from attic to
cellar, is ready for its guests.
When Queen Victoria honored any OF
her subjects with visit it was by no
means matter of course that persons
staying in the house should have the
privilege Of sitting down at table with
her. 1t was her custom not only to take
with her to the houses where she de-
signed to '1ie" Gas the old phrase was)
for night or two her own bed and bed
ding, carriages, horses and servants (in-
GLIDING occasionally her cook but also
to confine herself at meals to the COM
pany of her own suite, sometimes invit-
ing her host and hostess to join her at
luncheon or dinner.
Such ultra-royal exclusiveness as this
was never the habit of the prince and
princess of Wales, nor is it now in their
changed and more exalted position. The
first meal of the day is invariably served
in the royal apartments; Of course, on
shooting and racing days, or on the oc-
casion of any public function, luncheon
Is usually taken abroad. But at 1.-The
great event of the Englishman's day.,
dinner, they are always present at the
table of their host, together with the
whole house party.
Certain points Of etiquette there are
which differentiate such dinners from
the usual evening meal Of the English
country house. AS to. dress, for exam
pie, it is understood that even at private
at which the queen IS
present, the ceremonious knee-breeches
and silk stockings are worn instead OF
the ordinary neither garments OF the
English gentleman.
A story is told of how certain bar
onet, who was privileged to entertain for
the first time the prince Of Wales, sedu-
lousy provided himself with the neces-
sary articles of raiment Gas he conceived
them), and, so arrayed, met his royal
guest in the hall of his house. The
prince, emerging from his brougham,
advanced with his gracious smile, and
grasping his hosts hand, addressed him
thus: go upstairs, my good fellow,
are not worn, you know, unless the
princess is with me-"
The allotted days of the long-antici-
pated, anxiously prepared for visit pass
quickly away. 'sThe last saraband has
been danced in the hall" the last dinner
has been eaten. The morning Of depar-
ture arrives; a cheer from the little
group of bystanders, final salutation
as the train moves out of the station,
and host and hostess return to the quiet
routine of their daily life with sigh
Of satisfaction, and an echo in their
hearts of the sentiment which Mrs.
Augustus Craven has so well expressed:
after all, one of the great-perhaps the
in life is to get
things over"
EQEE Knowing what IT was to suffer,
~ u Es will give FREE OF CHARGE, to