Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
THE KING AS GUEST.
to Social Intercourse Than
His Mother Was.

People who are privileged to play host
and hostess to the King, who arrived at
ElYeden hall on a visit to Lord Iveagh,
have a good deal more to go through
than is imagined by those Who merely
glance at the descriptive reports in the
papers and admire the successful and
satisfactory way in which everything has
gone OFF. in truth. says the London
Daily Mail. a royal visit. if 1t reflects .
certain share Of honor and glory on
those to whom it is paid. entails also
on them q very real amount of worry
and trouble.
The first anxiety Of the host and host
ess is naturally the selection OF those
who are to be invited to meet the Illus
trious visitors. Not only has the name
of every guest to be submitted for ap-
proval. but it is the usual custom for
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-fash1oned
idea of what is due to themselves as
hosts, have from time to time objected
to inviting perfect strangers to meet
royalty 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, paperhang-
ers and SO on, are busily at work all
over the house for some weeks before
hand, and most special and particular
attention is paid to baths, water supply
and sanitation generally-a precaution
which has been strictly and invariably
observed ever since the disaster of 1871,
when the Prince of Wales was brought
to deaths door through a sojourn in a
badly drained house in Yorkshire.
When Queen Victoria honored any Of
her subjects with visit, it was by no
means a matter of course that people
staying in the house should have the
privilege Of sitting down at table with
their august fellow visitor. 1t was her
majesty's custom not only to take with
her to the houses where she designed to
''lie" (as the old phrase was) for night
VI LWO, nCl OWa Ucu duu UCUO106p C1A
riages, horses and servants Gncluding
occasionally her cook, but also to con-
fine herself at meals to the company of
her own suite, sometimes inviting 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 'the
great event of the Englishman's day"
as some one calls dinner, they are al
ways 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
Pile, it is understood that even at private
entertainments at which the queen Is
present, the ceremonious knee breeches
and silk stockings are worn instead of
the ordinary neither garments of the
English gentlemen.