The San Francisco call., 1905-06-01
KING SECURES
HOUSE FOR REID
Word From Edward Enables
the Embassador to Lease
a Much Coveted Mansion
VERY BEST IN LONDON
Owned by the Equerry Of His
Majesty, Who Generally Is
Averse to Renting Place
Special D1sp.seh % ma can


LONDON. May n-Aithough ft has
been announced that whitelaw Reid VII
occupy Dorchester House Al London
residence while he is American En1baszA-
dor at the Court OF 81 James. II - known
to only q Few persons that II was through
the good Offices OF the King that he oo-
tanned tn ease of the Park Lana ralAoA
The house is owned By his A&5ssty's
Equerry. captain Holford The captain
is q bachelor and enormously wealthy.
Dorchester House f. much too big tor hfs
requirements He has q soldiers love ef
simplicity and when hs lives tharB him
self he occupies only two rooms But he
Is very proud OF the place. ana - he
stands In no need Of the money 70 b OBJ
tanned oy leasing 10 ne has never sought
tenant for IT. In fact, be dislikes The
idea OF strangers occupying Il Many rtch
folk have previously tried to lease thu
place. for Il Is regarded as ths most de-
sfrable private residence IN London. but
Captain Holford refused even to entsr7
tain their offers. At the request of the
KING he allowed the Duke dAcsta 70 stay
King himself has made use OF II On two
or three occasions.
AN ACT OF DIPLOMACY.
Il was at the Kings request that Cap
tain Holford consented 10 hand Dor
chester House over 20 Reid and hts fam
ily. He would never have agreed TO do
1t otherwise In specializing On the
probable London residence OF the new
American ambassador. 0rchester House
was frequently mentioned IN society Jour
nails as the most suitable mansion for his
purpose that could be found in London.
but always that statement was coupled
with expressions OF regret that such an
arrangement was impossible owing to
Captain Hofforu's aversion to letting II.
A few weeks ago one paper announced
that Reid had secured a lease OF the
house, but that was before the matter
had been settled and a score OF other
journals contradicted the statement and
ridiculed the idea 1t was soen after
that that his Majesty gave Captain HOl-
ford the hint that has secured for the
American ambassador what is acknowl-
edged to be the finest private mansion
in London
His motives for this were tv0-f0lds No
one IN England has better appreciation
OF cultivati1g the friendlfest possible
relations with the United States. Shrewd
diplomat as he is. the King regards doing
the American EmbaSsador a good turn
whenever occasion offers as mems to
the attainment Of that end. which it
would be folly TO overlook In the sec
persona grata" with him. On the two
previous occasions that he has visited
London an official mission the King
took a great liking TO him. and. there
fore. for purely personal reasons also was
glad TO lend him helping hand in the
house-hunting business.
ROOM FOR ENTERTAINING.
Standing in Park Lane at the corner
OF Dean street Dorchester House Is the
most sumptuoUs residence in what has
been popularl- Sesignated afillionaires'
Row The house itself. built in ornate
Italian style. occupies a paralleloSram fsS
by loo feet 1t contains rwenty-four bed
rooms and boudoirs. twelve sittirg-rocrrfs
and six reception-rooms. These latter ara
50 arranged that they can be easily con-
yerted into what Is virtually one apart
msnt, where over a thousand people
might be entertained with ease.
At the rear CT the house are beautiful
sunken Italian gardens and stabline ac-
commodation for eighteen horses. The
whole design Of the house lends itself
admirably to luxurious entertainments
and the display OF the most lavish hos
pitality- Reid VIII encounter no dificulty
whatever there in spending three or four
times as much as his Official salary in up-
holding Uncle Sans reputation as a most
generous host. when his servants pay
the bills out Of their private pockets.
London society Is already rejoicing IN
anticipation OF many sumptuous feasts
and functions.