The sun., 1907-04-21


--Cestiy Esnetlens.
A six foot American. who had secured
q Command 20 one Of Hing Edwards
levees, recently found himself in q prstty
predicament.
that levee dress was indispensable. In the
guileless innocence Of his democratic soul
the American took this to mean that frock
coat and shiny shoes would be called for.
He was In the act Of looking over his
best outfit Of that nature when a moro
experienced friend called and caught him
in the act. The friend made haste TO inform
the misguided Yankee that levee dress in
vOlved silk stockings. rutled sleeves. black
sword and other items.
CONSERVATION ensued. II continued to
ensue when. owing to his height and girth.
no borrowable suit was discovered and no
tailor could be found who would make one
before the next afternoon. At last a stage
levee dress was rented from his Msjesty's
Theatre, where it had done duty in THE
Last Of the Dandies.'
After the levee was over the American
confessed that he hardly knew what had
happened. When he reached the palace
hs waA frat surrounded by the YeOmen
OF the Guard who started him upstairs
with great despatch. In the course Of his
progress upstairs the yeomen disappeared
and he found himself in a lane Of tin plated
Life Guardsmen.
Again the scene changed. says Tossn AVID
Country, and there was a lana OF royal foot
men and next a large room filed TO over
flowing with Admirals, Generals, diplomats.
peers. chamberlains. soldiers and sailors
OF all degrees of commissioned rank and q
great host of men attired like himself in
levee dress. One by one they were singled
out and ushered into the royal presence in
the adjoining room. where stood the King
surrounded by his suite.
The work Of presentation was so rapid
that the American found himself out and
In another room before he knew what
had happened. His overcoat was on his
back In the same rapid, mysterious fashion.
and the next thing he knew he was out
side in the courtyard. But he was actually
-presented" and is now forever Hof fdki0,
or eligible for presentation at any court
in the world provided he behaves himself.
Also he now has the privilege OF being
invited to a garden party at Buckingham
Palace one OF these days.
All this was preliminary to tho presenta-
ton OF the mans wife and daughter at
the drawing room. Men are presented
at the Kings levees and the women undergo
rooms, which are by far the mors imposing
functions. It is probably no exaggoration
10 say that every time drawing room
is held El00OOO is spent by the people
who 20 to court.
and then she Is never below the rank OF
| a Countess-would dream OF Appearing
at court in a costume that she had worn
there before. The item OF flowers alone
| is one Of tho vast importance. II 10 were
~ ~ a n 20 o nOr1afA
could not exist.
Every woman who Is presented goes
armed with a bouquet whose value is at
least a pound, and some OF them are worth
bootmakers and the hosiers and the milli-
ners to consider, to say nothing OF the
people who lend carriages.
Suppose there are at low estimate 500
people on the presentation list OF these
every mothers daughter has herself photo
graphed in her court costume, and London
court photographers are notorious FOR
their stif prices.
st. James's Park on the night OF drawing
room in filed with Londoners who wander
up and down the double line OF carriages
stalled in the Mall, peering into the windows
and criticising the costumes OF the matrons
and their debutants daughters. 1t is
legitimate privilege Of the populaoo to CON-
sider those waiting for presentation a. OBJ
iects Of interest, and there the latter have to
sit, some Of them over an hour, sslbyected 70
the gaze OF Lond0n's citizens. You seO hal1
a dozen shop girls hAtteniRg their noses
against thO window Of o motor bronGham
and. carrying on a rapid dre- conversation
about the dress OF milady and her daughter
inside.
sAint she beootiful, Mary Ann7' or swot
do you think Of this 'un' Oi don't like 'er
gown at all
All this has to be borne with Spartan forti-
| tude so long as there is no rowdytsm; but
| strange to say there never is. The young
| men who roam the streets at night consider
| it beneath their dignity to look ct the pres
entees; In fact, they do not even 20 into the
park, 80 that all the staring Is done by women
who are interested in what their more for
| tunate sisters are wearing.
A good many people starve themselves for
months SO that they and their offspring may
have the money to enable them TO go to
court There are many half pay Colonels
who live in the country, whose one object
| is to come up for a drawing room.
Generally they have influential and
wealthy friends who make It easy for them
| in the matter Of lodging in town and lend
| them their horses, carriages and footmen;
| otherwise it would be impossible for them
| TO 20. There seems to be tradition that II
| a mans daughter has not been presented at
| court her way TO a successful marriage will
not be 50 smooth. That, Of course, is a fall
| lacy, but the tradition never dies, and 20
people stint themselves and endure endless
| sacrifices that they may put the hall mark
| on themselves and their ofsp ring.