Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30
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Observation-Disclosures
"BOUT the Beginning of May the
Esu fogs and clouds which have hung
y over London during the winter van.

~ fogs and clouds which have hung
b over London during the winter van
fsh, and the unfamiliar sun is seen al
most daily. new life seems to stir
not in that grimy underworld where hun
ger and disease stalk, year in and out,
twin specters of poverty, but along the
fashionable quarters Lilac, laburnum and
rhododendron blossoms overhang tn e
streets bordering upon the royal parks.
which are themselves resplendent and
odorous with multicolored hyacinth, tulip
and jonquil. Then all the elite flock to
the metropolis The Season has opened.
Picture the change. A whole square
mile of streets, empty since fall save for
the chance passing pedestrian, thousands
of houses, all showing the same shuttered,
curtainless windows, suddenly awaken
and become replete with life and activity.
Children are seen, accompanied by smartly
dressed nurse or goyerness; automobiles
(called motor cars, coaches and phae-
TONS with housekeeping horses and liv-
cried attendants form long line on
either side of the<roadway. The big
houses in Park Lane and Belgravia open
their doors to parties. receptions and
bridge gatherings; Bond, Oxford and Re-
gent streets set out their choicest wares
in anticipation OF the American invasion;
kilograms for rooms to the Savoy, Cecil,
Victoria and all the fashionable hotels
pour in by thousands from England and
the Continent All that is wealthy, bril-
liant and smart dimes nightly In public
at Princes or at the Carlton. On Sundays
a stream of humanity pours along the
leafy avenues of Hyde Park. especially
Aobi nofon y
.plong the Park Lane side and another
y =. Jng the Piccadilly, as fashion dictates,
about the hour of noon. This special func-
tion of the London season far outshines
the Easter parade along Fifth avenue.
The men are all dressed in grey or black
frock coats and new high hats, and they
move with true English awkwardness and
self-conscious dignity, swinging their
sticks and carrying the right glove in the
left gloved hand, so as to have the shak-
Ing hand bare for greeting acquaintances.
The women are visions of silks and laces.
Hyde Park may be said to be the con-
eentration point of all society during the
season. In early morning the ''liver bri-
gade" trots or canters upon the tan laid
down along the old Route du Roi or Royal
Road. corrupted into Rotten Row. The
grand pedestrian parade follows during
those hours preceding luncheon. From
two to four automobiles spin along the
well-kept roads, after which come the
carriages. To drive in the Park Mt least
three times week is duty no self-re-
specting lady would omit to perform.
Sometimes in the height of the season,
the stream of vehicles Is so dense that
1t completely chokes the roads, moving at |
snail's pace past the crowds of we'll |
dressed idlers who lean over the bars to
ogle strangers or recognize acquaintances. |
Each coachman wears cockade; a SYM |
boil, not so long ago, of military rank. but |
now affected universally.
During the lifetime of the old queen, |
who passed her days secluded in one or |
other of her folr castles. England had no |
fountain of honor" to unite the scat |
tered social groups into one harmonious |
whole and take his place naturally at the |
head of them. The queen, coming to the |
throne at time when royalty had been
made more or less contemplate by the |
follies and vices of the Georges and the |
antics of the fourth William, gradually |
succeeded in re-establishing the ancient |
ceremonies and restoring the prestige Of
the crown. She had old-fashioned ideas;-
no princess, TOT example, Wds ever per-
mitted under any circumstances to lunch
In public restaurant. The accession Of
the present king has inaugurated new
era. The monarch has assumed his place
as leader of everything that is smart and
fashionable and the English court is the
most brilliant and ceremonious in Europe.
The season originated in the coming to
town Of the gentlemen to attend at par
lament, and parliament still regulates
Its Duration which lasts from soon after
the opening of the session, in spring, un-
til the prorogation about the 18th of Au-
gust summons all fashionable London to
the delights of grouse slaughter. Though
parliament has ceased to be quite SO much
"the thing" since those dreadful" labor
members lowered the tone OF 1t, 1t num-
bers sufficient landed gentlemen to en-
able It to retain its connection with smart
society.
The opening Of parliament Is the first
of the seasons occurrences, though 1t is
rather a prelude than an event of it.
Soon after 1880 in the afternoon the
state procession leaves Buckingham Pal
ace, and passes by way of Professional
Road, the Horse Guards, whitehall and
Parliament Street to the Houses of Par
lament. the king and queen bringing up !