The Washington herald., 1911-04-08

King George OF England and his
Queen, I understand, have accepted Lord
and Lady Derby's invitation to attend
ball at Stratford House five days after
the coronation. and will drive there in
state after the theatrical gala perform
ance. which is to be given by all the
Stratford House in the future will be
known as Derby House. the old mansion
of that name in St James square hav-
ing been given up by Lord Derby.
His lordship's new town house is an
imposing edifice. terminating the wide
cul-de-sac of Stratford place. of Oxford
street Formerly the residence of Lord
Colebrooke, it has been completely re-
built internally within the last twelve
months, and it's interior now compares
favorably. as regards sumptuousness and
beauty, with the finest private houses
in London. Lord Derby. 1t is under
stood. has spent about S250,0O0 In recon-
struction and redecoration. some thou
sands having gone to the building of a
magnificent new ballroom, which will
be fittingly inaugurated on the occa-
sion of their majesties visit.
The outer walls of the new Derby
House arcsnearIy a century and a half
old. and they stand on the site of the
ancient Lord Mayors Banqueting House.
Although the mansion was the scene OF
many splendid entertainments during the
tenancies of Lord and Lady Colebrooke
and the Duke and Duchess of Rox-
burghe. il does not possess the historic
James square.
Old Derby HOuSo was famed for its
gatherings as far back as the time OF
the Stuarts. the first of its long sue
ceSsion of distinguished occupants being
the Earl Of oxford, who was reputed to
be the most dissolute among all the dis
reputable courtiers of Charles II.
Queen Mary does not like ladies smok-
ing in her presence and it is never done
by any of the ladies in the encourage OF
royalty. though there are. as a matter
of fact, at least two ladies attached to
the court who indulge in an occasional
cigarette, but they never do SO in the
presence of her majesty.
Some few years ago the Queen showed
her dislike to the cigarette habit being
indulged in by ladies in a manner that
was not only effective, but was not with
out its numerous aspect. Her majesty,
guest of a wclI-known American hostess.
who. after dinner sought and. of course,
obtained the royal assent to some OF the
ladies present smoking cigarettes, the
Queens dislike to this practice then not
being generally known: but during the
consumption of the cigarettes the Queen
remained standing, and. of course. every
other lady in the room had to do like
wise.
The hostess. however. had the Shrewd
ness to guess why her royal guest did
not sit down, and in few minutes man
aged to convey her wish to the ladies
vino were smoking that they should
throw away their cigarettes. which they
gladly did. for they also suspected why
they were kept standing. The Queen
then sat down. and her majesty has
never since had reason to express her
dislike OF ladies smoking in her presence.
hear that Queen Mary is having her
jcUclry newly catalogued in preparation
for the coronation ceremonies. Her
majesty is not particularly fond OF
i-wels, but she has in her private pos
session-apart from the treasures of the
rcgaIia which she is entitled to wear on
state occasions-a number of enormously
valuable gems. Probably the jewel she
prizes most is the diamond brooch which
was King Georges first present to her
after they became engaged. at any rate.
she wears it and the diamond necklace
presented to her hy Queen Victoria
oftener than any other Of her jewels.
The necklace has tho foremost place in
her affections for a similar reason. Queen
Victoria having given II tn her on the
occasion of her engagement 10 King
George.
f-hT n
in the Queens collection is the chain of
pearls presented to her majesty on
her marriage by the women of twenty