The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-20

UEEN MANY mas decided 10 re-
IN vive the state concerts. whicn
~ were a feature of the reign Of
Queen Victoria. but which We're
| abandoned by her son and successor.
Queen Mary. like Queen Victoria, APP
preciates the fact that there are a
peeresses. retired ambassadors and
amba adresses, veteran generals and
! admirals, and white and grey-halred
people. who. as former distinguished
servants OF the crown. and Of the gov
eminent, have some claim to attention
on the part OF the sovereign, and yet
whom 1t is foolish TO invite 10 state
balls. seeing that their dancing days : re
long since over, and that they are mere
! ~ in the way of the younger element.
II is hardly any compliment TO invite
them to a State ball which they do not
enjoy. whereas they were wont 10 take
were held by Queen Victoria through
out her reign. foi their particular
benefit.
When she was on the throne. there
were two OF these state concerts every
season, for the older people. alternating
with two and sometimes three state
balls for the younger element: neither
OF them interfering in any way with
the afternoon drawing rooms, which
have now been converted into post
prandial courts.
Both Queen Mary and her husband
are OF the opinion that by means OF
=
Will diminish the great crush which
has characterized the State balls at
Buckingham Palace since Queen Vic
toria's death. and at the same time
will afford much satisfaction to
very important class of people. who
We're rather neglected during tho reign
of Edward VII
At the State concerts. which Will in
the future, as formerly, take place in
the State ball room. a very stately
apartment. 1879 feet long, sand broad in
proportion. full court dress is worn.
just in the same way as at the courts.
and State balls. The general company
will take their places without regard
| to precedence or rank. after the am
bassadors and ambassadresscs. the
ministers pienipotent!ary. and their
| conducted to their seats. IL Is only
then that the royal procession enters.
led by the lord chamberlain. the lord
steward or the household, tho master
OF the household, and It's comptroller.
white wands of Office in hand. walk
Ing backwards, that ~ TO say, facing
the sovereign. and the other royal
! ties comprised in the procession.
The seats of the King and Queen
and Of the princes and princcsses OF
the blood. are situated in the front
row of the audience. slightly in adj
vance of the rest AS soon as they
have taken their places, tho concert
begins, the Instrumental music being
furnished usually by the soveroign's
private band. in their picturesque uni
forms, The vocal portion of the pro-
Eramme consists or solos duets by
operate stars, whose honorarious for
the occasion have always been eX-
trcmoly small. II being considered that
their principal remuneration consisted
in the advertisement which thcy de-
rived from tho official announcement
that they had received royal com
mands" to sing before the sovereign
at a State concert Indeed the hon
orarium, even TO the greatest artis-
ties, used TO range between $50 and
800.
One of the most bitterly resented
penalties suffered by Patti FOR her as
sociation with Nicollnl. before they
were free to wed. was the refusal by
Queen Victoria to permit her to sing
at any OF these State concerts at which
she had previously been the bright
particular feature. Queen Victoria de-
clined throughout her life to sanction
the so widely accepted theory that the
possession of genius or OF unique
gifts, warrants the defiance OF tho
proprieties of life. and the conyen-
tons of society.
The artistes almost invariably re-
ceived. in addition to their hon
orarium, gift of jewelry from the
eovereigm. But although they were
usually addressed at tho close of the
concert by the principal royal person
ages present. and complimented, yet
they were vigorously separated from
the remainder of the guests, with
whom they are not permitted TO min
to understand that they have no such
right as the invited guests. each or
whom was Obliged to have been pre-
d.