The Washington herald., 1911-08-11
FOREIGN TOPICS.

King George, unlike his late father
plays the part OF listener rather than
talker at the dinner table. The rule
by the way. that no guest should touch
upon a subject in conversation that
had not been introduced first by the
King or Queen, has been abolished re-
Gently and is no longer observed. Clever
and amusing anecdotes about prominent
people find favor at the royal table, pro-
vided the stories are not ill-natured, but
the narrator must be brief and his yarn
must be we'll told.
1t is not generally known that at n
private dinner party the King and Queen
always are addressed as "sIr" and mad
anne" never as your majesty"
Earl Darlington, the lord great cham
berlain. whose duty 1t was to care for
the visiting royalties at the coronation
did his duty we'll despite his sixty-eight
years. The success of the great state
banquet under his direction is ascribed
to the fact that the aged lord is a
strong believer in the theory that good
cookery Is one OF the secrets of do
mestic happiness" Lord Darlington
otherwise exceedingly popular He is a
model landlord. man who always has
used the advantages of his wealth and
high position for the benefit OF the COM
munity at large
incidentally, he is the only peer who
derives his entire income from agricul.
ture During the last parliamentary
campaign it was he who made the re-
mark: Il let my tenants farm as they
like, shoot what they like, pay when
they like. and vote as they like" He is
great believer in girls learning how
10 cook Lady Carrington." he is fond
OF saying. has looked after our house
and given me and the family a most
excellent dinner every day since our
marriage good many years ago" II
every other wife would strive to do the
same, We should hear less about unhap-
py marriages. No wonder the King has
made such man his first chamberlain
and household adviser.
From the visit Of the German Emperor
up to these July days when the last of
the royal guests who attended the coro-
nation depart. the King and Queen OF
q
royalties. each of whom had to be enter
tnined sumptuOusly, each expecting his
share of personal attention. Fortunate
ly. it is an unwritten law that crowned
heads do not attend the coronation OF
another monarch in person, which cur
tails the responsibility of hospitality.
English royal palaces provide ample
space for the visiting prnCely guests.
and they compare well with the most
sumptuous in Europe as regards th- ex-
cellence OF their furnishings But It
would he quite impossible, in the ordi-
nary sense of the word, for King George
to act as host to each of the royal
guests. During coronation time that was
any way. out Of the question. So COM
plete were the domestic arrangements,
however, and the army of officials and
servants schooled, that each guest
was assured of such attention and COM
fort as though his entertainment had
been the special care of his hosts.
Each guest breakfasted in the suite OF
apartments assigned to him, spending
the morning hours in whatever way he
fancied. That was essentially a ''go-as-
time until luncheon-a time
of informality. In fact, it was only at
luncheon that the King and Queen met
their guests the first time for the day.
Luncheon, although little less elaborate
than dinner. is perhaps the most enjoy
able meal of the day. 1t partakes more
OF the nature OF a merry family gather
ing-all ceremonial is discarded But din
ner which is served at nine. is very
different tnatter, hedged around with
every circumstance of courtly ceremonial.
The very laying of the dinner table is
a process of stately formality. First
come the ''upholsterers," whose function
it is to See that the table is properly
placed, and able to bear its priceless bur-
den of gold and silver plate. Then fol-
low the "table-deckers,' who prepare it
for the banquet-lay the cloth of finest
damask, embroidered with the rose,
and thistle. and equip the table
with all the marvels of glass and cutlery
and flowers in preparation for the 'yeo-
men of the silver pantry" who place the
gorgeous plate in position.