The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-08-18
ROYAL Etiquette.
In England 1t Assumes a Number
of Curious Phases.
THINGS THE KING CANNOT DO

long to Club and May Not Marry
Without ParIiament's Consent.
1t may sound IL little curious. but
there are quite number of things
which, despite his exalted position rs
sovereign of the realm, King George
V. cannot do. These disabilities range
over all sorts of matters and concern
etiquette, politics, religion and law.
TO begin with etiquette, it is an estab.
lished practice that his majesty must
never call upon or grant an audience
to foreign monarch except in the
presence of a responsible minister.
Etiquette also precludes him from ac-
cepting gift which a loyal subject
may wish to make him. Should, how
ever, the gift be joint Offering the
prohibition does not apply. This en-
ables King George to accept gifts
which are subscribed for by a number
Of people together
A king never writes Il letter to any
body outside his family circle. All
other correspondence has to be con-
Quoted through one of his secretaries.
Nor does King George accept invita-
lions to dine or stop with a subject.
What he does when he wishes to pay
such visit is to invite himself. An
other strictly observed point of ETH
quette is that on ascending the throne
king shall withdraw from any clubs
to which he has hitherto belonged
Similarly he cannot become a Free
Mason, and if he happens to be one at
the date of his ascension he must re-
sign from the craft. King George,
however, has not been initiated.
Even in affairs of the heart sOver-
eign must bow to the will of others.
Although King COphetua might have
loved and shared his throne with Il
beggar maid, the royal marriage act
would render the occurrence of any
such romantic union impossible in Eng
| land. Members of the blood royal
must have the sanction Of parliament
before they can marry, and this would
certainly not be accorded unless the
birth and position of the lady were
beyond reprOach.
An English kings position toward
the law is somewhat peculiar. TheO
retically he is above the law. In prac-
tice, however, he has to obey it, just
as have his subjects. He must OBJ
serve the established legal system of
the country. Any royal proclamation
which lie issues Is only binding in SO
far as it is founded upon an existing
law, 1t cannot alter the common law
or create a new offense, nor can a
king set up private tribunals, such as
the star chamber, or add to the juris
diction of court. By a special act OF
parliament it has also been decided
that if his majesty were to lose an ac
ton brought against him by the reye
nue. authorities he would be liable fol
the payment of costs.
Nv the law of the land the king can
not possibly commit an Offense. Any
injury or wrong suffered by subject
ut his hands has to be attributed tC
the ''miStake of his advisers hence
It happens that King George is the
only person in Great Britain who can
not arrest 4 suspected felon, even Il
such one were to be seen by him en-
tering buckingham palace or Windsor
castle The reason for this Is because
no action for wrongful arrest coulC
lie against him, and therefore II the
person arrested by him We're proved
innocent there would then be Wrons
without remedy. Another legal dis
ability of the king is that he IS barred
of all rights in matters relating to lanC
after lapse of sixty years. He is als'
prohibited from serving on jury O
from giving evidence.
Until so comparatively recent a pc
Rod as 1870 if n subject were convict
ed of treason or felony the king coulC
claim his property. Another lapSe'
prerogative of the crown is one know
as "corody." During its existence
king who wanted to advance the IN
terests of a royal chaplain could com
pei a bishop to support such a clergy
man until benefice had been touh'
for him. Nowadays he has not ever
the right of founding Il bishopric o
, creating ecclesiastical jurisdiction
Similarly he must always be a mem
' Der of the Church of England ant
cannot change his religion.
The theory that the king "relghs
, but does not govern is amply born
out by the political system OF III
country. While the members or pal
: lament are his majestys "falth1u
commons" they have certain PRIV
Ieres which he himself does not pos
, sess. Thus King George can SUNNI -
: or nrorogue parliament at will, but Il
, cannot prolong 1t beyond uelin,'
nerIod. similarly he is absolutely Ut
, barred from imposing any SORT Oh taA
a otiOu whatever without hrst secui ~
: tba consent of parliament. SO Jea
= Ously guarded Is lhlS Pli' -, -, iii
/, king cannot create new officers WI
new fees or annex new fees to eAlS I
ing officers, as such a course Wou.
he considered as imposing fresh Ua'
= In bygone times, however when il,,, a
a English monarch was in want Oh iun y,
q he would levy taxes right ana lel' "n
. .-i+L,,,+ asking ANYBODY.
d The francise does not extend 10 h a,,
d lish monapchs. King George Is ,,, IN
A Of fine few men possessing genuLL
y stake in the country without the PRIV
y ,lera of recording vote - Lo'luo
l. Bellman.
l. God pays, but not every S"'uru"''
'e Alphonse Karr.
q -------