The Washington herald., 1912-08-02

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ace nan be carried out successfully only
by dint Of the most careful orsanisa-
ton and forethousht. AZ an example,
take the courts that are held there each
season. The first step 10 for the Lord
Chancellor to issue the ofiicfal notice.
usually about the end Of the year. that
a certain number Of courts will be held
and that all ladies desiring to be pres
ent should so notify him before q GER
tain date
I Immediately application from those
who are anxious to make their bow be-
fore the King and Queen begin to pour
in upon the Lord Chancellor at his ONCE
in Stable Yard, st. James Place, until
of late years It has been invariably
found necessary to close the lists long
before the appointed day. 1t is then
that the real work commences. Each
letter has to be examined very care
fully, the social status OF the writer as
certained, and host of other matter
gone into. Facts known to a mans most
intimate friends somehow are in posses
sion Of Buckingham Palace. How these
are discovered is one OF the royal Sc
crets which never are revealed. All
inquiries proving satisfactory, the name
Is entered Of those duly qualified to re-
ceive their majesties' Command to
be present at their court. &C.
When all of the application thus have
been dealt with, the Lord Chamberlain
and his force are confronted with the
fact that there are several hunderd more
names upon the lists than possibly can
De cared for at the palace. Roughly
speaking, not more than 1000 persons can
De present at such function, which
means that only about 400 presentations
can conveniently be made. Therefor the
strung out of names has to be under
taken and this is about the most thank
less TASK that possibly could be imagined.
When, after some weeks of hard work.
this is done, the lists are forwarded 10
the King and Queen for approval. It is
not generally known, but 1t Is a fact.
nevertheless. that both go over the lists
very carefully. making alterations, remov-
ing persons whom for weighty reasons
they do not care to recognize. and adding
names that may have been omitted. The
latter Is often done. however.
Then the lists are returned carefully
sealed TO the Lord Chamberlain with
the royal initials on the foot of each page.
Next they are scrutinized once more in
order that so far as possible the ladies
whose names have passed muster may
De commanded" 20 that court which
they have Indicated as most convenient
to themselves. This finished. the highly
priced pieces of cardbord are filled In,
signed by the Lord Chamberlain. receive
the official seal of his department, and
are dispatched to their fortunate address,
ees. The old custom still is adhered TO
OF sending them by messenger. II the
persons are in London. small army
Of footmen are impressed for this serv-
ice.
With the approaching OF a court the
department of the master Of the house.
hold becomes a busy hive of industry.
II 1t be the first court of the
season. The whole OF the state apart
ments at buckingham Palace have to
be most carefully overhauled and pre-
pared for the eventful night The throne
has to be brought forward, removed from
the sheeting that have incIosed II sew
eral months, and given a general re.
Carpets have 20 be unrolled
and inspected to see II moth or other
insects have commenced their ravages
Carloads of plants and flowers pour
into the palace from the royal nurseries
at Frogmore and have TO be arranged
while the preparations for the serving
Of supper for between l.00O and 100
guests, royal officials on duty, &C. is in
itself no light task.
The supper for the general company Is
now all cold. though there are dainty
cups OF hot, clear soup ready for service
to the guests as they depart. There is.
IL 4.
vided for the King and Queen and the
other members of the royal family. as
well as for a few of the more distinguish
ed guests present whom their majesties
specially desire to honor. This royal sup
per is served in the ante-room, which
stands at one end OF the throne room,
being gained to It directly be-
hind the throne. There is also another
hot supper provided downstairs for the
royal household in attendance. to which
each member has the privilege of in
viting two guests.
The whole of the cold supper is pre-
pared in the kitchen of Windsor Castle
being sent up to Buckingham Palace on
the morning of the court. The hot
dishes, however, are prepared at the
palace itself under the personal supervis-
ion of the royal chef. Mr.. Cedard The
wines comes from St. James Palace.
where the royal cellars are still main-
tanned. There is a complete bottling
plant there where the still wines are
bottled for use at the royal table.
Queens, as a rule. make it their busi-
ness before the opening of the functions
to personally inspect all the arrange
ments, to satisfy themselves that there
is nothing lacking for the comfort or
of the guests. This is done
by Queen Mary also, and now and then
even the King takes a stroll through the
great suite of reception rooms to watch
the progress of the arrangements or to
make suggestion
1t is no small matter to marshal the
stream of debutantes and those
who are to present them as they arrive.
This duty is undertaken by the marshal
OF the ceremonies, assisted by strong
of officials of the Lord
deDartment on dufy The