The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-04-04
ROYAL ETIQUETTE.
In ENGLAND It Assumes a Number
of Curious Phases. ~.

III 1ll9IQttN ~ oooIlsliVo q NA'1SSs
of Curious Phases.
THINGS THE KING CANNOT Do
He Is Barred From Accepting Gifts
From individuals, He Must Not Be-
long to Club and May Not Marry
Without Pariiament's Consent. sd
1t may sound little curious, but
there are quite number OF things
which. despite his exalted position us
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 estaD-
lished practice that his majesty must
never call upon or grant an audience
to a foreign monarch except in the
presence Of a responsible minister
Etiquette also precludes him from ac
cepting a gift which loyal subject
NAV wish to make him. Should. how
ever. the gift be joint offering the
prohibition does not apply. This ell
ables King George to accept gifts
which are subscribed for by number
Of people together.
\ king never writes 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-
tions to dine or stop with a subject.
What he does when he wishes to pay
such a visit is to invite himself An
other strictly observed point OF efi-
uuctte is that on ascending the throne
a 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 &
besgar maid. the royal marriage ac1
would render the occurrence OF any
such romantic union impossible in Eng
land Members of the blood roya
must have the sanction of parliament
before they can marry, and this woult
certainly not be accorded unless th'
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. jus
as have his subjects. He must OBJ
serve the established legal system o
| the country. Any royal proclamation
which he issues is only binding in 81
far as it is founded upon an existing
law It cannot alter the common Law
or create new offense. nor can
king set up private tribunals, such a
the star chamber. or add to the jurfs
diction of a court By a special act o
parliament it has also been decides
that If his majesty were to lose an &C
ton brought against him by the reve
nue. authorities he would be liable 70
the payment of costs. IT. q, .t,-t
BY the law of the land the king car
not possibly commit an ofense. An
injury or wrong suffered by a subjec
at his hands has to be attributed
the mistake of his advisers" henc
1t happens that King George is th
only person in Great Britain who car
not arrest a suspected felon. even
such one were to be seen by him e1
tering Buckingham palace or Windsc
castle. The reason for this is becaus
no action for wrongful arrest coul
lie against him. and therefore If th
person arrested by him were prove
innocent there would then be wron
without remedy Another legal di
ability OF the king is that he is barre
of all rights in matters relating to Ian
after a lapse of sixty years. He is ais
prohibited from serving on jury {
from giving evidence
Until so comparatively recent Il p
Rod as 1870 II subject were convic
ed Of treason or felony the king coul
. claim his property. Another lapse
prerogative of the crown is one know
as "corody." During it's existence
king who wanted to advance the il
terests of royal chaplain could cor
pei bishop to support such a scierg
! man until benefice had been four
for him. Nowadays he has not eve
1 the right of founding bishopric
creating ecclesiastical jurisdictio
Similarly he must always be meI
Der of the Church of England al
cannot change his religion.
The theory that the king reign
but does not govern is amply borl
; out by the political system of Il
:. country. While the members of pa
lament are his majesty's ''faithf
commons" they have certain pri,
, leges which he himself does not pc
. sess. Thus King George can SUNNI,
or prorogue parliament at will. but
cannot prolong it beyond defini
, period. Similarly he is absolutely q
, barred from imposing any sort Of ia
alton whatever without first securil
the consent Of parliament So je,
. ously guarded Is this privilege that
. king cannot create new officers wi
new fees or annex new fees to ext
ing officers. as such course wou
, be considered as imposing fresh ia
!. In bygone times. however. when
English monarch was in want Of fun
he would levy taxes right and left a