The Washington herald., 1912-04-09
FOREIGN COURT GOSSIP.

1t has been definitely decided TO cance
for this year the King Of Engiands pro
posed state visits TO foreign courts. IL u
known that this is due to the coal situa'
ton. In fact, II has been stated authort'
tatively that every prospective engage
menf which would take the King OUT OF
London was contingent entirely upon I'M
provement of the situation in the laool
world. Among them were the INTENDED
visit last month to the naval college al
Dartmouth and to the Earl Of Derby Al
| Knowsley.
Although neither would involve pro-
longed absence from London. II is now
certain that King George will go te
neither of these places unless the coal
4 strike is absolutely settled. The visit tC
| Dartmouth should have taken place las'
4 year, but had TO be abandoned owing tc
/ an epidemic of measles among the ca
dets. The disappointment at the college
may be imagined IL the visit is 10 DC
postponed again this year.
The projected state visits to foreign
courts were not due for some few weeks
! The King and Queen have 80 many home
| engagements for the coming summer and
autumn that the spring alone remained
available for the foreign tour, and as in
| dustrial peace has not been secured
4
| able.
The custom Of exchanging such state
| visits, which was established by the late
King Edward. is likely to lapse. Visits
to and from foreign sovereigns produce
nc practical results of any lasting value
and they are enormously expensive. Dur
ing the last reign such cost was de-
frayed by the nation. but in future Par
liament has decreed all expenses of this
nature will have TO be paid out Of the
civil list
The attendance at the last court" of
the season at Buckingham Palace eX-
| Ceeded one thousand. Especially large
| was the royal circle. II the dresses worn
at these functions may be taken as a
| criterion of the prevailing fashion In
| evening attire, brocaded materials Of the
most gorgeous description are all the
mode. Most of the royal ladies on the
\ dais were gowned in handsome pat
| termed silk or velvet, and this example
was followed by fully one-half the la
dies present. In many cases the rich
! fabric was shot with gold Nor silver or
| interviewer with metallic tissue. which
gave brilliant effects at each movement
| by the wearcr.
The royal circle comprised. besides the
King and Queen, Princess Henry OF Bat
tenDefg, Win HTlnCeS maurice ana Alex
ander of Battenberg. Prince Arthur of
Connaught, Princess Marie Louise OF
| SChleswig- -Holstein. the Duchess of Al
bany, Prince and Princess Alexander of
| Teck, and Prince and Princess Louis of
Battenberg. The Queen looked very
handsome in gown of cloth OF sill
yer. with an overdress OF pearl and dia-
mond embroidery. and a train Of Indian
gauze with silver embroidered border
I Ia
crown. ornaments of the same gems. and
the Order of the Garter and Family Or
ders. The King appeared in the uniform
of colonel-in-chief of the Royal Horse
Guards
The Duchess of Devonshire. as mistress
of the robes. was in attendance upon
the Queen. and was attired in black. and
Lady Crewe once more undertook the
duty OF naming distinguished people to
their majesties.
The prime minister was accompanied
by Mrs. Asquith and most all members
OF the cabinet were present. Lady
Crewe made the presentations on behalf
OF Sir Edward Grey. who attended.
wearing the insignia OF the Order OF the
Garter, conferred upon him recently by
King George.
The Duke and Duchess Of Northumber-
some years. were both present, and the
duchess presented Lady Percy. her sons
wife. Lady Percy's magnificent bro
caded robe showed design of gold suns
upon a silver ground and had a train of
rose pink velvet falling from the shoul-
ders. A diamond crown was poised on
her faxen coiffure. and countless dia-
monds sparkIed on her neck and corsage
Beautiful old lace fell in cascades over
h,-
Florence WIlIoughby. Lady Talbot pre-
sented Miss Talbot. and wore a dress
composed entirely OF black lace. and
Lady Emma Crichton. in white satin
with chains of diamonds on the corsage.
presented her daughter on her marriage
One OF the handsomest women present
was Lady Edmonstone. attired in gold
and white brOcade. the skirt of cleaning
cloth OF gold. and her mauve train was
bespangled with glIttering beads and Sc
quins. Another effective white and gold
gown was worn by Lady Lilford. Vere-
tian lace draping the skirt. Lady Hoth-
field favored white satin with a black
velvet manteau de cOur. Gertrude Lady
Penrhyn chose a toilette in which Span
ish lace and jet were allied to white
satin.
Mrs Lewis Harcourt wore a handsome
dress of black and gold brocade. the bid
ICE IN UldnOnuS. with 2
train OF black velvet. lined with gold, and
pearl ornaments. Lady MaccIesfield who
was presented on her marriage. wore
white velvet covered with old Honiton
lace. mourning for the late countess be-
ing indicated by the bands OF black VEL
vet which outlined her silver brocaded
train.
Lady Dalkeith wore black and silver.
with Indian embroidery. giving a bizarre
effect to her rich blue and black train
Her daughter. Lady Margaret Scott. was
a debutante, simply dressed in white
satin. Miss Butler WIS another young
girl making her first appearance at court
under her mothers wing. Lady Arthur
Butler who appeared in a mauve and
gold dress. and Lady Askwith was a
wearer of blue and gold brocade. the
same heavy fabric forming her train.
Lady Cawdor. who was presented on
her husbands succession to the earIdom.
.EaN