The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-01
Surprising That Recent Royal
Edict Has Caused
Sensation.



OI ALTf'S prejudices against rid
IN ing horseback astride by women,
which led King George to stipu-
tate tnat there should be no riding or
this kind on the occasion Of his state
'ist 10 the great International Horse
snow at the Olympia, in London, last
week. with Queen Mary and the Presi-
oent OF the french republic is moth
ing new. and, under the circumstances
II Is curious that 1t should have Great
ed so much of a sensation For King
as his son, ond during the closing
years of his reign Issued an order for
bidding grown-up women from riding
astride in the Row. In Hyde Park
The order owed its origin to a dis
cussion between himself and Lady
Constance Stewart Richardson, niece
OF the late Duke of Sutherland who
mas lately been disporting herself In
oare-legSed Greek dances on the New
York variety stage. On one occasion
when the late King was staying at
Eaton Hail. as the guest of the Duke
and Duchess OF Westminster. meet
OF the ducal hunt was held on the
lawn In his honor. Lady Constance
tribe. Edward VII. who had known
her ever since she was a child, re-
monstrated with her, whereupon she
replied that even he was powerless
TO stop the practice.
Il can stop 1t in my own parks,
however declared the King. and
forthwith gave the order that no
grown woman riding astride should
be permitted in Hyde Park, or in any
other Of the royal parks of the met
ropolis. For 1t must be thoroughly
understood that although Hyde Park
has been open TO the public since the
reign Of Charles l., il is STILL like ST
James Park. Green Park and Regents
Park, owned by the sovereign, who is
at perfect liberty 10 establish any act
that he sees Mt, no matter now fan
tastic.
Edward VII. for instance. forbade
that any motors driven by gasolene
should be admitted TO the park during
the hours Of four and seven in the af-
ternoon during the season, while II
King George were to decree that no
one could enter Hyde Park. stroll IN
kenstngton Gardens, or ride in Rot
ten Row. unless hareheaded. the pub
lie would be obliged to obey, and TO
remain out Of the park unless they
complied with the rule. Thus, the
regulation which strictly debars any
one from driving in Rotten Row. ex-
cepting the sovereign in person. or
the Duke OF ST Adams. in his capa-
city as hereditary Grand Falcorer of
the realm is not law of the land. but
merely an order issued by the mon
arch and rigidly inforced
King George when he assembled the
throne intimated his intention of
maintaining ir. force his fathers ex-
clusion OF grown women riding astride
in Rotten Row. But ,here has been
during the past eighteen months con-
siderable laNi,y about the matter, and
the King has not seen fit until now
to exact more rigid observance Of
the order. though he has made point
Of refrainins during his daily rides
there with Princess Mary from ac-
knowledging the bows Of women thus
mounted.
The step which he took last week
at the Olympia horse show is calcu-
lated to make more widely known
than heretofore his views about the
question; and it is noteworthy that
they are SO strongly Endorsed By the
Earl OF Lonsdale. president OF the in
ternational Horse Show. and recognized
both in Great Britain and abroad as
the foremost authority on hunting,
riding, driving and on everything con-
nected with hcrsehesh. Lord Ions
Olympia that as long as women were
women. they would find 1t advisable
to ride In wonan's way. that is to
say. on s!dc saddles, and that in or
der TO establish a new practice in the
matter, n wholly new kind OF woman
would have to be created, is bound TO
carry very great weight. indeed. In
fact. Lord Lonsdatc's pronouncemenL
backed up by that of Lady Greenall,
one Of the most amonS riderc 70
hounds in England and by other equal.
" we'll known equestriennes. is call
culated to relieve King Georges or
der last week of the imputation of its
having been called forth by a new de-
velopment of the alleged prudery of
Queen Mary.
It is n strange coincidence, some
what provocative of confusion, that
on the very day last week when young
Lord Stafford became, through his
land. Colonel Francis E. Fitzhcrbert,
who won the Distinguished Service
Order In the Bocr War. should have
become through his uncle's death.
twelfth Lord Stafford. Yet there Is
no connection whatsoever between the
two titles of Stafford. That hitherto
borne by the Duke of Sutherland is
marquisate. which dates from 1856, be-
ing included among the many honors
of the I.eveson- Cover family; whereas
Colonel FitZherberts peerage is bar
ony. which was created by Charles I.
in 1910, in favor Of Sir William How
ard
The name OF Lord Stafford is toler-
ably familiar in the United States,
through tho fact that tho, eighth Lord
Stafford was among thu first Of Brit