The Washington herald., 1913-03-29

Copyright. 1913. by Court Gossip Syndicate,
Not even a proposal of marriage causes
the same fiutter in the heart of the
young English society girl as is occa-
stoned by the reception of the large
cream, gold-edged card. informing her
that she is commander by the King
and Queen TO present herself at court
upon a specified evening. This is signed
by the Lord Chamberlain. now Lord
Sandhurst and is accompanied by min
ute instructions as TO the dress to be
worn. the manner Of arrival and de-
parture from the palace and so forth
The debutante is informed. for ex-
ample, that the skirt OF her gown should
extent behind not less than fifteen inches
on the ground. that the regulation length
| OF her train is three yards from her
shoulders. and that its width at the end
! should be fifty-four inches. She Is like
wise ordered to wear three white feath-
ers mounted as Prince OF Wales
plumes the center feather being little
| higher than the two on the side. TO be
| worn slightly to the left OF the head,
with a tulle veil attached to the base
OF the feathers. The VEIL it Is added,
should not be longer than forty-five
inches.
1t is essential for the debutante to
wear white, and in all eagerness she
hurries OF to court dressmaker to
| order her gown. The cost of this ranges
| from thirty guineas up to hundred or
so. fifty or sixty pounds being the aver
age. At times this sum is considerably
exceeded. and it is currently stated that
when the present Marchioness OF Clewe'
then Miss Margaret Primrose. younger
daughter Of the Earl Of Rosebery. was
privately presented to the late Queen
Victoria her dress cost ESQ.
When the all-important night arrives.
| the debutante is simply in a whirl She
| has some vague idea that she is being
clothed in gorgeous raiment and of being
| rapidly driven TO the fore-court of the
| palace. BY this time she is like one in
dream. and the story OF Cinderella
| comes unbiddcn to her mind. There is
| the glare of light. and respondent
| individual in navy blue and gold la e,
| the royal household colOrs. is demanding
| the tickets that her chaperon bears. COR
| ought to bear, though the number OF
| times these vouchers are forgotten is
| surprisingly Then she passes up the
great red-carpeted staircase of Bucking-
ham Palace. lined by the yeomen of the
| guard in their quaint. old-fashioned
garb. with their shining alberts, stand
| ing motionless as statues. The throng
| about her serves in some measure 10
put her at her ease. especially II She
meets one or two whom she is ac-
| quainted.
| There is a halt here while the ladies
are marshaled in due order to enter the
| adjacent ballroom. where the presenta-
| tion takes place. The Gentlemen-at-
\ arms have now taken the place Of the
| ''beefeaters" and II is possible. as the
massive doors are flung open now and
| again. to gain view of the gorgeous
,ttI,t hA Il alNtsrl anita
hears her name called and that of the
| lady escorting her. II has often been
confessed that the girl has an over
whelming desire to turn and bolt precipi-
| lately down the stairs she has just
ascended. However. there is the smiling
face of the marshal OF the ceremonies
confronting her. who takes her ''presen-
tation card and reads II over.
Then the doors are flung open once more
and her card is passed on to various Off
cials until it reaches the master of Cere-
monies who is stationed close TO the foot
Of the throne. and who announces the
debuante in a tone that reverberates
through the vast apartment. She sees Il
congregation Of people in front Of her.
the ladies sparkling with gems and in
gowns of almost every hue. In the CEN
ter Of the theater is the King. usually in
military uniform. the Queen by his side,
with the star and ribbon of the Garter.
Almost involuntarily she curtsies, but
probably not in the graceful and diEnihed
manner that she has been rehearsinS
several weeks. and is then tremendously
ordered out. either 70 return to the back
of the room to witness further presenta-
tions or to hurry into the supper room.
ad joining to take such refreshment as
the ordeal through which she has just
passed demands. IL is only then that she
realizes that she has actually appeared
before the Kng and Queen. and that she
is at length a court lady.
Debutantes actually have tainted be-
fore presentation. but in such case there
Is always a staff Of female attendants
present to render assistance, while the
male officials on duty, having had long
experience OF these occasions, are kind
ness itself, and in the case of obvious
nervousness do their utmost To put the
debutante at her ease.
Once the presentation is over. 1t is free
to those who attend either to depart i'm
mediately or to remain at their will. Sup
per Is served cold. save In the case or
the royal circle and those especially in