The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-13
Old Feature Of London Season,
Abandoned Years Ago,
Resumed.
ny IA MARarIsE DE FoNTENoY.

ny IA MNRQtISE DE FONTE.NON.
IT. Queen Mary Is ascribed the of
hCially announced determination
of the King TO revive the state
concerts a buckingham Palace, which
were regular feature OF the London
season throughout the sixty odd years
OF Ecien Of Queen Victoria. hut which
were abandoned after King Edward
succeeded TO the throne, and have not
been resumed since. The Queen. who
IS extremely fond OF dancing. has
found reason 10 complain OF The very
large number OF persons attending the
eou-t balls at Buckingham Palace
who 90 not dance, and VINO get in
ine way % those VINO do. ! has been
explained 10 her that they were pres
ant or past officials OF the court and
eoye-I.i,.en". Wig, as such, have
species =. I:.written right TO an in
y!tet!on 10 a least one entertainment
& year al Buckingham Palace, most
IS men and women Of more than ma
iure age. and therefore not even dec
orative as wallhowers.
When queen Victoria was on the
throne all this class We're dealt with
by means OF invitations 10 one or
other OF the TWO or three state con
certs, which were always followed by
q buffet supper for the ncnroya!
guests, and BY seated supper n an
other room for the royalties and for
the ambassadors. This enabled tho
Queen 10 restrict her commands 10
the state balls to the Younger genera
ton The Queen never attended these
state concerts herself after becoming
a widow, being Invariably represented
by her eldest son the then Prince of
Wales. H. made no Secret OF the fact
that ne thought these concerts a
dreadful bore, in spite OF the fine
music mainly because the guests were
nearly all elderly, portly inclined TO
pomposity, and lacking in elegance
and the praces OF youth, and that IS
why he abolished them with the re-
suit that the state balls became over
crowded
Now, however, the good old practice
is TO b. resumed The concerts Will
as usual take place in tn" great bali
room at Buckingham Palace. At the
upper end OF which there is dais
OF gallery for the orchestra. at the
back OF which is n magnificent organ
The ballroom is superb apartment
OF great size. with AN iniaid polished
floor. and possessed OF most perfect
acoustic properties
The invitations Will IS formerly be
issued BY the Lord Chamberlain. ir
the form of cards, stating that he {.
commanded by the King TO invite sucf
and SUCH & person The men who at.
tend must wear uniform or court drcs.
with knee hreeches. while the womer
are dispensed the necessity OF wear.
ing those long trains which are q.
rigueur at the courts, the dresses be
ing. OF course decollcte ana sleeveless
Tho guests have all taken their plac,
before the royal procession enters
and Il is only when the concert 8.
over and wntie the royal procession I.
reforming and slowly passing from
one end Of the ballroom TO the other
on its way 20 supper. that the mem
hers thereof have the opportunity o
according friendly word or two 1,
those OF the guests who happen TO b
nearest the centre aisle.
The artists have no opportunity q
iningi!ng with the guests They ar
herded strictly apart, and are give
supper in a private room. The rcaso
for this Is that In order TO. be invite
TO state concert, as TO q state bal
1t Is n sine qua non that ono shoul
have been previously officially pre-
scented. either at a court or at q leve,
private presentations being Of no avail
In fact, during Queen yictoria's re!g
there have been women whom sh