The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1914-02-07

London. Feb. THE gates are
closed against any more applicants
for presentations to their majesties
at Buckingham Palace this year. The
Lord Chamberlain has announced
that the lists are full, which will
doubtless mean a lot of disappointed
social debutantees from America in
London this season.
Four courts are ordinarily held
each year. two early in February just
after the opening of parliament and
two in late May or early June. Last
year, owing to the large number en-
titled to presentation, fifth was
held, but at such great inconvenience
that II is hoped to avoid a repetition
this year. To these courts all the
official and diplomatic world receive
the command to attend and English
ladies. who themselves have been pre-
scented, have the privilege of asking
for command for some debutantee
friend. 8e
Formerly these commands could
be asked for for a lady not a British
subject and in this way many Am
orleans were presented by English
friends. During King Edwards
reign, however. 1t was decided that
all foreign ladies should be presented
through their embassies. As the EN-
bassies have only four invitations,
outside the diplomatic circle, to
which only ladies of the embassies
and legations and their near relatives
are admitted. 1t is easy to realize the
demand that has been made on the
embassies for the privilege of being
presented. Strictly speaking the
four extra invitations are personal to
the ambassador or minister, but in
some cases requests for presentations
have been made through the authori-
ties of the country which the am
bassador represents.
This question of distributing the
four invitations is one of the most
firing that the social secretary or an
embassy has to deal with. He re-
ceives hundreds of requests. all or
mostly all from people of equal merit,
and must make an early selection.
The rejected are his sworn enemies
thereafter. However, this year he
can point to the Lord Chamberlain's
notification that the lists are full.
Rain or shine Queen Mary must
have her umbrella. the habit being
SO confirmed that she often feels lost
without it indoors. This popularity
has become conspicuous through the
recent incident at Norwich where
the queen insisted upon carrying her
umbrella through a museum whose
rules forbid the taking of walking
sticks or umbrellas into the picture
galleries.
The queen has not been altogether
exempt from criticism for her refusal
to do as other people do in this re-
speet. The socialist papers seized
upon the incident and even in more
conservative quarters the queens
conduct is questioned. The Daily
Sketch asks why Queen Mary. "who
is usually so willing to adapt her.
self to circumstances" would not
temporarily dispense with her UNI
brella when she visited the Norwich
museum. She was willing the paper
points out, to dispense with bouquets
and red carpets. with bows and with
speechmal<ing, since she tried to keep
her identity a secret. but the Bishop /
OF Norwich who accompanied her
had to disclose her identity. in order |
that she could avoid the rule of part |
ing with her umbrella and obtain the /
royal prerogative of walking through |
the museum fully equipped for the \
of the blowing off of the /
Roof eoineiding with heavy show
err"
No matter what the occasion. UNI
less it be some very formal officiall
ceremony, the queen invariably car q