Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-28
QUEENS
NEAR SOCIAL WAR
Alexandras Court at Marlbor-
ough Outrivals in Cost Her
Daughter-in-Law

London, England, May 2s.-Queen
Alexandra has come out of her long
period OF semi-retirement in a way
that. besides causing no end of talk
In court circles, threatens to cause a
crisis between Marlborough House and
Buckingham Palace.
The ambition with which earlier in
the present reign Queen Alexandra was
credited of entering into competition
with her daughter-in-law and conduct
ing court at Marlborough House
which should rival in splendor and
social eclat that of Queen Mary at
buckingham Palace seemed to have
been stilled in recent months.
Queen Alexandra during the winter
and spring lived very quietly. She
seemed to have no aspirations to cut
social figure, although she always
keeps herself in the public eye by
charitable and more or less official I'M
dertakings which require no expendi-
ture save that of personal effort
1t appears that the real reason for
her abstention from other forms of
activity were financial ones. Last
autumn Sir Digtton Probyn was as
signed to the task of auditing Queen
Alexandra's accounts. He discovered
that the expenses OF keeping up both
Marlborough House and Sandringham
were almost a heavier burden than
her majesty's income could bear. and
that IL she was determined to retain
both residences she must needs live in
comparative quietness and do little !
entertaining.
The prospect was not pleasing to |
her majesty; but she accepted the /
necessity with good grace and most of |
the time since has been living at Sand |
bingham. Although a few intimate |
friends have frequently been guests
there they were entertained in a very
quiet way.
With the advent of summer-like |
weather a few weeks ago it might al
most be said that Queen Alexandra
came out as butterfly from the chry-
sails stage. During the last fortnight
there has been an oUtburst of splendid
and elaborate entertainments at
House. These began
with dinner to the king and queen of
Denmark of a more elaborate and ex-
pensive character than any entertain
mentst given at Buckingham Palace
during the royal visit. The floral dec
orations alone were reputed to have
cost $500 and the cost of the menu of
the dinner was reckoned at SIPS a
plate. while the cost of the state BAN
1uets at Buckingham Palace was reck
Oned at about SIS a plate.
This week Queen Alexandra's sister,
he dowager Empress of Russia, has
arrived at Marlborough House. Prince
Axel Is also a guest there, as we'll as ,
several others, and. with a full staff of
servants and nearly all the members
If the household present, Marlborough
House is fuller, buster and gayer than
{ has been since the late king was
here as the Prince of Wales. Caruso {
S to sing there and one of the most
expensive bands of London is to play
Il dinner every night.
The outburst of expensive entertain
ng at Marlborough House is the cause {
L a good deal of annoyance to King
George and Queen Mary, partly, per- :
aps, because It rather reflects on the
more economical character of the en-
at Buckingham Palace, :
ut also because 1t will, If continued, j
e likely to involve Queen Alexandra d
4 financial difficulties.
Such q prospect is all the more an
Dying TO King George because his
majesty knows quite we'll that Queen
.lexandra is encouraged in her ex- ?
enditures by members of her entour-
ge. who do not like Queen Mary and +
rye upon the queen mother the desir r
bility of providing at Marlborough II
ouse entertainments which shall u
rove to royal and other visitors that b
,yalty in England is not degenerating fc
to bourgeois mediocrity. q
Sir Dighton Probyn occupies the I'M s
lviable position of an adviser who T
els It his duty to set himself in OPP T
,sition to his royal mistress ex- r
He possesses great in 81
renee with Queen Alexandra, of
ho-e household he has been men, S,
II for many years, and>he T. hopeful II
at he may yet bring he to realize 81
at her present course musr lead to
lancial disaster, besides creating in tt
e royal family a highly undesirable Sc
.uation.
Palace and Marl A
rough House are just now fertile
ound for cliques and cabals of court
Is and there is considerable appre- Sc
lasion lest echoes of the rift in the
.e OF royal relations reach the pub
ear.
Society generally has begun TO sus-
ct that something is amiss. particu-
.ly since II began to notice that the Ba
chess OF Portland, who Is queen CO
exandra's mistress of robes. is no tn
lger q frequent attendant at Queen Tv
sxandra's court and stands high in