The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-09
U. S. DEBUTANTES
WILL BE MOURNFUL
When They Hear That Lists Are Full
for the Year as Far as Presentation
of Their Majesties at Palace
Are Concerned.

4
London, Feb. THE gates are closed
against any more applicants for presen-
tations to their majesties at Bncking.
ham palace this year. The lord cham
berlain has announced that the lists are
| full, which will doubtless mean lot Of
disappointed social debutantes 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, ow-
ing to the large number entitled to pres
entation. fifth swas held, but at such
great inconvenience that it is hoped TO
avoid repetition this year. TO these
courts all the official and diplomatic
world receive the command to attend
and English ladies, who themselves have
been presented, have the privilege OF
asking for command for some debutan-
tie friend.
Formerly these commands could be
asked for a lady not a British subject,
and in this way many Americans We're
presented .by English friends. During
King Edwards reign, however, it was
decided that all foreign ladies should be
presented through their embassies.
As the embassies have only four invita-
tons outside the diplomatic circle, to
which only ladies of the embassies and
legations and their near relatives are adj
mitted, it is easy TO realize the demand
that has been made on the embassies
for the privilege of being presented.
Strictly speaking the four extra invita-
tions are personal to the ambassador
or minister but in some cases requests
for presentations have been made
through the authorities OF the country
which the ambassador represents.
This question of distributing the four
invitations is one of the most trying
that the social secretary or an embassy
has to deal with. He receives 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 ehamberlain's
notification that the lists are full.
Queen Marys Umbrella.
Rain or shine Queen Mary must have
her umbrella. the habit being so con-
firmed that size often feels lost without
ii indoors. This popularity has become
through the recent incident
at Norwich. where the queen insisted
upon carrying her umbrella through
museum whose rules forbid the taking
OF walking sticks or umbrellas into the
picture galleries.
The queen has not been altogether ex
empt from criticism for her refusal to
do as other people do in this respect.
The Socialist papers seized upon the i'm
eident and even in more conservative
quarters the queens conduct iss ques
The Daily Sketch asks why
Queen Mary, who is usually so willing
to adapt herself to circumstances. would
not temporarily dispense with her UNI
brella when she visited the Norwich
She was willing. the papers
point out, to dispense with bouquets
and red carpets, with bows and speech
making, since she tried to keep her iden
titya secret. but the bishop of Norwich,
who accompanied her, had to disclose
her identity in order that she could
avoid the rule OF parting with her UNI
brella and obtain the royal prerogative |
Of walking through the museum fully !
equipped for the possibility Of the blow
ing off of the roof coinciding with
heavy shower"
No matter what the occasion, unless
i be some very formal official ceremony,
the queen invariably carries neatly |
folded umbrella, despite the fact that |
she always drives in covered carriage |
md whenever she stops anywhere a can
lpy is provided. Princess Mary has the |
same umbrella habit as her mother |
Queen Victoria likewise was always seen |
with a parasol or umbrella, but she al
ways had hers open, and it was said |
that il was lined with chain mail to
ward off attempts on her life by bomb
.hrowers.