The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-06

Here " lSs
 The American editors, on tour of Eng land, were notified, after a round of trather severe social entertainments, and
 of dutiful attendance upon various po-
 litical functions, that King George and
 Queen Mary would be graciously pleased
 to receive them at sandringham on. Sun day, October 1s. It was intimated that it was most unusual concession. for
 His Majesty and his court preferred to observe the traditions and keep them selves to themselves, apart from the formalities of their positions, at their country seat, on the Sabbath day. at least
 Sandringham is the summer home of royalty, about one hundred miles from London an the eastern coast, near the sea- It had been acquired and devel- oped by King Edward. and was his private estate. the location of his fine rac cling stables and splendid gardens, and 1t is now the permanent residence of his widow, Queen Alexandra. The first group of American magazine and periodical editors and writers, through a coinci- dence now in London, were also included in the royal command, and together all were to go, furnishing for His Majesty his first personal view of composite American Journalism. The proposed au- dience, it was hnted by those who ar ranged it, was substantial and convinc- ing evidence of the high interest of the king in the forthcoming entente be- tween the two great Engllsh-speaking nations. One hears much on that fruit ful subject just now in England.
 The first result of the royal invita- tion was to throw the gratified editors into a flutter of discussion about the kind of dress needed for court presenta- tion The ministry of information. which has the Journalists In charge, gravely informed them, however, that it was to be no formal occasion but a social and unofficial visit at the weekend to Sand ringham, and that nobody need to lie awake o'nights worrying whether to wear a high hat and morning dress, or the usual work-a-day suit of the average American But the decision of the min istry did not entirely settle this impor- tant matter, nor did the ministry itself adhere to it's ruling for informality. Some officious parsonage came hurried ly from headquarters and announced that it would be strictly de rigeur to wear top hat and cutaway, and other such apparel. After due arrangements had been made to accord with the latest deci- sion as to the correct thing in court fash ions, someone higher in authority at the last moment gave out the final word that everybody might dress as he pleased, but that the king would undoubtedly prefer to see his guests in the costumes they ordinarily wear at home- The contro- versy being thus happily concluded. the editors started off for sandringham in the garb which each of them, thought best suited to his style of beauty. For the most part, silk hats went by the board
 The time of the visit was most auspi- cious. Great news had just come out of Germany to the effect that it had decided to capituiate, after four years and more of war. and it was to be SUD- posed that the atmosphere about Sand felctations. There are no Sunday pa- pers worth the name in Great Britain, but the kirS, or course, had his private information about the happy turn of events. A royal messenger was indeed on the train which bore the 23 Ameri- cans to Sandringham His office was to tell King George what he already knew.
 The journey to Sandringham was talk en in a special train, under semi cloudy sky, through lovely landscape There was a glimpse of the famous col lege town of Cambridge. and of the his toric cathedral at Ely The party ar rived at the Sandringham station. re- served for the guests of royalty, about o'clock. and found waiting there three spick and-span carryalls There had domo of the ministry specific instructions as to how the party was to be received. They were to be divided into three groups, and each of them was to enter the august presence separately, and was to remain not more than 10 minutes. 1t was expected that his majesty would have had quite enough in that brieh pe- riod But 1t proved that this thought of the courtiers who seek to decide just who shall be privileged to bask in the