Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-12-06
AMERICAN EDITORS ARE GUESTS
Of ROYALTY IN GREAT BRITAIN
Journalists Are Entertained by King George and Queen Mary at
Sandrngham-Wory About Clothes Is Soon Set at Rest
King Upsets the Arranged Program and Has
Bully Day With His Visitors.

London.--The American editors on
tour of England were notified, after n
round of rather severe social enter
tninmcnts and Of dutiful attendance
upon various political functions, that
King George and Queen Mary would
be grnciously pleased to receive them
at Sandringham on Sunday, October
13. 1t was Intimated that 1t was n
most unusual concession, for his
majesty and his court preferred to oh
serve the traditions nndS keep them
selves to themselves, apart from the
formalities of their positions, nj their
country seat-on the Sabbath day, ut
least.
Sandringham Is the summer home or
royalty, about one hundred miles from
London on the eastern const near the
sea. II had been acquired and devel-
oped by, King Edward, and was his
private estate, the location of his fine
racing stables and splendid gardens,
and It Is now the permanent residence
Of his widow, Queen Alexandra. The
first group of American magazine and
periodical editors and writer's, through
Il coincidence now In London, were
also included In the royal command,
and together all were to 90, furnish
Ing for his majesty his first personal
view of composite American Journal
ism. The proposed audience, 1t was
limited by those who arranged II, was
substantial and convincing evidence of
the high interest of the king In the
forthcoming entente between the two
great English-speaking nations, One
hears much on that fruitful subject
iust now In England.
Editors Worry About Clothes.
The first result Of the royal invita-
tion was to throw the grntiied editors
into Il ilutter of discussion about the
kind Of dress needed for court pres
entntl0n The ministry of nforma-
tiOn, which has the journalists In
charge, gravely Informed them, how
ever that II was to be no formal Oc-
cas0n but social and unofficial visit
AT the weekend TO Sandrlnghain, nnd
that nobody need TO lie awake O'nights
worrying about whether to wear Il
high hat and morning dress, or the
usual work-a-day suit of the average
American. But the decision Of the
ministry did not entirely settle this
Important matter, nor did the minis
try itself adhere to It's ruling for In
formallty. Some ofllclous parsonage
came hurriedly from headquarters and
announced that II would be strictly
de rigeur to wear top hat and n
cutaway, and other such apparel.
After due arrangements had been
made to accord with this latest de-
cison as TO the correct thing In court
fashions, some one higher In authority
al the last moment gave out final word
that everybody might dress as he
pleased, but that the king would un-
doubtedly prefer to see his guests In
the costumes they ordinarily wear at
home. The controversy being 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 aus
piclous. Great news had just come
out of Germany to the effect that she
had decided to capltulate, after four
years and more of war, and II was to
be supposed that the atmosphere
about Sandringham would be most con.
genial for fluctuations. There nre no
Sunday papers worth the name in
Great Britain. but the king. of course
had his own private information about
the happy turn OF events. A royal
messenger was indeed In the train
which bore the % Americans to Sand
bingham. His office was to tell King
George what he already knew.
King upsets Program.
The journey to Sandringham was
taken In special train, under n semi
cloudy sky, through lovely land
scape. There was glimpse Of the
famous college town Of Cambridge
and Of the historic cathedral at Ely.
The party arrived at the Sandrlngham
station reserved for the guests Of roy
atty about two o'clock and found
waiting there three spick and span
carryals. There had meanwhile been
received from the major dom0 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 au.
gust presence separately and was to
remain not more than ten minutes. 1t
was expected that his majesty would
have had quite enough In that brief
period. But Ii proved that this thought
of the courtiers who seek to decide
just who shall be privileged to bask
In the smiles of royalty, and how long,
was erroneous. For the king upset
the entire program and had bully"
day with his visitors. as Mr.. RoOse-
welt might call it: so did his family.
All ceremonies were quickly waived
and forgotten, and everybody had n
grand time.
Sandrlngham Is noble estate with
fine drives, spacious lawns, prodigal
greenery and occasional lakes ana
ponds. Queen Alexandra. the mother
of the king, occupied the Castle"
which Is no castle at oil, but fine
country house. The king dwells, dur
ing his stay there, In comparatively
modest place called York cottage.
Here he rests for several weeks In the
APPOINT FRUlT-DRYlNG BOARD