Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-02

London, Dec. T.-No more regal setting
ever had been arranged in Buckingham
Palace than that which greeted Presi-
dent Wilson and Mrs. Wilson when they
were escorted into the banquet hall to-
night for the precedent breaking state
dinner.
Every royal formallty which has
attended epochal occasions at the palace
for two or three hundred years was
carried out before and during the ban
quet. President Wilson with Queen
Mary led the procession into the dining
hall, preceded by officials of the palace
splendidly costumed, bearing wands and
walking backwards and making obeisance
to the guests.
PRESIDENT AND QUEEN MARY
Immediately behind the President and
the Queen came King George and Mrs.
Wilson. They We're followed by members
Of the royal family.
AT the head Of the table 10 persons
were seated with King George in the
middle. President Wilson sat at the
Kings right and Mrs. Wilson to his left.
To the right of President Wilson was
Queen Mary and then the French ambas-
sador, Princess Christian, the Spanish
ambassador and Princess Patricia, daugh-
ter of the Duke of Connaught. At Mrs.
Wilson'S left sat Princess Mary, the
italian ambassador, Princess Beatrice
and the Japanese ambassador in the
order named.
The American ambassador. John w.
Davis, had the first place at a side rec
tangular table on President Wilson's
right.
Prior to the dinner President and Mrs.
Wilson were escorted from their apart
ments to the great white draw wing room.
where the royal family had gathered
with their other guests. These guests
We're presented to President and Mrs.
Wilson and the dinner party Immediately
proceeded to the dining hall.
A SCENE OF SPLENDOR
The scene as the guests proceeded to
the hall was one of splendor. In the
dining salon was a great collection OF
solid gold plate and huge gold ornaments
valued at fifteen million dollars. These
had been brought from the vaults for the
occasion. One of these buffets con-
tanned pieces of plate too large or other
wise too cumbersome for use. These in
Guided one piece of great size taken from
the wreck of the Spanish armada.
In color the gold laden table blended
wit the decorations In the hall, which
are white and gold with crimson carpet
and upholstering to match. The crimson
effect was further carried out by the ex-
elusive use Of poinsettias as floral decora-
lions. In the balcony at the end of the
room was Il military orchestra, 1t was
not hidden from view by floral or other
decorations. The attendants were in
full state dress, which was heavy with
gold lace.
HALLWAY A BLOCK LONG
The banquet hall, which is 200 feet
long by Is feet wide, was approached
by the guests through a state hallway
approximately a block long. richly fur
nlshed and decorated with paintings and
porcelain. The banquet hall occasionally
is used for banquets and other purposes.
and has a throne at one end.
The main table was arranged SO that
the backs of President Wilson and King
George were toward the throne.
The permanent decorations seemed
strikingly simple when compared with
the regal table. The only art on the walls
was one gobelin tapestry. On each side
six cut glass chandeliers hung from the
extremely high ceiling, but for the ban
quet tonight 12S candles In gold Candida
bra, each surmounted by n pink silk
shade, were used. Other light was
obtained from fancy wall fixtures.
The general body of the guests pre-
ceded the royal family and the presi-
dental and ambassadorial guests into the
banquet hall. They rose and remained
standing while the main guests and the
hosts entered in procession. Heading
the procession was the lord chamberlain
and the lord steward and other officials
in state regal!a. Yeomen of the guard
In red Elizabethan costumes and with hall
herds were In attendance.
THE KINGS SPEECH
In his speech az the state banquet to
President Wilson at buckingham Palace,
King George said:
This is an historic moment and your
visit marks an historic epoch. Nearly
$50 years have passed since your re-
public began its independent life and
now, for the first time. a President of the
United States is our guest in England.
1--WE welcome you to the country
whence came your ancestors and where
stand the homes of those from whom
sprang Washington and Lincoln. We
welcome you for yourself, as one whose
insight, calmnes and dignity In the dis
charge of his high duties we have watched
with admiration. We see In you the
happy union of the gifts Of a scholar with
those of a statesman. You came from q
studious, academic quiet into the full
steam of an arduous public life and your
deliverances have combined breadth OF
view and grasp of world problems with
the mastery of a lofty diction recalling
that of your great orators of the past
and OF our own.
You come as the Official head and
spokesman Of a mighty commonwealth
bound to us by the closest ties. It's peo-
pies speak the tongue of Shakespeare
and Milton. Our literature is yours. as
yours IL also ours. and men of letters In