The Washington times., 1919-11-02
Queen Surprisingly Girlish.

Behind them came the Queen with
Mrs. Marshall-the contrast almost as
great between the handsome, matron-
ly figure of the Vice Presidents wife
and the slender wisp of famininity.
surprisingly girlish, who is Belgium's
Queen. 1t was naTd to believe she was
the mother of the husky young chap
in soldier clothes who followed after
with one of the aides, chatting with
the Countess de Caraman Chimay.
The only other women in the party
were Mrs. Brand Whitlock. wife of
our ambassador to Belgium, and. far
in the rear. her maid, a pretty little
Belgian girl holding fast to two slen-
der braided leather leashes whose far
ends were attached TO a pair of fasci-
natingly hideous little Pekingese
spaniels, painting but content in the
arms Of husky negro porter.
Since then, Washington has been
enjoying it's first closeup" of roy
atty, and has had the three most
strenuous days in its social history.
1t has emerged from them rather
spent, glad of a quiet weekend with
most of the Administration circles
sin retirement" getting rested up. 1t
has emerged from them also in cor
dial agreement with the young per-
son who asserted that II was possible
to be both man and a king. Incl
dentally. it has been equally demon
strated that il is quite possible to be
a woman and a queen; and by the
same taken, a prince royal and very
human, fun-loving boy.
Syndicate of Hosts.
The Presidents breakdown when
his. expected guests were within a
couple of days of landing completely
upset all plans. When they finally
got here, after touring the country
for more than three weeks, hoping he
would be sufficiently recovered to
receive them, he was still so far from
well that he had to delegate his job
as host to the nations guests to a
sort of official syndicate of hosts,
headed by the Vice President. The
nation housed its guests ''in state" at
the private residence of the Third AS
sistant Secretary of State, Brecken-
ridge Long. II dined them 'fn state-
at the private residence of Mrs.
Thomas +. Walsh, wealthy Wash
ington widow, absolutely without any
official CONNECTION. It has been rath-
er embarrassing for the nation-but
II has added much to the social pres
Nec vi the TWO hnutcnOlQS lnNONNeu ID.
AS for the nations guests, If the
situation was er'ba raising to them,
they did MOI allow themselves to show
it, They bore themselves with quiet
dignity and courtesy. and emerged
from the ordeal with flying colors
and the good opinion of every one
with whom they came in contact
They worked even harder. during the
three days they were in Washington,
than did the members of the official
world who Were especially charged
with their entertainments And that
was going some, They had engage
ments every fifteen minutes, from the
rising of the sun even unto the going
after that. And no extra pay for
overtime either
Delightful Guests.
They proved delightful guests
simple and unassuming to a degree
submitting to. rather than exactfng,
the pomp and ceremony incident to
their station. King Albert wore, most
of the time, a field uniform that
looked as IL II had seen considerable
service. He was not addicted to dec
orations, though he must have dozens
of 'em. except that he did wear the
Congressional d. s. NJ, pretty con-
stantly after Secretary Baker be-
slowed 1t upon him on Tuesday aft
ernoon.
The Duke of Brabant. young Prince
Leopold, wore from the time he ar
rived, until he went away, the uni
form OF a private soldier in the Bel
gian army. not unlike that of our
own doughboys, with a, cap very
similar to their overseas" cap, ex-
cent that II has a funny lfttIa +aysaI
hanging from its peak. Prince Leo
pold wore wrapped felt puttees all
the time. and when he was not in