Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-08-28

washington, u. G. Aug. 23-Offi-
clal Washington is all excited over the
| approaching visit of Edward Albert
Christian George Andrew Patrick David
Windsor Prince of Wales. Royalty has
not often honored our shores by its
! presence, and when it does so the state
department rushes to get out it's Ell
quette IN the presence of royalty" and
brushes up on the rules for backing
out Of room without breaking ones
neck. Without such preparation, some
| body might fall over a footstool, or
rake some other faux pas that could
not be excused. even on the overworhcd
| grounds of American informality.
| Washingtons preparations for the
royal visitor are not, of course limited
to an intense course in court manners.
The third assistant secretary Of state,
Mr.. Breckenridge Long, his staff, the
aides are all making definite arrange
ments for the princes stay at the
| White House, this October.
| The program Of entertainment will
depend partly IN His Royal Highncss.
THE Prince of Wales" says the
| third assistant secretary's office i'm
| presslvely, is q person of Importance,
ind must be consulted as to what he
would like to do while in Washington.
| As the prince has not yet informed the
| president regarding this important mat
| ter, the schedule of events cannot be
| made out complete.
| The president. as the host of the
prince, will undoubtedly give a formal
| dinner in his honor, and the prince will
as undoubtedly express a desire to visit
Mt. Vernon and the capitol, just as did
his grandfather, Edward Albert, when
| he visited the United States as Prince
of Wales in 1860.
| Then, too certain details Of proce-
dure can be arranged far in advance.
1t is doubtless already decided, for in
stance, that when the prince enters
Washington he will step from his pri-
vate car into the presidents room at
the union station, TO be welcomed by
the presidents representative; and that
he will then follow a trail Of red carpet,
ton, to the presidential automobiles,
and ride in state up Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to the executive mansion.
The prince will be the personal guest
Of President Wilson, just as the other
Edward Albert was the guest of Presi-
dent Buchanan in 1860 Buchanan's
royal visitor travelled in the United
States as Baron Renfrew, which was
one of his titles, by leaving behind
his heavy baggage Of titles, he sim
plified matters to the extent that some
of the most onerous British court for
malties were dispensed with.
The Baron" planted a tree at Mt.
Vernon, drank mint julep in Virginia,
danced outside the White House, pres
ident Buchanan did not approve Of dane
ing nj the executive mansionl, and
otherwise was shown America in proper
style. According to correspondents of
the day, the Baron found his mint iulep
one of his most pleasurable experiences
in the United States.
When introduced to guests at the
White House reception, the Baron
smiled and bowed, while President
Buchanan at his side shook hands after
presidential custom. and people remark
ed on the difference between cold Brit
ish formality and American democracy.
Customs are subject to change, however
both in republics and monarchies Sixty
years before Buchanan's administration,
George Washington had decided that
dignity demanded that the chief ex-
ecutive receive callers without shaking
hands. To make handshaking impos
sible. he made a point of holding his
cooked hat in his hands when he re-
ceived official visitors. Then came the
crowded White House leyees and Jef
fersonian democracy, and colonial OBJ
jections to handshaking as undignified
were forgotten.
Democratic as the present Prince If
| Wales undoubtedly Is. certain conces-
sions to his royal status mist he made.
For instance, he must be presented to
the president BY some one high enough
in rank to be worthy of the honor.
When Prince Henry of Prussia visit
ed the White House in 1902, this pres
entation question arose suddenly as the
prince came before President Roosevelt,
No one Of high enough rank was on
hand to introduce the visitor, and after
an awkward minute, the prince of Prus
sia stepped forward and presented him
self to the president Of the United
States.
This brother Of the ex-kaiser was
greeted with great deal of enthusiasm
by the people of the United States,
and for the most part favorable COM
ments were made in regard TO his sInil
ing appearance and affable sayings.
Some editors hinted at the time that
the prince was on a secret mission for