The Washington times., 1920-06-15
tCo.tin.~S from Yesterd.yJ

While Their Majesties were IN the
West we had time TO go on to
Washington and ge the house
opened. Cardinal Mercier we had
the pleasure OF meeting at recep-
tion given in his honor at the Bel
Kian Embassy. The entrance OF
Cardinal Mercier and Cardinal Glib
bons through the halls and rooms
was most impressive. with a pro-
cession OF servants bearing lighted
candles while the guests who were
already there bowed and curtsied.
The Cardinals, with their scarlet
robes and caps and venerable gray
hair. among the black-gowned
priests and diplomats attending.
made a vivid picture. Ii was most
interesting TO compare the two
great personages of the church
Cardinal Gibbons, in his eighties,
small and very old, his fine face
full of the wisdom of age; Mercier.
tall. imposing. full of a princely
graciousness and kindliness, with
the spirit OF God shining in his eye.
AS no reigning European mon
arch had ever been in this country
before. one may imagine the excite
ment and general miN-up when the
Belgians reached Washington.
From what i gathered, the Belgian
Ambassador had his ideas on the
subject OF arrangements. the state
Department had others. and the
Royalties themselves had. of course.
TO be consulted.
Mr.. Long, in the state Depart
ment, was. supposedly, running
things. and got the nickname-un-
deservedly. 1 think - of Mr..
Wrong: this at least distinguished
him from Admiral Long, the Kings
naval aide, but made chance for
the jokers because the military
aide bore the name of Wright. Mr..
Longs house on Sixteenth street
was given over to the sovereigns
and called the annex of the White
House.
The Belgian embassy took In
some of the suite. and the military
members were given to us. De-
lightful guests they were, too. One
of them was General Baron
jacques. the hero of Liege, though
we soon found that he preferred to
talk, not about this war. but of the
days of his youth when he had gone
on an exploring expedition to the
Congo. He was a genial man. COW
cred with decorations. Two OF the
group were old friends of mine
Major Dujardin, who had married a
beautiful widow with whom | had
lived when nurse at La Panne.
and Lieutenant Goffinet. who having
lost an eye was also at Ocean Hos
pital
The night their majesties ar
rived. our oelnteen workers gathered
in the Presidents suite at the sta
ton. All the way from the tram
to the motor. soldiers were lined
up, and many high officials assem-
bled to greet the guests. AS the
royal party descended from the
train, a procession was formed. the
King leading with the Vice Presi-
dent, then the queen and the duke
and the other members of the suite.
The Queen wore a soft gray silk
gown, covered with a long blue coat
) with a small gray turban.
AS they passed through the big
room we curtsied and applauded.
Now her majesty did not know that
was a canteen worker, so she was
not expecting to- see me there:
moreover, we were in uniform, and
all looied more or less alike. 1t
shows how quick and clever she is
in recognizing people, for when she
saw me she stopped for a moment
to give her hand before passing on.
] can well understand why 1t is
that people love her. for she does
know how to do the tactful and
gracious thing.
II was after dark when their
majesties arrived, and they drove
at once to the Capitol, which had
been illumined in their honor by
hidden lights. 1t was lovely be-
To- ell. n
against the velvety-black night
sky. A costumed choir gathered on
each side of the great. steps sing
ing Belgian songs, while in the CEN
ter two pretty girls dressed as
America and Belgium clasped
hands.
Next morning, on our way to sign
in their majesties' books. as is the
custom abroad. we noticed that the
streets were lined with school chill
dren waiting for the king and queen
to drive past on their way to the
Senate AS we entered the kings
House." State Department officials
and servants were scuttling about
in the hall, and there was a general
air OF confusion. When we inquired
about the kings book. nobody seem
cd to know exactly what was meant.
American minister arrived to pay
his respects and he also asked for
the volume. After lengthy explana-
tions on both sides, a piece of paper
was brought, and all of us wrote
our names on that.
On the table was a bunch OF for
get-me-nots that l., knowing them
to be the queens favorite flower.
had procured for her with much
trouble, since It was not the season
for forget-me-nots. We couldn't
help wondering whether. in the gen.
eral mix-up. she ever saw them.
Mr.. Gillett, the Speaker of the
House. had been good enough to
give us couple OF seats in the
Speakers pew in the front row of
, the balcony. so we got there early
and watched tho other galleries "fll
and the Congressman take their
seats down on tho floor. They had
brought their children with them,
an undignified proceeding for the
youngsters were noisy and rompcd
about between the benches.
Suddenly the doors OF the gallery
opposite to us were thrown open
and the Queen. dressed in white and
wearing the usual turban, entered