Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-02-16
GRACE.
Strand Palace Hotel,
The Strand, London, England,

Strand Palace Hotel,
The Strand, London, England,
January 8, 1921.
My dearest Mother:
London has been giving US taste
of its notoriously bad weather; if it
is not raining, the fog and mist keep
our expectations ready for anything
akin to cloud burst every minute,
and it's either to stay at home or
case of joining the ducks. In spite
of this drawback we still manage to
see something interesting every day.
Yesterday we strolled round to
No. 1G Downing Street to pay our
respects to Lloyd-George. We rather
hoped he would chance to go in or
out before we left, but no such luck.
/, The only celebrity stirring around
was Bonar Law, and the sight of
him was better than no celebrity at
all. There were more policemen about
than any one else and they did not
seem in the pleasantest frame of
mind over it. Their duties are just
about doubled everywhere since the
Irish situation has been so serious,
but it was rather surprising to find
them guarding Lloyd-George, yet as
ready to criticize and abuse him as
we would our President.
One of them said he was "the great
est political twister of the age" AS
there was no chance to see him, the
next best was to gossip with his
guards, so we made the most of it.
This morning we had early break
fast and walked down "'The Mall"
through the Admiralty Arch then to
Buckingham Palace to witness the
change of the guards there. 1t is very
hard for an American to take so
much ceremony seriously. In fact,
the English are so close kin to US
that l can't believe they regard it
much better. asked one what it was
! all about. He shrugged his shoulders
and said "Just one of Britain's Free
+; Shows" Anyway it was pretty and
very inspiring; the band plays and
, back of it march all the soldiers 60
ing off duty, while new ones marched
forward to the palace to take their
places.
Some of them are the "horse
Guards" wearing most gorgeous uni
forms; those coming off in red, while
the relief have on a most beautiful
blue. The whole "get-up" would lay
Barnum and Bailey in the shade any
day. There is much marching and mil
itary manoeuvres that would take a
brigadier general to describe, and as
I miss that so far, I must leave the
rest to your imagination.
The thing that interested and
amused me most was to watch the
men bare their heads or salute as
the flag passed by at the head of the
column. I don't believe we could ever
get Americans to be like that, though
it is rather nice you know.
The only member of the royal FAM
lily at buckingham Palace right now
is the Prince of Wales. l can't inn
agine what would happen if the king
were present. He will be up soon to
open Parliament with all ceremony,
and perhaps 1 shall have another tale
to tell.
Today we went to visit Windsor
Castle, which is about an hours ride
by rail. The state apartments are
open to the public when the Royal
Family is absent. We also visited the
royal stables and I don't think King
George has much on our Whitney
neighbogs in Aiken. Of course 1
think it is a great opportunity to be
permitted to see inside of Windsor
Castle, and it was grand sight to
! nobody like me, but for king and
queen to charge for the privilege
seems downright cheap to my demo-
cratic soul. Furthermore every official
out there expects a, tip, and makes
you feel like criminal if they don't
get it.
Last night we went to John Gals
worthy's play called 'The Shin
Gamc." 1t is very artistic. In fact I
have never seen a play in New York
near so we'll done, though suppose
others have. 1t is a fine play in the
first place, done by an artist in his