Evening star., 1923-04-29
WEDDING Of DUKE
STARTS GAY SEASON
London Happier and Bright
er Than Ever Before Since
Start of War.
BRIDE PLEASES PEOPLE
Nation Hopes Prince Will Follow
in Selecting British
Mate.
BY A. G. GARDINER.
Britain's Greatest Liberal Editor.


Ry Cable TO The sta
LONDON, April 2S.-Not since the
war has London been so gay as II
was this last week. Even the foun-
raus in Trafalgar Square. dry TOT
nearly ten years. resumed playing.
The primary occasion. of course, was
the marriage of the Duke of York
which has caused great rejoicing
chiefly because not alone was TINS
the first Of the kings sons to wed'
hut he married girl of his own
country.
One result 0! the war has been the
growth of a real prejudice among the
British people against royal mar
riages with foreigners. The KING
family apparently shares this view
as both his son and daughter no"
have married British subjects.
Wales still Free.
The marriage of the Duke of York
has revived speculation in regard to
the Prince of Wales, who acted as
his brothers best man Thursday, put
who himself remains unattached. The
heir to the throne is now approaching
thirty and public interest In MS fu-
ture is matter of discussion every
concern for the succession to the
throne. as the abundance of the king
children amply secures the direct
continuity Of the line, but the identity
OF the future queen is a natural sub
jeCt for speculation.
More than once it has been expected
an announcement would be made and
oven the identity Of the prospective
bride has been hinted at, but to all
outward appearances the prince stlll
is fancy free. The question Of wheth-
er his bride will be of British or
foreign extraction is the subject of
much interest. but the present state
of the public mind would make It
certain that choice of an English
woman would be the more popular.
Old Tradition Fades.
The tradition that royalty must
wed ROYALTY belongs to the past
popularity. 1t was regarded as
denial of the natural instincts and
menace to the quality of the stock.
There also is a much graver consider
alton in that such plan tends to
divorce the monarchy from the peo-
pie and make the court subject to
unknown foreign influences. For two
centuries the affiliations Of the Brit
ish royal family have been almost ex-
rlusively German. If that fact had
made for world peace. the practice
have shown that such relationships
rio not affect natural currents and
when breach comes royalty is placed
in an impossible and cruel position.
This especially was so in the late
war. when the royal family was
placed in a very painful predicament.
The highest tribute that can be paid
them is that they came through the
ordeal with public affection and con-
fidence unimpared, but the experience
"a
IN the interests of both the country
and the monarchy IT is important to
associate the royal family with the
people Of the nation and not with
foreign royalties.
Gay Social Season.
The Duke of York's wedding gave
The note to the London social season.
which now is expected to be one of
the greatest brilliancy since 1914. 1t
is anticipated that the United States
viii play more than usually promi-
rent part in this. 1t is estimated
100000 visitors will cross the Atlantic
this summer. None Of these will at
tract more attention than will your
golf amateurs who now are on the
very eve Of their contest with the
British amateurs.
English sportsmen are becoming
mildly concerned over the loss of
their laurels in the field of sport
where they once reigned supreme. In
Yachting, boxing, tennis. polo. golf,
even in cricket we are now playing
secohd fiddle. 1t would seem to have
been our function to have taught the
world TO beat us at our own games
Even in so English a game as foot
ball France is becoming a real chal-
lenger of our supremacy.
We await the result of the golf
games with interest. and. il beaten
We shall accept defeat in that spirit
of sportsmanship which the captain
of the American team has been good
enough to credit us with.
Behind these gayeties lurk the sin
lister shadows thrown across our life
from the continent. but of these moth
ing profitable can be said today We
watch. wait and hope.
Copyright 1879