The Washington times., 1935-12-05
NOW
Tip on BOrdh'S s
Platform
ROYAL FETE
BY HELEN ESSARY

like the one Mitchell Palmer, Tor
mer Attorney General, drafted
for Mr.. Roosevelt to stand on at
the last Chicago Democratic Con
vention, that Mr.. James A. Far
ley won't be able to tell the diff,
ference between the two.
Because of the death of Prin,
cess Victoria, King George and
Queen Mary did not ride in their
golden coach on Tuesday to the
opening of Parliament. Thus a
royal and romantic ceremony was
lost to London.
Every year since Britannia first
began to rule the waves, and you
know how long ago that was. an
English King and Queen, dressed
in royal robes, have stepped into
a coach such as Cinderella's fairy
godmother made out of a pump,
kin and have driven away behind
eight horses, caparisoned in scar
let, white and gold, to the House
of Lords to open Parliament.
When I saw such an historic
procession pass in London, Queen
Mary had drawn a sable and
ermine wrap about her evening
gown of black velvet. Her crown
was studded with diamonds and
her corsage ornaments were Of
diamonds and rubieS.
The King wore a resplendent
satin uniform, a crown and an
ermine cape.
Escorting the royal pair were
postillionS, outriders, knights with
plumed helmets, trumpeters and a
marching escort of life guards with
glittering dress coats-all arrayed
in scarlet, white and gold.
In addition to the coach in
which Queen Mary and King
George rode there were five other
coaches. Each coach, with riders
and guards in uniform, was drawn
by four horses. Within the coaches
were pages of honor, officials Of
the royal household and ladies and
gentlemen in full court regalia.
In one regal carriage rode a
lieutenant colonel called The
Silver Stick in Waiting" This
distinguished gentleman held aloft
a narrow silver stick about foot
long, in the manner in which the
first holders of his office carried
silver sabers to protect their
Majesties from the lurking foe.
"A Gold Stick In Waiting" in
another coach bore a gold stick,
q modern representation OF the
gold saber of his predecessors. A
gentleman honored with tn e
title, Groom In Waiting" (the
first groom in waiting used to
curry His Majesty'S horSe), sat be-
side the "Gold Stick
The Comptroller of the Royal
Household and the Treasurer of
the Royal Household were in an
other coach. They looked as eX-
travagant and elegant as if theirs S
was not the job of adding up the
Royal bills.
When the last carriage of the
procession, containing the King
and Queen, drew near the House
of Parliament, the bells OF St
Margaret's rang out a welcome
The guns of the royal horse ar
. tillery doomed in four salutes.
At four points along the Mall
regimental bands, at the ap'
proach of the Royal procession,
had begun to play slowly, God
Save the King" When the King
and Queen alighted from their
royal carriage another band played
"God Save the King"
With the music that had FOL
lowed them along the route of the
procession still sounding in their
ears, the King and Queen walked
slowly toward the House OF
Lords. A bell began to toll.
So unreal to American eyes
had been this ceremony that /
expected with the last notes of
the bell the scene would vanish
But it was not the hour of Gin
derella's fatal midnight striking.
It was Big Ben on the clock tower
announcing to the Lords of the
Realm that their Majesties were
coming.
, And now to Washington, where
life, though unceremoniouS, is
very pleasant. Friends one used
to know have way of coming
back to town for a visit.
Madame de Lima ct de Silva,
who, as wife of the late Brazilian
Ambassador to Washington, was
a delightful personality in diplo-
matte life in Washington, is now
staying with the Counselor of the
Spanish Embassy and Madame de
Yrujo. Madame de Lima ct de
Silva, who has just returned from
Brazil, where she went after her
husband died suddenly in Brus-
sells Che was recently the Brazil
ian Ambassador there, says she
is glad to be with Americans
again. She finds them gay, en-
thuSiaStic and so kind. Her sis
ter, Madame Frederick Nano,
Madame de Silva says, is enjoy
ing life in Bucharest, where her
l,,1chnrnd ir until, 4ha Rnrn;nrn nf-