Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-05-29
Paris Visit by King
And Queen Described
People Of French Capitol
Received RoyoI Guests
Enthusiastically

Received Royol Guests
Enthusiastically
To the Editor Of The Star:
Last year I had the good luck to be in
Paris for the visit Of their Britannia
Majesties King George vi and Queen
Elizabeth. Not entirely luck, Is ma
neuvered myself over from London espe-
cially for It, and I wouldn't take any
thing for the experience. They were
there three days, from the 10th Of July
till the 22d. I arrived couple Of days
before the royal influx and found Paris
a changed city. It had turned into 4
flower garden of red, white and blue ban
ners overnight. French and British flags
were entwined lovingly along the build
ings and around the Arc de Triomphe,
great pillars arose covered with clus-
tiers of the two flags. Every shop window
was decorated with royal purple hang
ings and portrait or photograph of the
King and Queen. The French were well
aware Of their responsibility in harbor-
ing such important guests and the Paris
police were working day and night. My
aunt, with whom I was staying, has an
apartment on the Avenue Foche It was
the street down which the procession
would come after the arrival at the spe-
cially erected station, which was further
down. We had to have passes with our
names on them issued by the police in
order to get in or out Of the apartment,
as there was always guard stationed
at the door.
We had tickets for the arrival which
entitled us to lean against the fence i'm
provised on the avenue and watch the
tek from the station. No one was al
lowed to have a camera for fear that
firearms might be concealed in it. There
were secret service men circulating
through the crowd to see that no weap-
ons were struggled in. Directly in front
Of us was line of Chasseurs Alpins, all
the crack skiers, who patrol the Alps
along the Italian frontier. In front of
them was line of infantry, so 1t would
have been difficult to break through.
AS we had to wait q couple of hours
we had plenty of time to become ac-
quainted with our neighbors. There is
nothing more fun than happy French
crowd on holiday They're exactly like
children in their excitement and appre-
citation of everything, and this was an
occasion of occasions. We could tell
when the pi ocession was on its way down
by the yelling roar of cheers. The escort,
colorful enough to satisfy even the
French passion for the spectacular.
started them of and the crescendo was
reached when the King and Queen drove
slowly by in their limousines, bowling to
the crowd. 1t took them to its heart
at once. The Queen especially appealed
TO the people, as she had lost her mother
only two weeks berfore and the French
are very sympathetic race.
The next day there was a reception at
the Hotel de Vile, literally translated,
the Town Hall, in honor of IL. NM.
Britanniques LIE Roi George vi ct La
Relne Elizabeth. I went with my aunt.
1t was at IL o'clock in the morning. so
we stepped into the Metro at $50 in
order to be there in plenty of time. Co.
ing to a royal reception in the subway
sounds strange, but actually it saved a lot
OF time. The streets were already
damned. We had to keep showing our
Invitations to get through the police lines
holding back the crowds around the
building. Once inside, we were ushered
upstairs through a double line of la
Garde Republicaine, spectacular in red
uniforms and gold helmets fetchinelv
decorated with black horses tails, to the
reception room. This was rectangular in
shape with rows of chairs on each side
OF center aisle and a raised dais at one
end for the royal party. 1t was interest,"
Ing to sit there and watch the guests file
In. Some OF the women wore short
dresses, others long, on the garden party
order. 1t was rather like fashion show,
AT II promptly an expectant hush came
over the room, the Garde Republicaine
stidened to attention, and the King and
queen and their encourage appeared
from an entrance behind the platform.
The Queen was wearing white semi
formal dress and a hat with white
algrettes. She always wore white in
Paris, being in mourning. The King was
in uniform.
After the first skirmishes were over
every one sat down and the King en-
barked upon a speech in French. He
did 1t extremely well, considering that
he has slight impeachment, and French
Is tongue-twisting language. When he
sensed that he was going to have diff
Guilty with word he would stop, take q
breath and then go on. The Queen was
vlsibly under strain. Everyone, in fact,
relaxed when it was over, not because 1t
wasn't an excellent speech, but out Of
sympathy for them both. The general
attitude was one Of surprise and pleasure
at the Kings handling of their language.
1t was the one speech he made in French
during their stay.
After an answering address by lie Brun,
royalty descended from the dais and the
top-ranhng of1cials and their wives
were presented. Some of the women
curtsied and others shook hands, as will
be the case here.
After this the royal couple took their
leave, passing down the center aisle. My
place was on the outside, 80 I saw them
at close range. Like everyone else. was