Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-29
By Paul GoIIico

against the stately elms and
Towering shrubs as though from
primeval jungle, strobe an Afri-
can potentate with his retinue.
He was preceded by a slim
black youth in cloth of gold,
carrying a gold trident. Then
came two courtiers with gold
wands. followed by His Majesty.
beneath golden umbrella
carried by the potentate's prime
minister and grand visier. The
King wore a golden collar and
armletS of the same beaten
metal. He carried a golden fly
whisk.
In between these two royal
parties, so symbolic of this COM
monwealth of nations, milled
some 1000 people of high, low
and middle degree. Two bands
played. Gallons Of tea were
served.
Queen Is Unwearied.
This was the precoronation
garden party, given by England's
indefatigable Queen, who had
spent the morning rehearsing
the ritual Of her greatest hour.
to be celebrated on June 2. Yet,
she was fresh, unwearied, clad in
q pink-and-gray silk frock and
platina mink jacket. She pre-
sented herself here this delicious
~ bright, sunny afternoon to her
subjects from across the seas.
One finds oneself wishing for
O color camera in place Of words
to describe the bizarre splendor
Of the gathering here, for cos
tunes were so brilliant in scar
lets. blues, greens, yellows, cloth
of gold; turbans of vermillion,
silver, ochre, ultramarine; wells
and saris of pastel shades. There
were skins hued from golden
brown to chocolate and coal
black, flashing teeth. flashing
jewels and a lady from some
where east of Suez with a dia-
mond in her nose.
There were potentates from
Zanzibar, looking as if they had
stepped out of the Arabian
nights tales. A king from Nj
geria, wearing a hat made of the
purest coral, was attended by a
worried prime minister with a
scarified face who. when Lady
Aston joshed his majesty about
both of them being politicians,
was fearful that lese majestic was
about to be, or for all he could
tell, was being committed.
Sultan Is SuIIen.
Chiefs from the Gold Coast
were bedi7ened in barbaric
spIendor, and O. pale. sullen sui
tan from somewhere near Alden
was being very much on his
dignity.
They were there with their
shy, beautiful wives, their UNI
brella bearers and true majesty
Of bearing, but when spoken to
laughed and joked with great
glee and jollity.
The West was as colorfully
represented here. Gold was not
worn in the shape Of beaten col
lars, inch-thick arm bangles,
clinking ankle bracelets. but in
braid on uniform sleeve and
shoulder and hat badge.
Scarlet were the tunicS of SOL
diers from commonwealth ma
tions, commanders of armies and
navies of Canada. New Zealand,
Australia, South Africa and PAX
istan. Scottish tartans were in
evidence.
Admirals, generals and air
marshals moved through the
main crowd Of fashionably
dressed women and the rank
and file of their men, made uni
form in morning coats and gray
toppers. The armed forces pea
cooked through the throng,
preened and twirled their mus
taches, knowing that they made
a brilliant, satisfying show.
The clergy was there. stalking,
black CARRIED, through the ex-
cited throng in that odd uniform
of black CATERS, wrapped about
thin ecclesiastical legs, a frock
coat over a purple front and
black top hat, oddly decorated
with a tiny black bow in back
and little pieces of silk-like struts
on the side from cylinder to
brirn.
Like Alice in Wonderland.
The garden party, with 1000
guests, soon became something
out of alice in Wonderland"
a swirl of color, filled with
astonishing creatures, all in
vented by man. and incredibly
decked out. At the approach
of the royal party, or any one
royal or famous person, the
guests suddenly forget their own
celebrity like children and rush
pell-mell and helter-skelter. too.
to form lines and cape. Parties,
you know, really are for child
rem, and a party is success
when the childlike and ingenious
enters into it.
The Africans had it all the
time. but the spell of this con-
tinued fairy tale that is being
woven about Great Britain by
Queen Elizabeth II soon seized
the Occidentals as we'll. You
never would believe that such
gaiety and infectious delight ex-
listed.
Could 1000 guests somehow
weld them into one? What ev-
cry one wants is to see the Queen
and. If possible, come close to
the particular magic that is hers.
You cannot imagine, unless you
were there, how great is this
desire to see the Queen, to let
the eyes rest upon her. to be