Miss Duke & Majesty

Campbell Soup, Thermos Bottle. Atwater Kent Radio and American Tobacco curtseyed twice last week to George V and Queen Mary at Buckingham Palace.

President John Thompson Dorrance (soup) sent to be presented at the Royal Court his daughter Charlotte. President Edward William Edwards (bottles) sent his Eleanore, President A. Atwater Kent (radio) his Elizabeth. But in her own right came Miss Doris Duke, greatest heiress of the nation where most money is, daughter of the late, international tobacco tycoon James B. Duke, plain, wholesome, sweet eighteen.

Doubtless the King Emperor, always a keen smoker, recalled last week as Miss Duke bowed before him, the titanic tobacco war of over a decade ago which ended only when largest British and U. S. interests became satisfied that they could make most money with Mr. Duke as chairman of the thereupon created Anglo U. S. tobacco pool. Other U. S. socialites presented at the two courts last week:

Atlanta's Mrs. Mazie Smith, widow of Hoke Smith, President Cleveland's Secretary of Interior (his first wife was "Birdie").

Philadelphia's Miss Frances Hutchinson (her mother a Stotesbury) and Miss Isabel Henry (her mother a Biddle).

Manhattan's Mrs. David C. Hanrahan, great granddaughter of the National City Bank's first president, Moses Taylor, from whose granddaughter Catherine (her mother) she inherited some $10,000,000.

For the first time a graphic, pressworthy report of the royal court was written by one of the U. S. women presented, Miss Carley Robinson of Louisville, Ky. Members of the diplomatic staff at the U. S. Embassy were reported shocked by such lese majeste (two years ago counselor Ray Atherton cautioned U. S. presentees not to capitalize their presentations in any way); but the new order of conduct was exampled last week by General Dawes. He told guests at two London banquets that diplomats are of "secondary" importance, that the primary U. S. representative in London is not the Embassy but the Chamber of Commerce.

Excerpts from Reporter Robinson's report to North American Newspaper Alliance:

Try Out. "I went to the American Embassy, at Mrs. Dawes's invitation, to a tea given in order to inform the debutantes of all the details which might be thought necessary. There we all practiced our curtsies."

Sandwiches. En route down the Mall to Buckingham Palace: "I never knew before what it felt like to be a fish in an aquarium--crowds stood three deep outside the cars to see the court dresses. . . . Friends came to see me in my car and those who had been presented last year gave me tips on the proceedings to come and what one must expect. Some insisted on handing me sandwiches, saying it was quite the regulation thing to do and besides it wouldn't get my fingers sticky! . . .

Hand Bags. "Time flew and at 8.30 the long line of cars suddenly started forward. The ladies being presented hastily drew on their long white gloves and gave a last look in their mirrors, as hand bags had to be discarded, not being allowed in the throne room. It was a very thrilling moment's drive through the gates of Buckingham Palace. . . .

Throne Room. "The beauty and splendor of the room is almost impossible to describe. The walls and the amazingly high ceiling were white and gold, with deep red and gold chairs on three sides. On the fourth side were the two royal thrones with a lighted recess behind them in which hung the royal arms embroidered on red velvet.

"You cannot imagine what a wonderful setting it was for the girls and older ladies in their pastel color dresses and colorful fans and bouquets. White plumes crowning the women's heads brought old fashioned and gracious unity to the color of the modern dresses.

"To set off the pale colors was the brilliance of the men's court dress. Officials and officers wore scarlet coats, heavily embroidered with gold, and black trousers with a gold stripe on each side. Others, of the Royal Guard, wore gold helmets with high crests of white plumes. Still others were in black satin knee breeches and embroidered black coats. . . .

Conversation. "An official called the room to silence and asked the ladies to modify their conversation in the throne room. . . .

Pomp. "At 9:30, exactly on time, as always, the orchestra struck up God Save the King. As we all rose to our feet the royal procession entered, preceded by two Indians in scarlet coats and black and gold striped turbans, and officers walking backward, their swords held before them.

"The King and Queen, smiling graciously, bowed as they came forward followed by Prince George, the Duke of Gloucester, ladies in waiting and members of the Royal staff. . . .

Awe. "At last my turn came. As I curtsied I could see the King's kind face and the gracious smile of the Queen. I was much too awed by their extreme royal dignity and presence to feel at all nervous."

Dawes & Sokolnikov. The only ambassadors who did not appear at Court in court dress were General Dawes and Comrade Grigorie Sokolnikov. Together they represented almost one-fifth of the earth's territory and almost one seventh of the globe's population. The General was in ordinary, long trousered U. S. evening dress. The Comrade, a shade more conventional, wore regulation British Court knee breeches, but above, instead of a standard ambassador's tight, gold laced jacket, he wore a coat and vest similar to General Dawes's.

Generally acclaimed as the most gorgeous male present (not excepting even George V who wore the scarlet coat of a mere Colonel of the Grenadier Guards) was the Abyssinian representative, black as the ten of clubs. Strutting in a white and gold embroidered jacket and trousers. His Excellency surmounted this with a voluminous black cape, worked all over with dazzling gold.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.