Bids & Rules

The British Ambassador has received Their Britannic Majesties' commands to invite (blank for name) to a garden party at the Embassy on Thursday, the 8th of June, 1939. The British Ambassador's wife rose at 6 a. m. all last week to do the tough job of picking 1,300 names (900 in Washington, 400 throughout the land) to receive invitations thus worded under the seal & cipher of George Rex and Elizabeth. Her great name-choosing task ended, Lady Lindsay consented at last to receive the press and explain how her guests must behave.

Buckingham Palace party rules will hold, she declared. Their Majesties will march once, perhaps twice from the Embassy's portico to the end of the long lawn & back. Guests should fall back, make a wide lane, not only out of respect but so that all may see. Members of Their Majesties' entourage will summon distinguished guests whom Their Majesties wish to have presented. In case of rain, two large khaki tents will be provided. Tea will be served under smaller marquees. The hard drink bar will be around a corner, out of sight. Guests must remain until Their Majesties withdraw. Then "the garden gates will be opened and the guests will leave," unhandshaken (because of their number) by moose-tall Sir Ronald & Lady Lindsay, whose last official performance in Washington this will be.

Lady Lindsay and her social secretary, Irene Boyle, had previously snooted Washington newshens and refused reasonable requests for information on such occasions as the visit of Anthony Eden. Even visiting British sobsisters who were received by Mrs. Roosevelt at the White House found Lady Lindsay too busy to receive them at the British Embassy. Last week frosty-haired Lady Lindsay prepared the press for the goodwill visit of the King and Queen by commenting on the bad manners of the U. S. press as she told them how Americans would have to behave. The newshens answered her back, unimpressed by the fact that she was Elizabeth Sherman Hoyt, heiress of the late Colgate Hoyt (banker) of Oyster Bay, N. Y., and used to be a landscape gardener before Ronald Lindsay, called her to England to be his second wife.

Soon the U. S. State Department topped Lady Lindsay by issuing further instructions to U. S. citizens who might meet the King & Queen:

Men. Bow when six feet away, low from the hips, hands at sides. Move three feet forward, watching King closely. If he extends his hand, bow again before grasping it. Wait for him to speak. Don't make a personal answer or ask questions. Before withdrawing, bow again, retreat backward (having surveyed your course for chairs, wheelbarrows or other obstacles) and bow again before leaving the room.

Women may curtsy, putting left foot behind right.

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