Royalty Rambles

¶ The Administration at Washington reputedly exerted pressure last week upon several U. S. railroads, following the refusal of the Southern Pacific to transport Queen Marie of Rumania and her entourage over its lines free. Eventually the Interstate Commerce Commission and the nine roads over which Her Majesty will travel reached a working arrangement. Since absolutely free transportation over U. S. railroads is prohibited by law except for railroad employes, the Commission will create a special passenger rate schedule for the trains on which Her Majesty travels and at once withdraw the rate thereafter. Thus the ten-car special train placed at Queen Marie's disposal will twice cross the continent at a reputed cost to her of $3.

In Washington blasé officials informed the press that such ratejuggling is not only legal, but is habitually resorted to in the case of exceptionally distinguished visitors.

¶ It was widely bruited that the U. S. Treasury was, in one way and another, contributing to Her Majesty's pomp or comfort.

¶ Queen Marie paid a 13-minute call upon the President and Mrs. Coolidge at the White House last week. Half an hour later the President and Mrs. Coolidge paid a 14-minute call on Queen Marie at the Rumanian Embassy. Soon Queen Marie sped back to the White House and was entertained at a state banquet: anchovy canape; consomme; lobster in cream; filet mignon; salad; ice cream; fruit; coffee.

¶ "She does not use rouge, but a lipstick always," said Mme. Simone Lahovary, attendant upon Queen Marie, of Her Majesty.

¶ At the Hotel Belvedere, Baltimore, a suite of 26 rooms, especially decorated and furnished with antiques was placed by the Municipality at Queen Marie's disposal for her two-hour visit.

¶ Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr., Arthur Brisbane, General and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Hugh Walpole, General Pershing, Leopold Stokowski and many another were invited to a reception in Her Majesty's honor at the Ritz, Manhattan. Of the 800 persons presented, a few kissed the royal hand and a few ran around to the end of the line after being presented and were presented again. Most shook hands with the Queen.

¶ At Philadelphia the dress trousers of Prince Nicholas were delayed in reaching the Hotel Bellevue-Stratford. The Prince was accordingly delayed in attending a banquet in his mother's honor. When he reached the banquet door it had been locked to keep out the curious and the guard professed to have no key. Prince Nicholas sought the main dining room, passed through the kitchen, emerged into the banquet hall.

¶ "Spats Correct," telegraphed the State Department laconically in reply to a request for information from Mayor H. W. Jackson of Baltimore, who had originally intended to greet Queen Marie without spats.

¶ Queen Marie disconcerted Mayor Kendrick by demanding to be driven through the most lurid section of Philadelphia's tenderloin to the small Rumanian Church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost.

There Her Majesty knelt in prayer. There Rumanians cried "Traiasca Regina!" ("Long live the Queen!").

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