GREAT BRITAIN: Auld Soakie

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To Holyrood Palace, where one Queen Mary ruled till England's Elizabeth ordered her imprisonment, another Queen Mary came last week. King George was there, so were the Duke & Duchess of York and about 600 of the flower of Scotland's society, the men in uniform or Highland dress, the women in expensive picture hats and chiffon dresses. Humbler Edinburgh citizens who were not invited did not miss the garden party. Thousands of Scots perched like rooks on the bluff called Arthur's Seat, overlooking the Palace, and enjoyed the party gratis. Through their binoculars they could see King George in the scarlet tunic of the Scots Guards; Queen Mary in peach-colored chiffon; and the Royal Company of Archers, portly gentlemen in long green coats with eagle feathers in their bonnets.

Scotland is a poor place for garden parties. While the King & Queen sat on their dais and guests strolled round the park, great black clouds rolled in from the north. With a crash the downpour descended. Women screamed, brave men ran. Their Majesties were comparatively safe under their canopy, soon reached the sanctuary of Holyrood Palace under enormous umbrellas held by gallant Scots, but the Duke & Duchess of York got as wet as any commoners. Debutantes wept unrestrainedly, their best dresses ruined.

Scotch editors, always practical, announced next morning that the dresses and finery at the party were valued at $500,000 of which $250.000 was a total loss. Wrote a correspondent:

"The rain has been almost continuous all week. Smoky Edinburgh's traditional name of Auld Reekie ought to be changed to Auld Soakie."

Rain continued next day when Their Majesties went up to Glasgow to dedicate a new dock.

"There are still new worlds for Glasgow to conquer," said George V, "There is for example the southern half of the American Continent from which my dear son the Prince of Wales recently returned and which I believe will one day be bound to Britain by close commercial ties."

Walking gingerly under a large umbrella with a George III silver jug of wine in her hand. Queen Mary leaned over the dock's edge, poured the wine into the water. "I christen this dock King George the Fifth!" said she.