The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-21
From he ~ Y. Star.
PRESENTATION AT COURT.

=.
We referred ia our last article on this subject TO the
expensive nus empty ceremony Of being presented q
Court We can. however pardon q very natural cu-
fosny ~ cur fsnkse Indies abroad who had heard 81
much and read 80 much OF the splendo Of the British
Coorthe dazzling beauty OF the English ladies,he
magnhcence Of dress DC, the rose aud expectancy
OF STATE" gathered on these important OCCASIONS and
bewtering the stranger with The magnificent array Of
all that splendid, attractive noble and great 10
presence Of the monarch Iof those realms. The pa
trotIsm OF our woman 10, IN measure, passive il only
breaks when the fire 10 kiudicd knows she be-
longs to free country and Is free born and Ia her
Summation of British Court and regal magniie ence,
she ouy the giided exterior the pao aud scky
bun within tho circle OF coronet-she looks at the la
dies alfred ia the richest and becoming costume
-she sdmirss The dignity Of their csrriage-the snowy
wilderness Of their brilliant complexons-the msssiye
golden ornaments and glit,ering Jewels which sdorn
their person-tbey move the bean ideal OF grace and
elegance, Of fortune and fashion, Of rank and influence
Alas she does not reflect that single frown cold
glance rom the yoang and sometimes thoaghess Queen
on any one Of those peerless beauties, sinks her to
earth covered with shame and Disgrace the cold glance
Of the Queen is duplicated on the unhappy VICTIM
without knowing the cause and she who, probably,
an hour previous was the gsyest Of the gay who led the
joyous may throng captive near her person, who
only followed 10 be admired, and only to be be-
loved cast down. Inundated and stunned and "none
poor 10 do her honor The Queen had owned upon
her II - then that free-born American woman
might ask herself the question, who would live 10 the
atmosphere Of Courts where the frown OF
msn--ihst woman called Queen, can destroy the
hopes and blast the prospects Of rank aud beauty -"
" In my counlry--my own dear country" she might
say, 1--WE can return frown for frown ndRniy for IN
dignity, and there - none TO make afraid We stand
Upon our own soit-npon privileges, and we
stand free and cqnal-Queens in our own rights and
defenders OF our reputation. Let go homo and
breathe pnrer, elastic. freer air" Such, II
rightly understood, would be the and substance OF
being presented at Court.
While. however, we can forgive the curiosity incident
to the in desiring Introduction TO the Queen, we
have no difficulty at oil in condenning that spishness
and foppery which induces many OF citizens 10 bask
In the sunshine Of courts and dance attendance at
levees. We hear Of men who have seen in dirty
shirts and unshayen boards, giving out Democratic
tickets at the pols the Of good honest tsiors
sadders carpenters and masons, awaiting themselves OF
the earnings OF honest industry, taking passage for
England in the steamers, and cutting swell at 81.
James and the Club Houses. Plain Spriggins at Tam
many, is converted into Col Spriggins Of the Blues,
and Assistant Alderman Won Bummel, Of - Ward,
is announced as the Honorable Mr.. Won Bummel, men,
Der OF the Common Council at New York; the " bor-
rowed robes" are thrown on, because plain MIR does
not comprise sufficient Of title to make way through
the court end Of the town.
Here, for example, is young fellow often seen in
Wall street. busing about during change hours, dab
bling in stocks and selling COIN having Just scrapcd to-
gether Sufficient to pay his way during summer trip,
driving whiskey in st, James Park with the ashiona-
bes, before dinner at o'clock and passing of as rich
Young American. Again we have the son Of very
wealthy grocer, tricked out in full court Dress with
sword at his side, waiting in the antechamber to be
conducted in the presence Of the Queen. Il
may be singular, but It is no less true, that Ameri-
cans Of humble birth and limited education the
very persons who are captvaed by all the gew-gsws
of royalty. We should suppose that what is called
the poorer casses-the jealous radicals Of the
Republic. would be the most stern in their hos
Utility TO Kings, Lords aud Commons; not so--they adj
mire regal show, and fall in love with power they like
despotism, as long it falls not their shout
ders The true Republicans Of our own country are
the men OF good education industry and mesns--the
medium between poverty and ignorance, and high aris
tocratc professions.
Early impressions admit very enduring, either
IN favor or against any peculiar custom Our prelu-
dices against Court, arose many years ago, from our
first presentation the Court of his ferocous Highness
Mustapha Mshmoud. Bey Of Tunis which
Quoted with all honor and magnhcence. Represent
ing did at the time, young. but not very rich
nation, and calling mind that to be poor and seem
poor best but poor policy, put coat covered
from collar to skirts with gold, we were walking mo-
nument Of the hard money currency and the little ragged
Turkish boys ran away from before in alright, while
our Mameluke guards rattanncd the Loeofoeos who
surrounded Us In amazement at the surprising wealth
OF the country Of which were the proud represent
tative" There had been revolution in Tnns the
night previous The reigning Bey cooly shot bis bro
ther with bunderOuss, cut OH the neauS OF MS Two
sonssaughtered his whole cabinet-seated himself on
the Throne, ordered the cannon TO be fired, and sent
word that he ready to receive The Grdad9-
tettocs OF the land all in the hall Of audencehe
foreign Consus and attendants present at the
ceremony of presenting credentials, and his mag
nfcenl Highness, dressed in his richest costume,
posed on an ottoman OF velvet cushions, with guns,
pistols attaghans, fans, and snuff boxes Of the most
costly variety aud workmanship lying at his side for i'm
mediate service, if required KISS his hand said
our predecessor. We looked at him ferocously. "ls
il the custom ~ said in tones not very amiable.-
The British Consul said yes, the Duch Consul nodded.
the French Consul took snuff and shrugged his shout
ders sgnifcantly--we stopped we ought to have
done, in complying with custom SO degrading though
required by the policy of nations, to kiss hand yet
reeking with brothers blood His thumb and all his
fingers were covered with immensely valuable brinnts
the spoils" his to-day, but some new murder
might make them anothers in short time, and through
the progress Of another Revolution. We FASTENED to
home sick of this ceremonythrew of the thar
ness on our back" and with comfortable nighigown and
slippers, muscd alone the vanity and folly OF such
ceremonies.
Prof,ssorsbiD of Oriental Literature in Ho,rdrd