The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-08-20
s1,so5 IS

81 ,SU5 90
Mr. Chairman now do you relish the notion
Iofvoting away the hard cash Of your constitu-
ents, Of your farmers. mechanics. and poor Ia
borers for silk tassels, galloon, gimp, and satin
medallion, to bcautify and adorn the BLUE Ell.
|liptical Saloon2' Suppose. sir, after you shall
have turGed to the charming praries Of Illinois,
some plain, honest, republican Sucker should
inquire what use a real genuine hard-handed
loco-foco democrat like Mr. Van Barren can have
for silk covered pillows footstools and tabourcts
in the Blue ElGptical Saloon 2 How would
you reply to that honest Suckers interrogatory?
Wouldn't you acknowledge yourself fairly
stumped? But suppose he would ask what sort
of animals these tabourets, or tabby-cats, are?
/ will cndeavor to tell him, for | have lately
given some little attention to this ycurious de-
partment Of natural history. The tabouret is
an article of furniture, which, in Europe and
Asia, is only to be met with in the richest sa-
looms of monarchs. 1t is a convex seat, with
out arms or back, and in form bearing IL close
resemblance toa Turkish standard, or the moon
in her first quarter is composed of gilt wood,
cushioned and stuffed with very fine black
horse hair, covered with crimson damask,
figured satin, and garnshed with silk lace, gold
fringe tassels, tufts and stars. 1t is supported
by an X. Even before the days of the Crusades,
the honos.s Of the tdbouret were held in the high
est esteem. This honor consisted in the dis
tinguished privilege of sitting upon tabouret
in the ROYAL presence. By a long and well -es-
tablshed court ceremonial law in many mon
arches, no individual in the kingdom is entitl-
ed to enjoy this high distinction, on grand gala
days, save q DuTCHEss OF THE BLOOD RuyAL.s In
confirmation of what have stated in regard to
the Importance ascrbed to the 'honorsof the ta-
b0nret,' will read a sentence or two from a
recent and very interesting work by Governor
Cass, our distinguished minis ter at the Court of
st Cloud. The book is entitled France, its
King, Court, and Government | read from
page 81, London edition.
"Under the ancient regime, the right to
have both folding doors thrown open. or to sit
upon tabouret, which is cushioned stool,
was one of the greatest honors subject could
aspire to, and excited more sensation than ma
my politica event affecting the prosperity
| of the kingdom. On particular days the king
dined in public, when the principal personages
of the court and the kingdom were seen stand
| ing at his chair, holding plates and towels un-
der their arms and in their hands, &C.
4, Mr. Chairman, hesitate not to say that, if
you inquire infinitely into the history and uses
of the tabouret, you cannot fail to discover
that it has ever been regarded as among the
indispensable regalia Of q monarch, and is by
many considered almost as essential to kingly
Paraphernalia as the royal Jewels, the sceptre,
the diadem, or even the crown itself. The
four tabourets in the . Blue Eliiptical Saloon -
of the Presidents palace were procured from
France, and cost 939 francs 8 centimes Here.
sir, is the bill transmitted to this country with
| the tabonrets: ga