Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-28

low obeisarce; not one eye that did not cast
an anxious look at this pale face, as profound
and as iDfexible as fate itself lie nod
ded but indiferently in acknowledgements
to the low REFERENCES rendered to him by
his vassals; no flashing up Of that fixed eye,
no smile OF triumph round those grim set
lips; all Indifference, or even safety in that
calm and profound couGtensnce. He was
already too much accustomed to homage and
fattery.
1t was the kings birthday. Nine years az
forwards on that same day, his illustrious
guest for whom the world was once not large
enough, gave up the ghost in a small rocky
island 10 the Atlantic ocean, and--Strange
fate-seven years later, on that same 5th OF
May, Frederick Augustus, king Of SIxony,
was called to his last account.
The lord steward showed the guests through
long row Of state apartments iuto the
white saloon" where they were received by
! the master of ceremonies, who by means OF
an Infinite number of bows and obeisances,
assigned to them their different places at the
royal table, according to the strict rules of
CO. rt etiquette.
! Whoever knows anything about court fash
| ions 10 Germany must be aware that-with
the sole exception, perhaps, Of the Chinese
EN- pire-their practice has nowhere else re-
csived so high a development. Indeed, the
science of etiquette Of which Louis XIV. had
laid the solid foundation had been thriving
there ever sioce, and may be considered now
to have attained the highest pitch of perlec-
ton. But amongst ell the thivty-eight courts
of that happy land, there is one that, in this
respect, has always gained the precedence
over all the rest, that stands unequal!ed for
. the strictnesS, the accuracy, the podantry
with which even the most minute prescrip-
tons of et;quet arc unrolentingly observed,
and that is declared as the very model of or
der and regularity in all the various depart
ments Of its household. The slightest IT,
friugemont of the inexorabe laws Of etiquette
is considered there as crime whereof no abb
solution can clear the UNHAPPY offender
Charles XII king of Sweden, bad to repent
afterwards of his dsdain for this same Ell
quotte, when he called one day--a hundred
years agl--2n Augustus H., E!ec:or of Sax
ony, attircd in a pair Of dirty riding boots,
end holding q horsewhip in his hand. lie
had just beaten the Saxon ormy in series
of bloody battles; had dictated to the elcctjr
the fata! peace OF Al,ranstadt, and was q
little pressed for time. Augustus II. would
have forgiven him the smaller ofcace of hav-
ing crushed $4,000 of his men to atoms, and
! laid under contribution the whole Of his pat
rimonial domains; but for his intrusion 10
drawing.room with dirty boots aud riding
whip, there was no excuse; and be made haste
to conclude his alliance with the Car Peter
of Russ o.
When the guests were seated the humorous
officers ofthe royal household took their differ
ent stations cjn.oimlble 10 their rank and
the duties attached to it.
The Cd tcudal custom Of waiting on the
sovereigIs was Of course carried out only By
the lord5.in-waiting, members of the first
families in the land, who therefore bad their
posts Of honor Immediately behind the chairs
OF the royal guests; behind them, in the second
file, were drawn up the assistant chamber
lains who had to help the lOTdsin-waitlug;
these were again waited upon by the pages
OF honor, who, 10 their turn, enjoyed the assIs-
lance of whole army Of yecmen, heyducs.
equerriea, grOJms, pLrters, walters and minor
court-:ervants, each OF them having his dit
ferent department assigned to him. The
whole attendance was ia full gala dress; the
the lords-io- waiting wearing all their nninsr-
Uus ubu OiuNi' tuS tu-No '''N' S'"NS
Ibi,s, and red velve. shoes with silver buck
les. and the rest OF the oficcrs of the royal
household the rich parade uniforms pr!scrie-
ed for the occasion. Tue assistant master o:
the ceremonies and the marshal of the cere-
monies had nothing to do but to walk up and
down and see that all was right.
The dinner was sure to be the first of the
order; and the big king of Wirtemburg had
made up his mind to enjoy it hugely. The
royal table in Sszony mas always had most
excellent repute, and orders had been given
BY the Ird.steward that full honor should be
done to the ancient glory of the house OF
bis royal master. The chief cook, master
cooks, clerks Ct the kitchen, messengers Of the
kitchen, women CT the kitchen, as well as
the other gentlemen Of the confectionery end
pastry, had been in great agitation for some
dayS and were now, Ike tho cranss ard
wheels of large engine, working to the top
Of their bent. German princes in general
are known 10 have no aversion 10 good cheer;
and those present were well pleased at the
idea of having couple of quiet hours be-
fore them wherein 70 make thor choice Of
the various luxuries gathered from all the
corners Of the globe.
Poor Ucn They little thought that they
were doomed to suffer heavy diSappoint
nent. But they had in fact been reckoning,
net without their host, hut without that pale
man vino was just upon the poin. 70 invade
the largest empire Of the world, and who
cared but little about full dress dinner.
When the soup had made its appearance,
and the plates passing from hand to hand.
after the Asiatic system of caste in full work
ing order: aided by all the advantages of o
superior civili.ation--had at last reached the
lords in waiting, who, with tho dignity ap
propriate to the occasion, placed them re-
spec,fu!ly before the monarchs. waiting
officer OF the imperial gsnerai staff entered
the room, and walking straight up to the
Prince Of Wagram, the Chief OF the general
staff OF that giant army just then on its way
Of destruction towards the East, whispered
few hasty words into the ear Of Marshal
Berthier. The little nan, with the fine CIT
features and expressive eyes, rose immediate.
~ and wen. oft OF the room.
The incident, slight as it was, did net es
cape the notice Of the King of Saxony, who
lsoked npon it as being extremely contrary
to rule; and bis patriarchal countenance at
once assumed an expression Of i'll temper,
which be could very i'll conceal
The door was opened again few minutes
afterwards, ard the Prince Of Wagram re e.
tered the apartment. His fine and clever
face wore its usual expression; but when he !