Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-01

ROEal primer Party
At this season, except that fashion is
slightly less bustling in Lent, London is
very much live-taking its tone from the
Court. Queen Victoria's little dinners
always drew a certain number OF invited
no, Of commanded guests, for the Ell
quette is, not that Royalty requests the
pleasure of ones company, but orders IT,
Indeed, so very autocratical is the sys-
tenn, that, supposing you had arranged
to give dinner to number of your own
friends, and received a card from the
Lord Chamberlain of the Queens house,
household, desiring you to dine, on the
same day, at the Queens table, there is
no refusing on any other plea than that
Of positive illness. Not to 60 would be
a sort of petty treason, and you would
have to send a circular round TO your
own guests, stating that the Queen com
mands, compelling you to dine at Buck
ingham Palace, also compelled you TO
uninyte them.
Not that, except the honor and glory
Of the thing, there can be much comfort
or satisfaction in hVing ones legs under
the Royal mahogany. First Of all, the
guest must put himself into \ Court dress.
which makes him look like a fooiman in
private life with knee brooches and silk
stockings, lace crayat and ruilles, amplest
Of Waistcoats and shad bellyist Of coats.
Then, if he does not keep his own car
riage he must hire one looking like a
private vehicle, for its doubtless whether
since creation commenced, any one ever
WqL.e} TO a royal dinner-and the idea of
going thither in a cab would probably
have a mortal effect on the enormous pOr-
ter, in scarlet and gold toggery who re-
ccivos your card of invitation when he
admits you For supposing all the pre-
llminary trouble ondcd-suppOsing that
you have found your way 10 the Queen.
and stealthily looked around at the pic
lures, and counted over Gall this time in
solemn silence) the spots or flowers on
the carpet for the tenth time, and march-
ed in file into the sale de glaaQer-sup-
posing all this, do not imagine that you
are going 10 enjoy yourself No, in
deed. None but Mark Tanley could be
"jolly" at such q feast
Royalty has already dined, about three
o'clock, probably of the hereditary leg
Of mutton.and turnips, and has added the
usual quantum Of ricepudding and the
bit of old Cheshire, or rich sutton, or
double Gloucester cheese and imbibed
the accustomed mug or two Of Guinness
or Meux. This rcpast, called lunch, is
really good, homcly, filling dinner, and
at the solemn rcpast, five hours later, PEG
pie are expected to sip and taste through
several courses, 50 that one is reminded
of the famous feast Of the Barmecide
The Viands arc Of the best, the cuisine
perfect, the yintages superb--but one can
merely taste. ROyalty's appetite was
blunted Off on the leg Of mutton and the
pudding, the cheese, and the bottled pOr-
ter, and the guests should have taken the
edge OFF theirs by q similar process
AZ these sadly solemn reunions, dull
silence giimly reigns There is not even
a whisper to your ncighbor-if you knew
him. The etiquette is, do not open your
mouth unless royalty expressly conde-
scends to speak TO you Do not expect
such a compliment. That is reserved for
a few favored guests in the immediate
vicinity Of the regal hostess. The din
ner occupies from sixty TO ninety MN
utes, and when ended, the Queen rises,
all other ladies rising and retiring with
her. The male guests remain some ten
minutes longer silently slipping their
wine, or whispering in small knots, with
bated breath. AZ last the senior officer
Of the household present rises on his hind
legs and majestically gives "The Queer"
as a toast, which every one drinks. III
any male member Of the Royal family is
present, he bows an acknowledgment.
Coffee follows and then the guests depart
"a few TO the drawing room where the
maids Of honor are yawning, tho rest go
ing home, where it Is supposed each man
gets out Of his livery Al once, and gets
rid Of his gnawing hunger by means Of
oysters and stout such, i am informed
by one who experienced H. is the routine
Of royal dinner. lie was an East In