Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-06-16
NO. 3.

M Aiter oihner the party adjourns to the draw
ins looins' ana there the Queen casts aside al.
teeremony, ana gives herself up TO npoeent
ipleasure, and the.promotion of the anionuort IS
hel suestS ana FAMILY. If the party be NOT
large, cnamDer concert or dance is innnrov;s.
cd the queen herself taking a prominent mart in
the singing. The objects of interest to a strano-
er III the suit OF drawing rooms are numerous
anu the queen Is not slow to invite attention to
and explain them-a hospitable Office in wb;cI
sac is cordially sustained by the Princes and
Prlncesses, and the ladies and noblemen of the
nousenoid. Tnere are magnificent vases; stat
ues OF marble, bronze and aabaster. 0lorions
pictures by the first masters, ancient and modern
poitiolios OF engravings, musical Instruments
| curious artlc'es o. 0ertU, etc. All is life and
doGndon. At half-past eleven or earlier the
queen retires. gracefully courtesying to the
company, the ladies IN waiting and the ladv
guests acknowledging the obeissnce by sinking to
the very ground.
A drawing room at St. James Palace. is a
grand affair 1t is then that the aristocracy
makes its greatest display. The exquisite beau
~ OF the youthful ladies who are to be present.
ed IS exhibited to the greatest advantage the
warmth OF the weather (it is May) admitting of
tne dresses being worn very low the dowagers
Dlaze ~ith ihe family diamonds; the major part
Oh the noDlemen and gentlemen rejoice in militia
| ry or naval attire the ambassadors and minis
lars are grand IN their gold laced coats, swords
anG Gags; the guards are in their newest uni
form the carriages are of every hue, the pam
neis emolazoned with rich coats of arms, and the
hammer Cloth composed of embroidered velvet
OF costly wooden fabrics the coachmen and SER
wants are all yelveteen, plush, silk stockings
| powdered wigs, and vast bouquets; and the
proud horses, caparisoned with silver harness.
snort and paw the ground, challenging a part of
the admiration bestowed by the thousands who
crowd the Str6ets ar the Dd lace pDon the yehi
cles and their handsome occupants.
An introduction to toe British court-in other
words, presentation to the Queen. which does
not always carry the presented beyond the pre-
cincts OF the court is effected after this wise =
person deSirous of being presented, seeks the
favor OF some nobleman or lady who has already
enjoyed the privilege. He or she writes on two
cards the name OF the person to be presented and
that OF the IntrOducer. One OF these cards is re-
tanned by the lord chamberlain, the other is laid
before the Queen, that feitber of the individu-
ais named be Objectionable, her Majesty may ex-
press her dlsinci:Dation to receive she party
gentleman must be presented at sslevee'' be- =.
fore he can be admitted to a ssdrawing room -
The levee is held by the highest prince in the
ream If, after presentation, it should be dis
covered that there is a flaw IN the character of
the individual who has been introduced ct court,
notice appears in the London "Gazette,'' sign
ed by the lord chamberlain, to this effect:
ssIhe presentation OF ----, on such q day, at
her Majesty's drawing room, held at St. James
Palace, was mistake aud such presentation is
MOI 10 De COHSlu0FsQ as having taken
Such advertisements are of rare occurrence.
Only two have appeared in twenty years.
On the drawing room day, the Queen, sur
rounded by the other members of the royal fam
lily, and the great officers of state, takes up her
place under das, or throne canopy, and the
company passes before her. The ladies' courtesy
10 the earth, the gentlemen fall on one knee and
kiss the Queens hand all parties backing out
through a door opposite to that by which they
entered. That same ssbackng out" is a trouble
some process, especially to the fair sex, whose
trains long. and, therefore, very embarras-
sing.
On the night Of the third and last drawing
room day, which is generally held on the Queens
birthday, many of the ladies go to the opera in
the dresses they have worn at the drawing room.
The coup d'GiL then presented from the stage is
superb. The glitter of the diamonds, sOttened
by the waving ostrich plumes and marabOuts
the richness of the silks, brought out vividly by
the light of five hundred lets of gas, and, ahev9
all, the nealth and loveliness of thousand
young faces present picture which, once seen,
is never forgotten.
Such is an outline of the manner in which the
British sovereign passes her days in London
at Windsor. When the summer arrives her Mai.
esty betakes herself to her beautiful marine
abode in the Isle OF Wight, and gives herself up
to domestic enjoyment. Parliament is then
'sup;'' the members then scatter themselves all
over. the world and the ministers of State retire
to their country houses. In the autumn the
Queen has hitherto gone down to her estate in
Scotland. Contiguous to Balmoral is some fine
deer stalking, manly sport. in which the late
Prince COnsort and the Prince of Wales partic-
ularly delighted. The poor Highlaniers, in the
vicinity of BaImorai, like the poor people in the
Isle of Wight, always look forward with delight
to her Majesty's advent, for then they taste roy
al benifcence administered with no niggard
hand.