The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-11
pRITIsH CEREMONIES AND COURT ETIQUETTE,

As q companion picture 10 Lne inner Lhe
Of the British House Of Commons, " which APP
peared in the August number Of the NoriherA
Mondlg now bring before the reader few
other "reminiscences, which, as an illustration
Of state ceremonies, court etiquette, and that
Jealous regard for old fogyism still SO reli-
riously preserved by aristocratic England,
will doubtless prove interesting on this side
the Atlantic.
Foremostin my recollection, and by no means
the least important, is the auspicious event by
which the 25th day Of January, 1858, has
been rendered memorable in the annals of Bri-
Hsh history, namely, by the marriage of the
Princess Royal. Now, be it know that the
writer was wont to affect the ordinary costume
Of An ordinary member of the ''fourth estate"
in the nineteenth century; and when, on the
morning Of the memorable day in question, he
found himself taking his customary French
roll and coffee, clad in a blue cutaway coat,
with stand-up collar, adorned with silver lace;
when he gazed upon the silk inexpressibles
that descended only to the knee; when he
found his sitting position seriously inoommo-
ded by a toasting fork rapier attached TO his
side and when, lastly, his glance wandered on
a cooked hat uncommonly like the singular
article Of dress that covers the head Of the
Admiral in Bidck-eyed Susan, and who sits
in Judgment on the devoted civilian" 1" who
'played the fiddle like an angel" he could
not divest himself of the idea that he was either
going to, or was returning from, one of those
masquerades which M. Julien had made so
famous. Still, the fact remained that he was
going to the palace; and it was not without
great mental perturbation that he surveyed his
refectionin glass, and confessed that the knee
breeo-inexpressibes and silk hose, and
pumps were not unlike those Of a footman,
and that, in fact, the general makeup was by
no means advantageous. However, nerved by
q sense of public duty, he descended to the
cab in waiting, and casting stern glance at
the grinning boy at the neighboring grocery,
who muttered something about go crickeyl"
and 'calves % was quickly driven off and de-
posted at the destination whence, with seve-
raj others in similar ridiculous costumes, he at
once proceeded to st. James Palace.
Here all was courtly etiquette, and every
body was evidently trying to look extremely
at ease, but sadly failed in the attempt; for
even "GOld sticks in waiting were excited
by the occasion, and manifested evident signs
OF warmth, not to say moisture. After close
scrutiny of our respective credentials, we were
in due time led by variety ofpassages and cor
ridors-some, through which portions of
the procession were to pass, glittering in pur-
pie and gold; others, not to be honored by the
presence of royalty, in general condition of
gloom, dirt, and damp-into the large room
known as Queen Anne's.
II is IL o'clock, and every seat is occupied,
but a comparatively long period of suspense
has yet to elapse. We seize the opportunity
to admire the beauty of the scene presented.
Tier above tier shine resplendent rows of the
loveliest of highlands daughters; diamonds
sparkle with reckless prodfgality; ''the
wealth of Ormus and Ind'' is lavished on
dresses that in every hue and tint form a
gorgeous parteyre of prismatic splendor with
chromatropic variations; rubies and emeralds,
Opals, sapphires, and barbario pearls flash
dazzling coruscations through a mingled
mass Of waving feathers, gsuzy lace work,
and costly fabrics of the finest looms, while
above all CLEANS the transcendent radi-
ance of a perfect galaxy of eyes, any one Cor
rather pair) of which would have eclipsed the
tabled lustre.of those of the most perfect houri
in the paradise of Mohammed. To contrast
with the bewildering beauty of the lovely oc-
cupants OF the seats are the tall and statue-like
forms of the Life-G Guards, who stand motionless
by the doOrways; and, to crown the whole, the
bright rays of a meridian sun shed unwonted
splendOr on the glorious scene. AT length the
"high nobility are being conducted to their
respective places in the Royal Chapel. The
ministers, as they pass by, each in their
ministerial uniform, naturally elicit various
little comments-some favorable; some, and
indeed good many, the reverse. Clanricarde,
rs he marches past in stately dignity, draws
forth smiles of peculiar import and significance
from the entire assembly, circumstance, per
haps, in some measure attributable to his
calves, or rather his want of those requisites
but doubtless, in greater degree to the fact
that at that very moment memorial was being
signed by the most exemplary men of the
country against his appointment to Office on
the ground of immortality. Next came a knot
of notables in the uniform of the Prussian
diplomatic staff; but as they are generally
mistaken for PrHssian ivery!servants, no one
seems to notice them. Then several officers Of
the household troops, richly caparisoned; and
then the door opens, and behold postman in
the post Office livery is seen approaching. Such
merry sound of laughter now runs through
the room that the postman, disconnected, looks
around; when, @ to the amazement of all, the
features of the postman prove to be those o
Mr.. Secretary Labouchere, who had apparelle6
himself in the strange uniform OF one of the
elder brethren of the Trinity House, and pre-
Cious old brother he looks. At last the
large doors leading to the Throne Room
swing open, and lords and ladies', amid
the rustic of thick silks and satins
stand erect to receive the Majesty O.
England. A slight pause, whispering be
hind the halfopened portal, and forth
trips lady's maid, bearing basket.
litter of disappointment, and the parties ar,
re-seated Another slight pause, and, with
out any announcement or ostentatous display
the Princess of Prussia the mother of tn
bridegroom, attended by a group of Prussial
and English mobiles, enters the apartment anC
walks towards the Chapel Royal. The who'll
assembly rises and bows low as the Princess
oomely matron, makes one of those profounC
Ctoo CVuIeeFeS Is seldom seen elsewhere than on tn