The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-05-10
TWO ROYAL MARRIAGES.

angular Bridal Costumes-Ris'
marck DancisE with . Taper n
Hts Hand.
Berlin and Vienna were enlivened
last month by . royal marriage in each
city. In Vienna the snte-nuptisl court
festivals were marked by the admission
Of members Of the press, circumstance
very unusual at exclusive gatherings OF
the kind. The match was known to be
one of mutual INCLINATION and not OF
politics, and the people gave free vent
to their joy; many charitable institu.
tons were established 10 honor Of the
occasion. and all the provinces and
towns cent Populations to congratulate
the i'm perisl couple. Hungarian and
Polish msgnstes. in their various orders.
generals, ambassadors, and ladies Of
rank, gave the Austrian festivities an
appearance OF extreme magni6cence.
Atthe marriage Of Emperor Wilhelm's
nephew some queer post-nuptisl cere-
monials OF tue olden time were observed.
The pretty, blushipg, young bride
arrived from Altenburg in the state
carriage Of the royal family, hous Q
on wheels, all gilt, and surmounted by
q helmet and crown, drawn by eight
horses, ito exterior crowded with pages
and lackeys OF all degrees. The cere-
mony was performed in the evening at
the Palace Chapel, in the presence OF
the members Of the two families. Then
came supper and the extraordinary pa
peant OF the Fackei Tans, which, In &C.
cordsnce with the old court custom,
closed the day. or night. The Berlin
correspondent OF the London Tmes
gives the following description OF the
closing entertainments:
The Fackel Tans or Torchlight Minu.
ct, is a courtly rite performed, curiously
enough, not by the Chsmberlains, but
by the members OF the Cabinet on the
occasion OF royal marriages. The
torches, symbolicsl Of hymenial bliss,
have, indeed, long been superseded by
tapers OF exquisite odor aud light; but
now, as two hundred years ago, the
Ministers OF the Crown consider it al
honor to be selected to move grace
fully up and down to the measured ca
deuce OF the music, and, candle in hand,
pay their respects to the new married
couple. So highly valued is the honor
Of sharing in the display, in the present
instance, q Question had arisen as to
the memb OF the Cabinet who should
have the pas OF the others. Count
Room, being the Prussisn Premier,
claimed precedence OF Prince Bismarck,
who, in his Prussian capacity, Is onlv
Minister OF Foreign affairs; while
Prince Bismarck, asserting the German
Chancellor to be q more important per
sonsge than any Prussisn Minister,
Prem er included, insisted on his right
to lead off the Minuet, and marshal the
luminous host before the royal throne.
l need hardly cav that, as usual, the
Prince had It his own way, stepped first
aud foremost and held the biggest ia.
per. The ministerial prelude over, the
bride, likewise in accordance with ira
dtiooal etiquette, walked up to the
Emperor. and, bowling low, requested
the honor OF dancing with bis Majesty.
This was the signal for general polo
nsise of the Court, Ministers always
keeping ahead. torch in hand, At the
conclusion OF the polonaise. the young
couple retired, the members OF the Cab
met having previously resigned their
ia pers to like number OF pages. whose
Office it is to light the happy pair to
their apartments Immediately after,
occurred the remarkable ceremony OF
the distribution OF the Garter, common
to all classes in the Middle Ages, but
nowadays observed only by the royalty
and the count y folk Of some primitive
districts A ribaDd, called the Bride
Garter, with her initials interviewer in
it, ia presented to the gentlemen OF the
Court, who pin it round their coat
sleeves, carrying it home as q trophy
OF the day and remlniscsnce OF the
event.