New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-26
LIPPINCOTT.

Lippincott for this month, taking counsel OF
the season. mainly devoted to the amusement of Its
numerous readers forest groves by rocky shores,
presenting copous supply of lively narrative, exciting
story aud piquant anecdote one OF its most readable
articles describes the "EHglIsh Court Festivities"
showing the comical absurdtes with which presenta-
ton al court attended The ceremony il seems Is
mere spectacle and confes personal social advan
tage.
Americans have an impression that the English think
IL considerable distinction 20 be presented at court
But the ceremony of presentation has entirely ceased 70
have any social significance IN England ANY young
gentleman who magnes that the door OF English society
Will be thrown open TO nun on Ihe puDncaoh OF hs ap
pearauce draWingroOm had better save the expense
OF dress and carriage aud stay at home II lady be
ambitious Of social success, the money which robe
will cost might be expended TO equal advantage any
where else III London. However, ladVs dress may be
worn again. anu MN NAV iiIV tS,It.l. 4ul ny 10y
at very small cost. Your tailor II you get good deal
of him. will patch You up something tOleriDle for very
Titles 80 That sartOrlai expenses are Comparatively
light. One can get for the afternoon tW0-nOrse
br0ugham, WIN aeoacnnan ana !oothdn' Iol a sum
less than ten dollars still gong to court costs some
thing, and its only possible advantage is mat the
fore TO consider whether the sight Is worth the Fee
1t is Of no more Importance 10 Enghshman than to
a foreigner Almost anybody can be presented.
Graduates OF "a university, clergYmen, officers in the
army are entitled TO CO. Merchants, attorneys,
barristers, are not admitted.
On visit TO London some years ago the writer was
presented IN the diplomatic circle, went TO several
the drawing-roOms and eNees az buckingham and 81.
Jamess Palaces, and was invited to the court balls and
concerts Invitations TO the court festivities are given
ONLY TO those pc presented the diplomatic circle.
1t must be understood that there Is ut every court In
Europe a select and elegant and exclusive entrance by
winch the dipomatsts in. Along with them
also the ministers OF state ana the household officers OF
the Crown The general circle as 1t Is called, includes
everybody else. Another entrance and staircase
provided for II, and in that all OF British society,"
IRON duke halfpay captain, gains Abundance 10
The sovereign When one is in the inside OF Bucking
ham or St. Jamess Palace the same distinction exists
The room ia which the members OF the royal family re-
ceive the public is occupied during the entire ceremony
by the diplomatic circle. Other persons, after bowling
TO the Queen, pass into an antechamher.
Tboush say 1t is OF but small social advantage TO an
Engshman TO be presented, yet undoubtedly the great
est people IN the empire attend court and are TO be seen
AT r1e ceretnonals and festivities az Buckingham and
ST. James's Palaces AT present the queen holds draw
ino.ToOms and evees at Buckingham Palace, and the
Prince OF Wales at ST. Jamcs's Palace. The latter
attended only by gentleman and though not SO grand
Instead OF the kneebreeches and stockings which must
be worn all court ceremOnlas where there are laues
Al oclock-for the Prince is very puDctua-the doors
of the receptOnrOOm thrown opel and the diplo-
uatists begin 20 file in. First 0me The ambassadors.
II must he remembered that there Is wide difference
betWeen an ambassador and an envoy or minister pel
pOteutary The original difference was that the enDas
sador supposed, by sort of transu6stantiaOn, 10
al any time 10 demand an audience or the KING An
envoy must the foreign secretary TINS. OF course,
haa ceased have practical slgnhcance III cOun
tries winch have constitutions and no doubt minister
can al any time demand interview OF the sovereign
Is s true, however that an emDass idOr is accredited
10 The king while the accredited TO the foreign
secretary. Practically, the difference Is that an emOas
in fuer house, and gives more parties and grander
dinners An ambassador has precedence OF everybody
IN the country which he resides, except the royal
family.
The Queens levees much larger than those Of the
Prince of Wales. The brilliant toilets OF the ladies'
greatly increase the magnifcence OF the spectacle
Men are compelled " wear silk stockings and knee
brceches slippers o. and shoebuckles" This costume
is bearable in a room, but in getting from the
rsge to the door it 10 often like walking kneedeep in
tub OF cold water.
The ceremony OF presentation 20 the Queen is quite
the same as that at Prince OF Waless evee the
spelling class OF royal ladies stand rigid row On
the Queens right is the Lord Chamberlain who reads
on the names. Next to the Queen left, Is AIeX
andra, then the Queens daughters, and the Princess
Mary OF Cambridge. Next 20 them stand the Princes
aud the whole Is phaanx which stretches entirely
across the room. Behind this line, drawn up In battle
array, stand three or four ranks OF court ladies.
. The act OF presentation IL very easy and simple
fOrmeriy-indeed, until within a few years-it must
nave Deen very per1ous and important feat. The
courier tine term Is used inaocurately but there no
noun 10 describe person who goes 70 court for single
umeI was compelled 10 walk no a long room. and TO
Dack powing, out OF the Queens presence For ladies
VINO mac uahs 70 manage the ordeal must have been
but one point In which presentation the Queen dir
ers from that already described the Prince Waless
eVee You may turn your back the Prince but after
bowling " the queen you step OF into the crowd still
facing her. There ar you have the good luck 10 lie
presented in the diplomatic crcle you stand an
watcn most interesting pageant To the young roy
altes, perhaps Is not very amusing. though they ey