The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-05-31

phDCpholuH Huttcut uhu ttiG WNo WtA-
coined to the city by the Head Burgomas-
ter, who delivered himself of little
speech, in which he advised her to initiate
the Empress in caring for charitable OBJ
jects, and so to make her coming bless
ing to the city. Isuppose she heard about
as much Of this as brides hear Of the
harangues sometimes inflicted by ministers
at weddings, and in her heart wished him
we'll back in the City Hall but the good
mans voice was soon drowned by the roar
Of cannon which announced that the
Princess had entered the city gate. The
royal cortege then proceeded up the Linden
to the great palace, where the King and
Queen, oil the Royal Family, and bril-
liant array of officers and ladies were
awaiting the bride. "The daughter Of |
Tyre shall be there with gift, even the
rich among the people shall entreat thy
face. She shall be brought unto the king
in raiment of needlework; the virgins
also, her companions that follow her
with gladness and rejoicing shall they be
brought: they shall enter into the kings
palace
Il was about one P. VI. when the palace
was reached The bride was now led be-
fore the King, and the marriage compact
was signed between his Majesty the King
of Prussia and his Highness the Duke
of Sachsen- -Altenburg. Then the King
led the bride to the suite Of rooms pre-
pared for her in the palace, and thus she
was installed as member Of the Royal
house. At three o'clock she dined with
the members of the Royal Family, and at
six o'clock the guests began to assemble
for the marriage ceremony.
In the great palace are long, long suites
of rooms--picture galleries, dining halls,
throne rooms, bathrooms, ETC., some most
elegantly decorated-terminating at last
in richly ornamented chapel. In this
chapel were gathered the dignitaries priv
ileged to attend the marriage, and the
long picture gallery was lined on both
sides with favored spectators of the process
sion. Starting from remote part of the
palace where the bride had her quarters,
this magnificent array swept through the
successive apartments the Grand Marshal
and his staff, the kings household officers
two and two, the cavaliers appointed to
wait upon the bride, the bridal pair-the
train Of the brides dress carried by four
ladies Of the court--the military staff of
the bridegroom, the household officers of
the queen, the court officers of the
king, the king in person leading the
mother of the bride-her train carried by
two pages--the military staff of the king,
the attendants Of the Duchess Of Sachsen-
Altenburg, the Queen of Prussia, attended
by the crown prince and the father Of the
bride-her dress borne by four ladies
then the staff officers of the crown prince,
and Of the Duke Of Sachsen-Altenburg, the
prince of Netherlands leading the crown
princess of Prussia, and then about thirty
princes and princesses in couples; the
trains of the ladies carried by pages. The
whole course Of the procession was enliv-
ened with delicious music.
Just before entering the chapel the EN-
press placed upon the head of the bride a
crown Of diamonds. The marriage service
was performed by the Rev. DIR. Kogel
At the moment when the ring was placed
on the brides finger princely salute Of 3G
guns was fred before the palace. When
il was concluded, the bridal procession
returned to one Of the grand throne halls,
where the king and the bride seated them
selves at a cSrd-table, and the queen and
the bridegroom at another The other
members Of the royal family took places
also. This custom of the card-table is {
very old one, and is designed to relieve
the stiffness of the after ceremony, by Civ
: ing it the appearance of social party. All
, the high personages, ambassadors, gener
ais, etc., and the ladies' Of the court, now
defled before these card-tables, and made
their obeisance to the king and queen and
to the bridal pair. Supper now followed
then all repaired to the spacious and mag
nifeent white hall. Here the splendor O
the illumination, the brilliancy of ladies
jewels and Of gentleman's decorations, The
gorgeousness Of military costumes, and tn
bewitching strains Of music, gave a fair
aspect to the scene, and the torch-ligh
dance completed the illusion. This dance
was the most curious feature of the cere
mony, and is relic of the middle ages
. Il is strictly promenade in time witt
J music. First came the Grand Marshal ant
his staff the twelve ministers of State
: ranged two and two, beginning with tn,
/; youngest, and ending with Bismarck ant
Won Room, now followed, each carrying ,
huge lighted candle; then came the brida
. pair, and this brilliant procession mad
the circuit Of the hall, saluting all th,
guests. Next the king took the brid
Q and led her around in the same order
I, The crown prince followed, and ever
y other prince in the order Of his ranks
. that the poor bride was marched reun,
9 nineteen times Then the bridegroom LEI
. the queen ndeach princess in turn aroun
the same circuit. The unfortunate torcl
). bearers had to keep up their march 70
y over an hour
!, At the close of the dance the royal pre-
II cession accompanied the newly marrie
= pair back to the bridal apartments, whicl
were sumptuously adorned. "The king
daughter is all glorious within RI. e., i
n her palace chambers,] her clothing is @
2 wrought gold. All thy garments smell Q
y myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of tn
q ivory palaces whereby they have made the
y glad" The procession halted at the doo
u but the Grand Marshal entered, and 70
% lowing another old custom, present.
x brought out upon a golden salyer garte
= cut into fragments, which were distribute
1 lF - \