Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-29

receiving his serene highness. Nextly
the second best fy-green body, rec
wheels, and leopard-skin chintz lining;
snowy, impressive equipage, in which
were seated the clarionet, cornet, flute
| and big drum attached to the theater, The
big drum nearly filling the interior Of TIT
vehicle, and somewhat obscuring the dis
tinguished musicians seated therein. This
imposing procession of two carriages wa:
followed by an immense crowd, composed
of half the population of Slushton. o
course the worthy citizens, being out o
work, had nothing better to do than t
pay their respects to the royal foreigner
and to show him, in the deliberate anC
piercing stare of the well-bred English
man, the distinguishing mark of British
hospitality.
Arrived at the station, which, with that
regard to public convenience which gen
orally characteriZes the station of pro
vincial town, was about mile from the
High Street, Mr. Wilmington alone de
scended from his vehicle, and entered the
gates of the building. He expressed {
request to his friends and the public that
they would not accompany him any far
Their, as their appearance in too abrupt &
manner might discomfort the modest dis
position of the great Ramji. This milo
request, however, did not prevent Mr.
Bulkins, of the Kings Arms (renowneG
Tor possessing great sporting acumen, and
being always able to name the outsider
that won't win the Derby or the Leger)
Mrs. Potash, the washer-wOman, heI
daughter, Miss Potash (in her best bon
net of scarlet velvet and pearl beads, 8
cheerful and summary head-gear), Miss
hOOXanise, the dressmaker's apprentice
three nUrsemaids, sixteen babies, and
several other enterprising individuals
from penetrating to the very door OF
the second-class carriage, from which,
with that unaffected humility which
distinguishes those who are born in the
purple, descended the ilIustriOus ROwde-
dow.
Now most Of the inhabitants of SlUsh-
ton We're well acquainted with the private
life and domestic Affections Of OthellO,
the noble Moor; and it occurred to all
present that the prince bore a very strong
resemblance to that individual as he
would appear after exchanging his cost
ly robes for a badly fitting dress-coat from
the emporium of Messrs Moses 81 Sons.
The noble physiognomy of the prince, it
is marvellous to add, recalled to several
among the play-going population of
Slushton face they had seen somewhere
before, though the recollection was so
vague as to make very little impression
on those not over impressiOnable citizens.
His complexion, of a brownish- black, was
relieved by a crimson glow which illum-
ined his cheeks, and threw out the whites
Of his eyes with Oriental brilliancy. His
long sleek hair, of rather q bluish-black
Gin the sun it looked purple), was worn
with the ends rolled under, after the man.
ner Of gentlemen Of the equestrian persua-
sion. He wore large beard and mus
tache, which impaired something of fer
Ocity to his otherwise mild (sOoth to say,
somewhat timOrous) expression of coun-
tenance. He wore a magnificent fez cap.
surmoUnted by rich Though rather tar
nished) gold tassel, and decorated with
two or three large brooches somewhat in
the style of those which issue from the
hands of the theatrical commentaries
of Birmingham and Bow street,, but
which, no doubt, were the royal Jewels of
his imperial race; he also wore on the
ample breast of his dress-cOat which was
a little white about the seams, two or
three stars and crosses, besides that noble
quadruped, the elephant usually worn by
his youthful highness, Hamlet the Dane.
A superb crescent of tin-foil, mounted on
red cloth, shimmered in the dim Obscur-
ity Of his waistcoat, and, seen from dis
lance, impressed the young mind with
the idea of the diamonds of Col
cOnda. His costume was completed
by pair of white duck
trowsers, patent-leather alberts. A bamboo
cane, and an eyeglass, it being only be-
coming in royalty to be shortsighted.
Nothing could exceed the en2presSeanent
with which Mr.. Wilmington greeted the
prince; he conversed with him apart in a
foreign language, with characteristic
gesticulation, which was eminently graft
flying to the lookers-on; he preceded him
to the carriage, hat in hand, walking
backward-yes, actually walking back
ward, feat by which he cruelty punish
ed the corns of the aggrieved popuIace
who pressed close behind him. He also
handed the exiled potentate into the pink
striped fly, and seated himself respectful
ly opposite, with his back to the horses.
Then arose such a Shout as perhaps since
the days when the Reform Bill passed had
never been heard in Slushton-a shout of
friendly welcome for the dark scion of a
princely race, who sat bowling, smiling,
and displaying a set of faultlessly white
teeth to The admiring citizens, The band
began, at a wink from my friend Whiting
ton, to play See the eOnquerG1g Hero, etc,
which, as within no ones knowledge had
the person ever been in battle, was of
course highly appropriate. The two flies
set off at foOt-pace, the delighted pOpu-
lace on either side. They were charmed
with the princes bow; they were en-
raptured with the princes smile; and ooh,
look at his teeth" yes, an audible MUIR
muir was heard among the thrOng-"l0ok
at his teeth" at which, strange to say,
the prince abruptly closed his mouth, and
declined to exhibit his dental appendages
any more. The prince was evidently of a
sensitive and retiring disposition. But,
above all things, the delight Of the popu-
lace was the evident and demonstrative
admiration eyinced by his serene high
ness for the town and public buildings of
SlushtOn. He expressed, in vehement
pantomime, his opinion that Slushton in
architectural beauty surpassed the proud
towers of Delphi, the city of palaces; that
the river Sloshy in natural beauty might
dispute the palm with his native Ganges,
or the classic Indus dear to his child
hood When Mr. Wilmington pointed out
to him the church of St. Bulgrumblery,
the chapel of ease, the fsh-market, the
Baptist chapel, the post-office, and that
elegent aesthetic range of buildings
known as the shambles, devoted to the
sale of butcher's-meat, his shrugs, mods
and gesticulations evinced such admira-
ton as the inhabitants of the town had
never beheld before, even in new can
didate for the representation of the
borough. The procession was, in short,
intanSelv successful. and nv new star.