The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-02-08
THE DECAY OF LONDON SOCI-
ETY.,
New York Times

There 10 a good deal of social excite
ment on the subject OF the Duke Of Edin-
burg's marriage 1tis supposed tina, a
daughter Of the Car may bring with her
fashions and tssts of her own, and NAV
introduce q new element into the amuse.
ments of English society. For s'me
years society has been in rather a disor-
ganized state. The queen lives in almost
absolute seclusion. Once or twice in the
season there is 4 state ball or state concert,
which the queen does not attend or specisl
court limited TO the diplomatic circle
and o few select members of the aris,oc-
racy, and more general garden party in
the grounds OF buckingham Palace or
Windsor, at which ths Queen docs conde-
scond to show herself. But this is all
The ordinary drawing-rooms and levees
are held by deputy; and the royal dinner
parties are Of strictly private, domestic
character. To all intents and purposes
the Queen lives entirely GU. of the wo.i!
The Prince OF Wales goes about great
deal, perhaps almost too much, but his
mission seems 10 be rather to sccept than
to dispense hospitality. He shoots over
his friends estates he dimes out
more than ne dines in: he
dances whenever he gets chance, and he
10 always ready 10 accept 3 box at the the.
s.er. with cigars for his suite. Blu, be
does not in any way attempt 10 assume
the lead in society, and indeed, he could
not pretend 10 do so a. long as be is con-
tent to 60 TO other peoples houses iostesd
Of asking other people to his ewn. Ifthe
Princes private accounts could be exam
ined, 4 would probably DO found tina, his
income is by no means large, considering
the demands which are made upon il
His mothers retirement throws upon him
almost exclusively the public representa-
ton Of the crown, and this involve, n
much larger outlay than most people are
aware Of. He has to give subscriptions 70
all sorts Of charities and other public Dur.
poses, and to provide for his family, who
will not be mentioned by the state until
they COME of age. Besides this, it 10 I'M
derstood that the Prince has a certain del.
icAcy about putting himself forward in =
prominent manner. lie holds that his
proper place At present is within the shsd-
o~ OF the throne, and that he ought not
70 presume TO come TO the front during
his mother s lifetime. II she will not oc.
eupy the place herself, he thinks it should
be left vacant. Next TO the Prince the
most prominent person In English society
has hitherto been the DIXIE OF Cambridge.
a genial and popular soldier, whom every.
body 10 glad TO see, but who has no means
to entertain 1t homo. The married dauph-
'srs OF the queen do not take up any po-
sNion oil their own in this country. Tho
Princess Louise, of Hesse, like the Crown.
prlncess OF Prussia, lives chiefly abroad.
Princess Christina is delicate in health
rrncoss Louise, OF Countess of Lorne
whose name ia occasionally seen toward
the beginning OF some ceremonial list In
the court circulars, with her husband. Tho
Marquis, following humbly at the tail Of
It,, Is rarely heard of, and is at pressn,
supposed to be travelling incognito ON tho
Continent. As for the Marquis, be ha,
been, A. it were, caught up into the clouds
the earth knows him no more, excep, as .
pale phantom In royal procession.