Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-23
SPANISH COURT ETIQUETTE.
Pierre souIe and Queen IsabeIl


Pierre SOule and Queen Isabella.
Maunse B. Field was sent to Madrid
with important dispatches during the
time of Pierre Soule's mission to that
court. He thus describes the interview
with Isabella II:
The palace of Madrid is situated at
one extremity Of the city, and directly
over the Manzanares. 1t is very ele-
CANT structure but only one-eighth the
size oe the building Originally projected.
No finer apartment than the throne
room is to be found in any palace in
Europe.
We moved up slowly to the farther ex-
tremity of the ambassadors waiting
room, and stationed ourselves to the
right of the closed door. Opposite us
stood about dozen of the highest
grandees in Spain, headed by tie dimin-
ntive Duke of Medini Cell, all in gor-
geous array, blazing with stars and
orders. They had just come from an
audience with the Queen. After mo-
ment's hesitation the little nobleman
above named crossed over with solemn
deliberations, and facing Mr.. Soula,
bowed nearly to the ground with over.
powering gravity. He then turned to
me and saluted me with less formality.
All the others in turn went through the
same performance. Presently there ad \
vanced toward us brisk, fidgety per
sonage, with gray hair. He proved to
be the Introducer of ambassadors, "
or, as he would elsewhere be called, the
chamberlain. Tapping gold snuff-box
he opened the lid and offered pinch to
my chief, behind whom | was standing,
at the distance of a step or two. i am
glad to see you well, Mr.. Soule," he com
menced, presenting his hand. Your
audience is, | think, set down for seven
o'clock, and | believe her Majesty is
ready to receive you.
While he said this his eyes kept wan
dering from Mr.. Soule to me, and he
scanned me from head to foot.
After moments pause he resumed;
But, Mr. Soule, you assuredly do not
expect this gentleman to accompany
you"
Il beg your pardon, certainly do"
answered Mr.. Soule. This gentleman
is Secretary of the United States Lega-
ton at Paris" Il was only so, as | have
explained, ad interim.) "He has come
to me with very important dispatches,
and for the present is attached 10 my
legation. There are very peculiar rea.
CONS why | am anxious that he should
see her Majesty on this occasion"
at is quite impossible, my dear sir
quite impossible. There are two insu-
perable objections. In the first place
no audience has been requested for himi
and, in the next place, he is not in uni
form. 1t is only the other day that the
French Emba ssador wished TO present q
gentleman connected with the diplo-
macy of bis Gogntry, who ioas in uni
form, but for whom an audience had not
been asked, and he was not allowed to
do So"
Nothing" answered Mr.. soSle,
would be farther from my wish than to
violate the etiquette of her Majesty s
court upon trihing pretext. Tins gen
tleman is not in uniform only because
be left Paris in great has:e, end brought
mona with him. AS / have already seld
have special motives for wishing him
to see the Queen, and, under the circum-
stances, must request yo9 70 take her
Majesty s personal commands upon ms
subject.
There. was no answering this so the
unfortunate chamberlain bowed with
rueful countenance, and went 10 Fefer
the matter to the tribunal Of last resort.
As soon as the door closed upon him
Ne. Boule took my arm, and We slowly
paced up end down the room. II 70
all right nOv." BE- whispered to me; the
Queen is the best nstared person in. the
world, and | am sure tRRt she Will not
turn you away.
As we entered by this door Isabella
II eHiared by another door from the di-
agonal corner. The movement seemed
TO be a simultaneous one. Twas a little
behind Mr.. Soule, to the right. The in
stant he perceived the Queen he bowed
to the nooS, and followed his example,
as he had instructed me TO do in all
things. At the same instant down came
her Majesty in the way that schoolgirls
call making a cheese" One step With
each foot, and the ceremony was re-
heated on both sides. And so on some
six or seven times, until vs net at a
marble table in the center Of the F0Gn.
Mr.. Souie, holding the Presidents letter
in hit hand, iheR commenced in low
tone a very fluent and elegant little
speech in French, at the conclusion of
which he laid the letter upon the table.
While this was going on the Queen stood
with her right hand resting on the table,
and with a look that plainly indicated
that she considered such business bore.
I had an ample opportunity to take men
tai notes Of her appearance. II my I'M I
pressions were not hatterlng, they we're
at least unprejudiced. and ] must sacri- /
fee gallantry to truth.
"1'he Innocent Issbel, as she vas