Smyrna times., 1877-02-28
The Decay Of Lionizing.

Both princes and the public are growing
sensible. We have had for several days in
this city two Grand Dukes, one Baron, and
one physician to the noble gentleman
aforesaid. The presence Of the imperial
party, having been duly announced in the
newspapers, has been well known, yet up
to this moment there has been no demon
stration, ordinary or extraordinary; no
barouching and no dining and winning at
the expense of an exhausted city treasury,
no balls and no firing of cannon without
balls, no professions, and no calling out of
the militia. There was a time, and that
not long ago, when the Baron, solitary and
alone, would have created much more of a
dazzling and delightful disturbance. We
have certainly improved in good taste and
common sense since the Prince of Wales
was here. 1t has been the custom in our
effort to make distinguished strangers COM
Portable to render them as uncomfortable
as possible. 1t was with such cruel kind
ness that we treated the japanese. 1t was
thus that nearly forty years ago we hospit-
ably maltreated Mr. Dickens. Equally did
we oppress the Prince de Joinyille, and.
long before, the excellent Lafayette. TO
catch a lion, literary, royal, military, or
musical, to walk that lion up and down,
to feed him in presence Of five thousand
people, to make him dance, to betrav him
INTO speech-making, and to put the Slight
est Wag OF his tale into the newspapers, was
once considered thing of beauty and a
JOY for the time being.
His Imperial Majesty Dom Pedro Of
Brazil last Summer took advantage of our
profound interest in the Centennial cele-
bration to enjoy it himself He came to us
not merely with his crown off, but in a
plain costume, and without even a distin-
gushing button or epaulet Those who
expected to see him in his coronation robes.
with his scepter in one hand and the sword
OF state IN the other, those who never hay
ing seen monarch tanced that he must
look exactly like the King of Clubs, those
who thought that the divinity which doth
hedge monarch was something visible and
palpable, were rather surprised and possibly
aHttie disappointed in the Emperor lie was
treated, however, with the respect due to
all honest travellers, and he was civaly as
sisted to see whatever he thought to be
worth seeing. Having gratifed his curiosity
and increased his stock of useful knowledge,
he went quietly away very much respected
and followed by the good wishes of every
body. Did any one, in this age, ever hear
before OF monarch doing ANYTHING SO
perfectly sensible?
a prince may visit foreign land for
reasons OF state, and in such case some
what ostentatious reception is natural and
proper. prince may seek another country
because it is not precisely safe and convc-
nlent to stay in his own But when he
travels merely to enjoy or improve himself,
1T seems quite unnecessary to max festive
disturbance in honor of his advent, to fire
salutes and hoist ensigns, and give ceremo.
NOUS dinners and fatigung receptions.
These Russian Dukes have had so quiet a
visit that other scions of the leading royal
houses of Europe, Asia, and Africa may be
tempted to turn tourists in America. We
hope 50. 1t may do them good to see a
great people with no government save that
which they have imposed upon themselves.
Royal and imperial gentlemen have here
tofore thought their class indispensable to
the happiness and prosperity of mankind.
Those who still think SO may become wiser
and of course better princes by taking a
good private view of this republc-N. y.
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