Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-06
FASHIONABLE LIFE IN LONDON.
Coming Out at u Drawing-ROOm-A
scene at n Queens Palace.


Coming Out at u Drawing-ROOm-A
scene at the Queens Palace.
An English gentleman writes to
a London newspaper as follows:
"Ithas sometimes been remarked
that a drawing-room in February is
not altogether IN unmitigated 10Y.
To the vision of the remark | can
testify from my personal expert
ences of last Thursday. In the
first place, the greatest part of our
street was in possession of our
protege, the working man, whose
serenity under the trying nature of
his occupation has been my admit
ration for a week. His appetite or
power Of sleep can only arise from
a clearness OF conscience given to
few, or an unfailing performance of
duty toward himself. The festive
day which found her Majesty en-
during Buckingham Palace for the
occasion opened, or scarcely dawned,
on the hazy grimy metropolis. In
the midst Of steady rain our stately
carriage drew up to the door, when
my wife, in all her splendor, stepped
forth into the dreary element, and,
seating herself with difficulty, soon
became lost to sight in centuries of
old lace. Meanwhile, an accident
was taking place within half a yard
of her unconscious back, owing to
a collision between two opposing
vehicles, the drivers of which could
not decide whether to bless more our
carriage or the board of works. 1t
was in vain my daughter-our
young debutant-screamed to her
mother to spring out that lady was
enjoying the unrufiied composure a
consciousness of diamonds alone
can give. At length we drove off,
and are soon passing languidly up
an avenue Of very happy, very dirty,
very wet human beings, standing
ankle-deep in mud-perfect models
Of physical endurance, and with the
high moral natures showing not a
sign Of envy in their hearts. Ar
irving at the palace, we meander
slowly through lofty corridors lined
with Yeomen of the Guard, and
find repose and many friends in
the ballroom. A g%littering mass is
huddled up at the entrance to the
adjoining room, awaiting the mo-
ment when these gallant gentlemen,
with their ungallant Office to per-
form, drop the cord which for the
moment holds the aristocracy in
allegiance. Weary, waiting, pres
sure and discomfort. The proudest
women of the land are here sub
jected to humiliations and indig-
mites unknown 10 them beyond the
precincts Of the palace; they have
to obey ordersl Your eyes, wearied
with diamonds, scan the ceilings.
aud find them wanting in cleanli-
ness. Scraps Of conversation amuse
one. Alady asks her friend to pick
up her tail and tuck it under her
arm. Darwin ought to inquire into
this. A very pretty woman is
chatting a gentleman about the
straw coming out Of his calves. A
whisper comes round hat the queen
has given up, and is walking about
the garden in a waterproof. Nc
kissing Of hands, thank goodness!
The last cord has been Withdrawn,
and | now leave my lovely charges
to take care of themselves and
double back to reach the final scene
by the circular method expected of
gentlemen on these occasions. l
arrived in time to find my wife has
passed, and, like a tragedy queen,
is watching the compartment Of
her daughter. That young lady
has just emerged from the hands Of
two magnificent pages, who have
shaken out her train and are nov
calling her name along the roval
path. Here. she comes, making the
transit Of the heavens like a grace
full and newly-discovered comet
with a long white tail. She stops
in her progress to courtesy with the
utmost condescension to their royal
highness drawn up before her.
From that moment the mother is
satisfied that her daughter is really
out, and that the whole world
knows it."