The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-05-12

| Coming down the staircase of st. James's
| Hall on Saturday afternoon in April, when
| the popular Concert" audience is floeking
! cut to brougham and cab, one is often desired
| by the attendant policeman to "fall back" and
| the crowd of gayly laughing and talking people
surge forward, then draw back, while two fair
| haired young women accompanied by a GENTLE
man and a lady attendant, make their way down
the staircase directly opposite. These are the
Princess Beatrice and the Princess Christian.
who are very regular in their patronage of good
music, and whose fair, fresh faces, very closely
alike in coloring, are well known at st James's
and Exeter Halls The two sisters often pause
for moment in the corridor or vestibule, ex-
changing few words with friends whom they
recognize in the crowd, occasionally with a IA
nous artist who has made his or her way out
near the sunshiny pavement of Piccadilly. The
few words spoken, an official goes forward to
the curb and opens the door of a modest broug-
ham, which the princesses and their attendants
enter. Every gentleman in the crowd holds
his hat in his hand; those nearest the carriage
bow respectfully and royalty drives away.
Such is the simple etiquette of departure.
On arriving at a concert, the princesses take
their places in the front row of the orchestra
stalls with very little formality, the people
nearest them only standing until they are seat
ed; and during the long interval of conversa-
ton and social moving about, between parts,
they chat freely with their friends who Join
them or are seated near. jenkins would find
little in their demeanor to elaborate on any of
these occasions; and, indeed, the formality of
the present English court ON any but state oc-
casions is so mechanical and quickly disposed
of that it must be far less trying and injurious
to the public than in the days when poor Fam
ny Burney was compelled to stand for three
hours reading aloud to her 'sweet Queen Char
lotte." During the entr' actes at either concert
or theatre the friends of the royal family must
always wait to be summoned, and, on joining
the Queen or princesses, bow instead of shak-
ing hands, and remain standing until they are
desired to be seated. The governesses, tutors,
etc., in the royal households always rise whe
any of the family come into the room, and
when the Queen is present, retire with GER
tain half-backward motion, which seemed so
formidable and wearisome an undertaking to q
certain French lady of our acquaintance that
she declined an important post once offered her
in the Queens household. But these rules
complied with, great deal of familiarity and
freedom of manner and speech are permitted,
and indeed, encouraged In public certain
demonstration is considered etiquette ON both
sides. The royal family always bow to any one
who salVtes them; and apropos of this, an
amusing story has been told us by young New
Yorker, who found himself driving along the
pretty country road leading to Chiswick, one
summers evening, in company with another
American gentleman; the latter, having Just
come abroad for the first time, was new to all