Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-18
An EmperOr's Golden Wedding.

Royal golden weddings have been like
angels visits thus far in the history Of the
world, and therefore William l.. Emperor of
Germany, whose golden wedding was cele-
brated with great pomp on Wednesday
week, may well count himself an excep-
tionally favored mortal. And yet how sadly
was the glory Of the occasion marred by the
fact that the emperor was compelled, through
fear Of the deadly assassin, to make his
journey to the royal palace by secret route,
and the Russian Gar, who had pledged his
neighborly presence for the great occasion,
was deferred altogether from attending
Nevertheless before noon more than fifty
thousand people had assembled in the pub
lie square Of Berlin, and were treated to
sight of the gorgeous equipages belonging
to the imperial court, and the princely
guests and ambassadors rolling toward the
Schloss, where the festivities were to be
held. Here the scene was intensely inter
esting. The courtyard of the ancient castle
echoed for more than an hour with the
clatter of wheels and the hoofs of horses.
Soon the interest was transferred to the
superb interior of the Schloss, where the
flower of the German nobility and army, the
representatives of nations, and nearly every
living relative of the Emperor William and
the Empress Augusta had assembled to greet
them.
The great Weisse Saal (the White Saloon)
of the Schloss was chosen for the reception
of relatives and guests of the imperial couple.
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess,
with their three little children, stood at the
entrance to the hall and welcomed the
members of the imperial family and the
guests. The splendor of the German court,
now the most brilliant in Europe, was here
displayed at its height. The dresses of
princesses and grand duchesses were of all
hues, embroidered in silver and gold. Some
of the trains were fifteen feet long, each be-
ing supported by two pages. Satin, jewels,
velvet and ermine were the prevalent attire
of the elderly ladies, while the younger ones
wore delicately colored and costly fabrics,
ornamented with dainty flowers. The EN-
press wore dress of orange colored satin, a
gold wreath crown, tiara of diamonds,
a fabulous diamond necklace a jeweled
stomacher and bracelets. Her stately train
was upheld by four ladies of honor.
The Emperor was in uniform. He walks
slightly lame, the result of his recent fall,
but he looks like the iron old Kaiser that he
is. After the first formal obeisance came
the familiar greetings in the true German
style. The ladies who approached the EN-
peror were saluted, the younger on both
cheeks. This was an honor also extended
to the nearest male relatives. The Empress
kissed the lips of the ladies, extending her
had to princes and grand dukes, who kissed
it with antique grace. The exchange of
these sautations occupied half an hour, and
were purely domestic and fraternal. Then
the Emperor and Empress led the way to
the chapel and the guests followed.
In front of the lofty crucifx of gems the
Emperor and Empress exchanged the rings
as fifty years ago, and received the pathetic
benediction of the officiating clergyman.
Around them stood, with bowed heads, the
guests. At the conclusion of the simple but
touching ceremony salute of one hundred
guns was Numbered from the battery in the
Lustgarten, the populace echoing the bene-
diction in sonorous cheer. The Emperor
then returned to the White Hall and took
his seat upon the throne. Then followed
the reception of ladies hitherto excluded,
members of the diplomatic corps, ministers,
members of the Reichstag and Populations
from the army.
Emperor William has already passed
twelve years beyond the Scriptural limit of
human life, having been born in 1897. The
woman whom he took to be his welded wife
half a century ago is the daughter of the
Grand Duke Charles Frederick of SAKE
Weimer-E senach. From all accounts the
match was made in heaven, or at least a
good deal of love went with it. The EN-
peror has made faithful, devoted husband
if common report is to be believed, while
the Empress is beloved throughout the EN-
pire as a model wife and mother" per
feet woman nobly planned to warn, to com
fort and command"