The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-06-17
THE QUEENS DRAWING ROOM.
Unfriendly Comments by a Clearly
DislOyal Editor.
London News.

The draWlng-rOOm which the queen
will hold tomorrow is already the sub
jeot of much searching and palpitation
of heart. 1t is only becoming on the
part of persons who enjoy the distiction
of being admitted to court that they
should show every disposition to con
suit the convenience of their sovereign.
1t will, however, suggest itself to the
least polished understanding that the
present arrangements for the reception
of state company on ceremonial occa-
sions leave something to be desired An
august lady who has just made several
fatiguing journeys by rail and carriage
must find it irksome to stand for several
hours at a time in q majestic position,
even to be saluted with these genuhex-
ions and impressive tokens of respect
by which q true-born Briton with a
proper sense Of selfesteem is eager to
prove his or her feelings of admiration
and reverence for the first lady in the
land. There is, moreover, a distressing
want of incident to enliven the
palace festivities on these occasions.
Every nobleman or gentleman kneels
with face as solemn as though he
were about to say to his prayers Every
lady makes "cheese" as though her
salvation depended upon it not curd-
ling. Now, these gymnastic feats are
not, and cannot in the nature of things
be, always performed with either grace
or safety. Even on the very latest oc-
casion when the queens majesty was
pleased to delight the privileged classes
with pagent of the sort above men.
toned; something in high-born lady's
dress came undone with such disastrous
consequences that two household dig
nitaries We're contained to hurry forth
from their customary places of discreet
retirement, and envelop the lovely gym
mast with the shawls and other wraps
which her mischance required. Never
theless, as she retired under these friend
ly coverings there was a prolonged
sound of rip, rip, rip, reek twak. 1t
was as though satin and silks were con-
tending in darkness and mystery till
they parted asunder, and the high
born lady's exit from the splendid scene
was made by the distressing leaps and
bounds of one who jumps in sack. In
truth, the llustrious lady's things had
got into an inextricable tangle. Also, the
number of eminent Englishmen who
tumble over their swords on drawing.
room days is painful to contemplate
and it is confidently alleged that il
would be still greater were it not for a
wise provision which tactitly excludes
all old married men, and gives up the
drawing rooms mainly to bridegrooms on
the first presentation of their consorts
Some of the events which occur would
excite painful emotion in well consti
tuted minds, as when of late smart
military officer, who had but the soil.
tary personal defect of being near-sight.
ed, cannoned in among the diplomatic
corps in backing out Of his sovering's
presence; and put spurs to the legs o1
an ambassador accredited to this coun
try by friendly power. His excellency
as became his exalted position, was in
silk stockings, and his suferings were SC
acute that it required all the practiced
diplomacy and special knowledge o1
the subject possessed by the late foreign
secretary to pacify the wounded ambas.
sadors disturbed convictions touching
the inviolability of his person in these
realms.