Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-09
The Queens Drawing-Ro

The drawfng-room which the queen
will hold tomorrow is already the sub
iect of much searching and palpitation
Of ..eart. 1t is only becoming on. the
part of persons who enjoy the distinc.
ton of being admitted to court that
they should show every disposition to
consult the confidence of their SOW
ereign. It will, however,. suggest
itself to the least polished understand
ing that the present arrangements for
the reception of state company on
ceremonial occasions leave something
to be desired. An august lady, who
has made several fatiguing journeys by
rail and carriage. must find it irksome
to stand for several hours at a time in
a majestic position even to be saluted
with those genufexions and impressive
tokens of respect by which every true
born Briton with proper sense of self
esteem is eager to prove his or her
feelings of admiration and reverence
for the first lady in the land, There
is, moreover, distrcssive want of in
cident to enliven the palace festivities
on these occasions. Every nobleman
or gentleman kneels with q face as
solemn as though he we're about to say
his prayers. Every lady makes a
"cheese as though her salvation de-
pended on it not curdling. Now these
gymnaStic feats are not, and can not in
the nature of things, be always per-
formed with either grace or safety.
Even on the very latest occasion when
the queens majesty was pleased to de-
1iuht f1n rNri ulI nnaA olnccnc xu1th n
pageant OF the sort above mentioned
something in q high-born lady's dress
came undOne with such disastrous con.
sequences that two household dignita-
ries were constrained to hurry forth
from their customary places of dis
Greet retirement, and envelop the lovely
gymnast with the shawls and other
wraps which her mischance required.
Nevertheless. as she retired under
these friendly coverings, there was q
prolonged soui.i of rip, rip, rip,
reek twak. 1t Nas as though satins
and silks were CO tending in darkness
and mystery till they parted asunder,
and the high-born lady's exit from the
splendid scene was made by the dis
tressing leaps and bounds of one who
JUN Po Al q ouOh' LII VI utu, LILO AluotIA-
GUS lady's things had got into an in.
extricable taugle. 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 it would be
| still greater were it not for wise pro-
vision which tacitly 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 we'll consti-
tuted minds, as when of late smart
military officer, who had but the soli-
tary personal defect of being near
sighted, cannoned in among the diplo.
matte corps in backing out of his
sovereign's presence, and put spurs to
the legs of an ambassador accredited
to this country by friendly power.
His exeellency, as became his exalted
position. was in silk stockings, and his
| sufferings were 50 acute that it required
all tho practical diplomacy and special
knowledge of the subject possessed by
the late foreign secretary to pacify the
wounded ambassadors disturbed con-
victions touching the inviolability of
his person in these realms.-Loudon
NepS.