Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-31
miscellaneous.
Soa1E SPECIMENS. ANCIENT AND MODERN.


King Kalakaua Of the Sandwich islands
lately had his palace thoroughly cleaned
and calcimined, and is about TO put entire
~ new furniture in the front parlor and
the second story front bed-room-the one
in which his majesty usually sleeps. He
has sent to Boston for his ful niture, and
among the other articles ordered by him
are two thrones.
Thrones have been in use since the be-
ginning of history. and frequent improve
ments have been made in their pattern
and manufacture. The original throne of
the Enuscan and Roman kings was simply
y block of stone with hollow scooped in
the upper part Of it. The more luxurious
monarchs Of Asia were in the habit of
furnishing their thrones with silk cush-
ions, a fashion which was adopted by the
Roman emperors after the time Of Tiberi-
as. The same throne, witha silk cushion.
remained in general use until modern
times, and the first conspicuous departure
from the ancient pattern was made by
Lewis XVI Of France, who had a wooden
throne built somewhat after the pattern of
an armchair, covered with velvet and
stuffed with corn husks.
The throne OF Napoleon I. was a most
irR .nious and useful structure. 1t con-
sisted of pedestal six feet long, six feet
wide and four feet high, on which was
placed luxurious chair with head rest.
to be used when the emperor was under
going shaving. and a wiring desk on the
right arm of which he could write bulle
tins. The pedestal was filed with draw
ers and lockers in which were contained
I'll g.. orpfha h,nEG f..pneI
peaches and other provisions, Tauchniz
edition Of populor novels, an extra suit of
clothes, spare crown, and mattress,
together with sufficient quantity Of bed
ding. The pedestal was so constructed
that it could be readily converted into
bedstead. and the emperor carried it with
him through all his campaigns, including
that Of Waterloo. during which it was I'M
fortunately entrusted to Dodd's Express
Company, with instructions to send it to
Brussels, where, Of course, il has not yet
arrived.
The throne of Queen Victoria has been
enlarged several times during her reign
and greatly strengthened with steel braces
and extra legs, the queen preferring 1t to
q new throne on the ground that it was
given to her by Prince Albert on their
Wcuulnk IL 10 WIN
an extension on which the queen can
rest her feet, and it can be Upper
back until IL forms couch. This has
proved to he great convenience of late
10 her majesty. for when Mr.. Gladstone
calls TO see her to explain Irish affairs the
Queen simply tips back her throne. closes
her eyes. and remarking, II can always
listen better with my eyes shut" sleeps
S..v-S l.
refreshed by the time Mr. Gladstone has
finished the opening sentence of his re-
marks.
The Spanish throne is very elaborate
piece of furniture. 1t is in the shape of n
large sofa, and Spanish etiquette requires
the King to lie at full length on it with a
cigar in his mouth when receiving the
visits OF his ministers or of foreign diplo-
matists. Underneath the throne is "a place
for the royal guitar. and in each of the
arms are drawers opened by concealed
springs and filed with the best cigars.
The springs of the cushion were somewhat
injured during the reign OF Queen Isabella.
but the government is about to contract a
loan in order to send the throne to the up
holsterer's where it can be thoroughly
Overhauled and repaired.
Inc tnrOne oil the king oil Italy IS oil the
arm chair pattern. and though plain and
inexpensive in appearance. it has hand
organ concealed underneath the seat and
is operated by crank. which the king
turns with his foot. 1t also contains lit
tie kennel for the royal monkey. but I'M
fortunately the kennel is at present vacant,
the last Of the royal monkeys having died
of pneumonia in February last.
The German Emperor. in hi love for
soldierly simplicity. always uses a com
mon camp stool instead of y throne. and
it is only recently that he has consented
TO add to it an India-rubber air cushion
presented to him by Peter Cooper-to re-
lieve his mind OF the strain which he
necessarily undergoes when listening Tor
two or three hours to Prince Bismarck.
The Greek throne is a homemade affair.
The late King Ohio made it himself out of
n barrel, and il was upholstered in very
creditable way by his queen. The whole
expense of tho affair was only drachm;e.
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