Morning journal and courier., 1885-11-03


 apart-these were evidently the chief figures
 in the little drama. This lady was handsome
 but not young, her train was of gold brocade
 embroidered with great punches of flowers in
 their natural colors; the head-dress I recog-
 nized as Russian-the high velvet coronet
 covered with precious stones and the long
 veil of gold lace. She was the wife of the
 Russian minister; the longest resident at that
 court and therefore having right to the first
 place. Only an embassadress could out rank
 her. And only an empire sends ambassadors,
 and these only on unusual occasions. But
 the husband of the lovely little pink and
 silver lady who was wearing the famous
 pearls of the Empress Josephine had just
 been raised frsm minister to full ambassador;
 expressly that his country, France, might
 take the first place at this the Queens first
 drawing room of the season.
 Count W alewski was not only cousin to
 Louis Napoleon, but he was the exact DOT
 trait of the old emperor. This was while France was just beginning to lift for the
 revolution of 1848 which had overthrown
 monarchy, and, as yet, Louis Napoleon was
 only president. This forcing of all the rep
 resentatives of European monarchies to re-
 co5nize him as their full equal, even to mak-
 ing his minister take precedence of them all,
 was a serious matter. And the first burnt of their resentment was being met by the Countess Walewski. Though so very fair she was Italian, of the noble old house of Colonna, and sine did not finch.
 sBFt tba ySeors Ae tho throEc-raoaasa saf,eAely and all things gave way to the ceremony of the day. First of all passed in the Embassa- dress of France. After her, Russial America came fourth. After Mrs. Lawrence made her courtesy, she presented me. knew I | must not look openly at the Queen, only notice her bend of her head in return for my low courtesy; then I was to make another, less low, as l passed before Prince Albert;
 and the Qneen's mother, and her cousin the Princess Mary, the courtesy was again to be | slightly less deep. Remember this,'' had been cautioned, 'FHer Majesty is very tena- | cious of all marks of deference due to Prince Albert" I remembered. Mrs. Lawrence l gave me a look of approval as I took my place by her in the line of diplomatic ladies, ! where was to remain; and now there was nothing to interfere with my enjoyment as a I locker on. For two hours I watched the 1 beautiful procession of English noblewomen
 as they made their obeisance, kissed the | the Queens hand, and then backed out from l the royal presence. You conld not turn the back to the Queen nor could you speak. It l was all a splendid dumb show. It added l much to the impression to have no sound
 and as those stately figures glided alone one after the other, advancing, courtesying and | backing, in the unbroken silence the effect | became dream like.
 l In the open space between our line ot
 ladies and the picture covered wall. softly pacing up and down, was the Duke of We'll ! ington; perhaps he should not have moved but he was not only privileged but no long | CT fully himself. Mrs. Lawrence occasional 1 ly directed my attention to some special per
 son-a look, touch of her boquet, or 6
 name spoken low and, as school girls know how, without moving the lips.
 l 'The Duchess of Bedford, ,' she raurmured l had seen the Queen bend forward in | friendly greeting to the little old lady whose | look and even whose dress expressed weari ! ness of such things, and yet yielding to ob- | igation. You could read her indifference in
 the old skimp train of purple velvet ssfresh- | ened up" by beautiful old lace-but the lace i was just pasted on flat, and her hair was not l dressed, but screwed up on top of her head 1 but around the scanty twist of gray hair was | a ducal eoronet with enormous diamonds, | and the three heron feathers for her three l dukedoms. A comfortable high necked and l long -sleeved under waist of white silk pro- | tected her arms and neck-it looked queer projecting from the short-sleeyed and low | cut body of the purple dress, but over ii | were fastened several splendid necklaces l diamonds, stones of color, pearls, without l grace or arrangement; you could see the, were only put on because she had them anC | 1t wes the thing to do, but she had no inter
 est in them os her appearance. This greatl. 1 pleased me; it wasi ip it's way English, st disdainful of appearances, so tenacious O 1 The Queen made asbeautiful picture 1 Standing above the level have her an effect | of height which was added to by an artistic | arrangement of the royal robes. 'sThe velve and gold hangihgs of the throne made rict red background for her dress of white satin aud lace Her immensely long velvet traiI of royal-red lined with white satin was SC | disposed as to fall in large straight folds to | the step below her, where it's rich mass was added to the length of the figure. The broad l blue ribbon of the Garter crossed her breast and diamonds covered her neck and arms, and gave out their light from the crown on hel small and graceful head.
 The Queens countenance and manner | showed she entered fully into each presenta- l ton. She would move forward toward | women of advanced age-as the Duchess of Bedford-and her pleasure in the swan-like white -robed brides was evident; while he1 eyes followed kindly blushing embarrassed l girl too over awed to remember all her cour- tesies.
 Prince Albert, tall and much handsomer l than man need be, dressed in some white | and gold uniform, made the complete and l truly royal picture. I Isaw them both to even
 better advantage, some evenings later. Each | time the Queen made the same impression of 1 womanly goodness combined with look of power-a simple and unconscious manner, | but that of unquestioned habitual authority. l This was softened by her air of content
 their is no beautifer like happiness, and the | Queen was seeing her best days; her marriage
 was exceptionally happy and her children | were in the sweet baby-time; she had become
 accustomed to the cares of governing, anc 1 England was at peace. The Crimean wal | and the Indian mutiny were near, but nc 1 shadow was on this time.
 1