The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-14
GRANT IN PEACE.
81 GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.
- NO. XIV.
Grant aud the Prince of Wales.

rltten for the Indianapolis Journal-Copyrlehten-
General Grant arrived in London at the time
of the EPSON races, and the Prince of Wales at
once invited him to take a car IN his train Tor
the sOaks" the second of the great events OF the
week; the Derby had already been run. The
invitation was accepted, and the General and the
minister and one or two others went down In the
Princes train special box had been provided,
and after the Generals arrival it was proposed
that be should be presented to the Prince of
Wales. But the Prince said that General Grant
was too distinguished to be received in
this informal manner: he would prefer that the
first visit should be paid at Marlborough House
Nevertheless the Prince came with several of his
suite into General Grants box and made his
quaintahce there. Thus the first visit in re-
atty paid by the Prince of Wales.
This was on Friday, and on Saturday General
Grant made his formal visit at Marlborough
House, according to appointment, and then
wrote his name, as the etiquette is, in the books
of the other members of heroyal family. These
visits were not returned the Duke of Cambridge
alone left mis- card
A few days afterward General Grant attended
a levee held by the Prince of Wales, at which ne
was treated with 10 more ceremony than many
Others He presented by the American
minister and afterward stood in the diplomatic
circle. facing the Prince during the levee. This
indicated that he was not recognized as of rank
approaching that of the royal family. He was
distinguished parsonage, but far below those
magnificent beings, the Guelphs and Mecklen-
burg Strelitzes, and Tecks and other connections
and cousins of the Queen, who were
all placed in the line with
the Prince Of Wales and General
Grant had to make his bow to each of them in
turn. He did not suffer acutely from the dis
tinction thus marked out between himself and
royal clay; nevertheless this ceremony made it
certain that the court ignored the arrangement
that had been made by the government The
royal family did not regard General Grant as
an ex,soverelgn, and refused to treat him as
such; he was nothing but exPresident
1t was amusing to observe the determination
of the descendants of George I, and H. and III
to draw the line between themselves and demo
cratic dignity. They did it as courteously and
unoffensively as possible, but the line was there
and never to be passed. Poor shows and shamsl
Their etiquette is all that is eft them in these
days; if they yield that where would they be in
the presence of the really great of the earth. of
of achievement and reputation and power,
VINO have conquered armies and governed statesy
This whole matter of the levee was doubtless
considered in advance The courtiers insisted
that General Grant should 60 to court where the
distinction they desired to make would become
apparent His popularity by this time was con-
spicuous, and to have an exPresident going
about and receiving the attention due to SOW
ereigu semi-sovereign was undesirable per-
haps dangerous. 1t showed the world that
there was nothing in royalty after all. If
head of state is as good as another.
what becomes of birth, and rank, and
kings, and crowns, and all the antiquated
frppery? Beef-eaters and gentlemen alarms
would be out of business So the Lord Cham
berlan and the Prime Minister assured the
American envoy that it would be discourteous
in General Grant not to attend the levee. There
was no other way in which he could pay his re-
speets to the Queen, who at Ralmoral, and
her Majesty had already, they said, invited Gen.
Grant to a ball without waiting for him to be
presented They did not remind the Minister
that this courtesy is often shown to persons of
distinction far below the royal grade.
The courtiers were cunning, and said nothing
in advance about the place General Grant was
10 take az the levee and the republican envoy,
unversed in such devices, doubtless supposed
that his great countryman would be invited to a
place at the royal side. So General Grant put
on his uniform and stood like any lord or lord
ling in his Highness's presence till the levee was
over The Prince graciousy gave his
hand to the ex President he
did to the dukes and ambassadors, and
then the General fell back into the position as
signed him. All of which is of no earthly con-
sequence except to illustrate royal snobbishness
and the insolence of courts. But if George
Washington, Abraham Lincoln and General
Grant could all return to earth and attend
evee at the same time with the King of the
Sandwich Islands and his bar barous cousins, the
royal savages would be ranged in line
with the Queen and the Prince of Wales, and
the democrats would be expected to pass before
them.
The next occasion when royalty and democ-
racy met was at the house of the Marquis of
Hartford, the Lord High Chambeglau and the
successor of Thackeray's Marquis of Steyne.
His lordship was giving dinner to the Princess
Louise and the Marquis of Lorne and had
asked few friends to come in afterward and
meet her Royal Highness and her noble hus-
band. General Grant was not invited to the
dinner, but asked to the reception after
ward. We arrived before dinner was over and
were not received His royal guest could not
be left by the Lord Chamberlain because
an exPresident was in the drawing room; so
General Grant waited till dinner was over, when
Lord and Lady Hartford came out in attendance
On her ROYAL Highness. Then they welcomed
;heir democratic guests and General Grant was
presented to the Princess Louise The Princess
was gracious, and when Mrs. Grant expressed
her regret at not having sean the Queen, she re-
Piled But you will be sure to see her. Her
Majesty will to Windsor before you
leave OF me she inquired particularly hcw