The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-02-12
GOOD SOCIETY IN ENGLAND.
How the Nobility and Gentry Behave ut {,
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men are moreshowy than at aprivate
party in America; but those OF the
women not so brilliant, except thai
finer iewelry is worn. Court trains
are not prescribed, nor are feathers
Indispensable, though the men are
not admitted except in uniform OF
court dress. once saw an exception
to this rule. The emperor OF Brazi
wore 4 black coat and trousers and
heavy boots at one of these balls.
But his imperial majesty constantly
violated not only etiquette, but good
breeding as well. He was above the
rules.
Every one is supposed to be i'll the
room before the entrance of ROYALTY,
and at about 10 o'clock God Save
the Queen is struck up, and the Prin.
cess of Wales with her ladies heads the
procession. Afterward come the
Prince of Wales, his brothers, and
their attendants; for in all court cere-
monies the women OF equal rank pre-.
cede the men. was once at a dinner
gwen to an emperor and empress.
where the Prince of Wales entered
first, preceding ven the emperor, be,
cause he walked with the empress.
After a few moments the first quad
rifle is formed, in which no one Joins
but royalty, or those whom ROYALTY
invites; afterward dancing becomes
general, but the upper part of the
room is appropriated to the court and
persons Of very high rank. If prin.
cess wishes to dance with a noblemar
or gentleman, she sends him word bv
an equerry, for no one not royal can
ask her. So also, il a prince desires a
partner of lower degree, his lord-in.
waiting signifies the princely pleasure,
though the royal brothers sometimes
overlook this form and invite in per.
son the lady with whom they deisn to
dance. Needless to say, they are
never refused.
The ball room is oblong in shape,
and SLOWLY, rather than splendidlv
decorated, according to the taste OF
the prince consort, which was ALWAYS
heavy and gaudy in art. At the TOP
OF the room and running nearly
across it, is u dias, with chairs OF
state for the royal personages; and
on each side OF this, but at right an.
giles are several tiers of seats, those
on one side reserved for the diplomatic
corps, on the other for peeresses; the
bench next the floor for duchesses, the
next for marchionesses and so on; and
1T is amusing to observe how scrupu-
lous these noblewomen are to take
exactly the place to which they con,
slider themselves entitled. The court
has never recognized the right OF the
duchesses to the seats they claim; but
every duchess insists upon her bench,
and royalty winks at the usurpation.
Afterthe first quadrille itused to be
the custom when | first wentto court
lit is different now for the greatest
personages to pass in line before the
princes, who, to receive this homage,
ranged themselves standing along the
dais. The diplomaticcorps went first,
the ladies leading the way; then the
men OF the corps, according to their
rank and the seniority of their stand
ing at the English court. Afterward
the dnchesses advanced. The dais
was SO high that as they made their
courtesles the heads OF the ladies were
brought about to the knees of the
princes. Some of these peeresses were
of lineage as ancient as that OF the
royal family, and descended from as
many kings; others were the wives and
daughters OF men OF whose estates are
large" than German principnlities, and
whose incomes transcend those OF all
the children OF the queen; while. for
public service and character, their
names will live when the world has
forgotten whether Victoria was ever
married. But the p]rostration vert
on, and those who performed it seem
ed as satisfied as those who re-
ccived.
At midnight supper is served, and,
o1course, royaltyprecedes. Thedoors
OF the supper room are at the sides of
the dals, and the great folk who usu-
ally surround royalty are already
ncarthese doors. And now comes one
OF the most extraordinary OF all the
scenes in court life. Only the most
distinguished in rank are supposed to
follow the princess to the supper
room. The doors are Very soon clos
ed, and the struggle among the Ouch
esses and ambassadors and people OF
that sort to get within these portals
IN time is something more ridiculous
and unretined than is ordinarily sup
posed to occur in palaces. You can
see nothing worse in any parvenu
house III the fifth avenue.
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rulfied plumage, and places itself in
two parallel lines, to watch the royal
hosts at their repast, for no guest can
be served till theprinces are appeased.
There arethree tables lining three sides
OF the room, and the royal family ad-
vance to the center one, where thew
stand with their backs to the compa-
ny, looking for all the world like ordi-
nary people ct an ordinary table at
an ordinary ball. After the hosts
have satisfied themselves they turn
to their guests, and pass leisurely
down the room toward the entrance,
while the magnates Of England in frank
and political power and territorial
Importance press gently forward, if
happy they may catch a royal glance
and perform the genu1exion again.
Sometimes a scion of royalty feels a
desire to stop am exchange a word
with al individual of sufficient onse-
quence, and then the favored one
bends deferentially forward, the object
OF envy all along the line. When the
prince or princess thinks the colloquy
has been sufficiently prolonged u little
signal makes the participant aware
that this high honor and happiness is
over; another profound obeisance,
and the nan or woman whom royal
ty has recognized sinks back into the
crowd, beaming with reflected radi-
ance.
AT other times the princes walk
steadily by, con yersing with each 9th
er, and Ignoring every high-bred effort
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