The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21


This is not exactly the form in which ex-sov-
ereigns are invited to Windsor, but 1t is the fash
ion in which her Majesty commands the presence
of her subjects The American Minister and
Mrs. Pierrepont were summoned in precisely the
same way, and a similar card was sent to me.
The invitations were accepted according to the
ordinary etiquette: General and Mrs. Grant
had the honor to accept her Majesty's most gra-
eious invitation ETC. The Generals youngest
son, Jesse a youth of nineteen, was travelling
with his father at this time, and Mrs. Grant
naturally desired that he should receive all the
attention which the circumstances would allow.
Jesse himself did not share this feeling He was
not anxious for royal or aristocratic invitations,
and when it was explained to him that so extra
ordinary an opportunity of meeting distin
gulshed people could hardly happen to young
man again, he replied that the honor was meant
for his father not for him, and that if he should
return to England alone, none OF these impor-
tant personagss would remember him or invite
him. He did not value compliments paid to
himself on account of his father.
Notwithstanding this was desired to send
message to Sir John Cowell, the Master of the
Queens household. with whom had been per-
sonally acquainted for several years. l tele-
graphed to Sir John in these words: Personal
and confidential to yourself / would not. of
course make such a suggestion unauthorized,
but If it could be proposed to invite General
Grants son, Mr.. Jesse Grant. q young man of
nineteen or twenty, it would be great graft
fcation to General and Mrs. Grant. If this is
bsr kaln
gram not sent"
A card like that addressed to General Grant
was immediately forwarded to jesse and on the
afternoon appointed we set out for Windsor. The
party included General and Mrs Grant, the
Minister and Mrs. Pierrepont, Jesse and myself,
with four or FIVE servants The Queens
carriages were in waiting at the sta
tion and the Master of the Household
received US at the Castle. The Queen
was driving and would not be visible until din
ner so that all the nonsense that was published
about her Majesty welcoming General Grant at
the foot of the grand staircase. as she would
have received the Shah of Persia, or any other
black or white monarch who visited her, was
without foundation. Such potentates were
allowed to greet their sister sovereign with
royal kiss, but the Queen was not in the house
when the ex-President arrived. Undoubtedly
her Majestys absence was planned.
The General was shown to his rooms, which
were the same we were told, that the Gar had
once occupied, as we'll as the Duke of Edinburgh,
Immediately after his marriage. Jesse and 1
had apartments higher up, where Sir John
Cowell at once visited me, and said, with little
embarrassment that Mr.. Jesse and I were to
dine with the household. and not at her Majesty's
table; but that Immediately after dinner we
should be taken in and presented to
the Queen. The royal household is
always served at separate table, and
usually only two of the ladies and gentle
men in waiting are invited 60 join Her Majesty's
party. Foreign ministers. the members of the
government, even the Prime Minister. when he
Is in attendance ell dine at this table, unless
specially invited by her Majesty. Jesse and 7,
however had been specially invited by the
Queen, and the invitation was now modified if
not Withdrawn
AS soon Sir John had left the room Jesse
declared that he would not dine with the house
hold. He had been invited by the Queen, and if
he could not sit at her table he would return to
town. We descended to General Grants apart
ments and found the Duchess of Roxbureh one
of the ladies in waiting, paying visit to Mrs
Grant. The Duchess was explaining the ar
engagements for dinner, and stated that her
Majesty was unable to receive large parties
at dinner. as the number produced gddiness
This explanation was evidently considered
necessary although it was not offered as an
The duchess also took pains to say that
the ladies and gentlemen in waiting we're all per-
sons Of distinction and then withdrew The
Minister and Mrs Perrepont were now present,
and Jesse at once repeated that he preferred to
return to town to dining with the servants.
There was long discussion after this during
which some of the real servants were in the room
and doubtless heard aud repeated the wonderful
remarks of the democratic youth, for shortly
afterward another of her Majestv's ladies in
waiting was announced. This was the Marchion-
ess of Ely, who came on the same errand as her
predecessor, ostensibly to pay her respects to
Mrs. Grant, but in reality to explain that she
herself was to be of the party with which Jesse
was to dine, and to repeat tho story of the
Queens dizziness and inability to receive large
party at table Of course all this was only grace.
fully and casually introduced, but when the in
formation was communicated the courtier re-
tired
Then the democrats resumed their discussion
Jesse insisted on going nome at once he said he
had not cared to come to Windsor at all, which
was true. and that he certainly would not dine
with any one but his hostess. The General was,
OF course, unwilling for the lad to leave, but he
thought that his son should dine at the Same
table with himself. The Queen. however, had
not yet returned, and none of the courters could
decide the matter. Finally, General Grant de-
sired me to see the Master of the Household, and
to say that he had, of course, no wish to suggest
any change In the arrangements, or to ask any
Innovation IA etiquette, but that the invitation
had been misunderstood; he had supposed his
son was To dine at the Same fahla with hip,saif