New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-08

pin, unless it happened to be pin of pearl ana
with narrow band of Grape about their black
silk stovepipe hats: which the Englshman by
preference calls chimney pots; more SIMPLY tail
hats. The round low pot-hat which thihK you
call in New-lorb Derby hat, name mere I'M
known is never WORT in London by any one VINO
has n character TO lose. The officials oil the
Court put themselves into fuller mourning than
the non-oficial world. l met the Lord Chamber
lain one morning all ebony from head to loot;
his long full gray beard looking gfnyer ana ruler
than ever. | met the same great iuncuonary
again in the evening at the Opera, and there was
not sign of mourning about him. II a man were
the happy possessor Of black pearl shirt studs, he
wore them: other black studs were not worn, but
either white pearl or white enamel The sleeve
buttons might be what the caprice OF the wearer
dictated. The tie was invariably white, and the
evening dress as usual throughout. No Grape was
worn on the arm
Amid this general uniformity OF compliance win
the Queens wishes there have been, naturally, some
incidents significant Of careless or even rebellous
spirit: or of personal independence that would
accept dictation from nobody; not even from the
Queen Il nm Frcnchwoman,7 said one lady.
why should an English Queen tell me what TO
wear or whom to receive in my house ?7 She de-
cined, therefore to put Off her party or even her
ball and she slightly scandalzed her friends and
Mrs Grundy by driving about the West End IN n
gown of startling red. l mentioned the other
day Lady Aesburys dinner-party and the " tar
after it, and the presence Of the Duke of Cam
bridge at both. That was on the very day that
the sumptuary cdct of Her Majesty came into
force Lady Ailcsbury is n woman of such DIS
tnction and so closely connected with the Court
that her acts might often be said to be so many
precedents for society. None the less was the
general surprise that the Duke should have been
present that evcninG at her house; still greater
was it that he should have stayed for the recep-
ton which followed the dinner. What befel HIM
in consequence have said before; he had to en-
dure sharp reproof from his august cousin on the
throne. If royalty was not to SET good example,
who would? There were. in his case, no more
devations from the path of duty.
Most exemplary of all were the dipOmatists :;
most exemplary of the diplomatists were the French
Ambassador and Madame Waddington. There
was no mourning in France, but the representa-
tive of France in England took extreme care lest
il should be said Of him that from pique
or any other motive, he had omitted TO
conform in the least particular to English
etiquette on this occasion They were to have
dincd with Lady Ailesbury. They sent excuses
at the last moment, ana not tl lne iasu mohIenu
WAS il known that Her Majesty's rescript had
that day become operative. The Embassy al
Albert Gate has remained closed. / even heard
of an eminent Frcnclman, who called in blue
tie. and was requested to come next time i'll q
black. The American Legation, like the rest,
expressed its sympathy with the bereavement
of Germany and its respect for the Queens
wish, by the most accurate observance OF these
new customs in attire. 1 really don't know
whether all the Ambassadors and Ministers ana
Secretaries and the wives of all these. VIII be cN-
pected to continue in mourning while the Court
does l believe not however. For them, as
for the rest of the world, the rule for the next
few weeks VIII be to dress as they like, save
when they are to meet one of the royal family.
When that occurs, they must 60 in black, or III
such modification Of black as happens at the
moment TO be prescribed by the regulations OF
the Court. u. W. D