St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-23
EVENING DRESS.
Peculiarities of the Etiquette of
the Toilet in Germany.

the Toilet in Germany.
The orthodox apparel for gentlemen
on festive occasions is becoming
vexed question in Berlin, writes cor
respondent. Before very long the lord
chamberlain (chief court marshaD will
probably have issued the royal instruc-
lions as to the new court dress which is
about to be introduced; but meanwhile
the raiment to be dOnned at other cere-
monial functions may also possibly un-
dergo change. What is understood by
the me 'Frack" in Germany does not
mean what we call ''frock coat" Ger.
Gehrock), but evening dress-swallow-
tails, white necktie. etc. Only the other
day. at the opening ceremony of the ex-
hibition of appliances for the prevention
of accidents, the American delegates TO
the Samoan conference, having been in
vited to attend the function, were SUBJ
jected to an unwilling slight in conse-
quence of this confusion. Two gentle
men connected with their body pro-
ceeded. with their wives, between and
10 O'Clock a. m, through all the clouds
of dust perpetually flying about the
suburb road of Alt Moabit. in order to
have the honor of seeing their majesties.
They had been told at their hotel that
they need not appear in evening dress
Crack, and therefore drove out in
frock coats. They were provided with
their cards of invitation, but the ticket
collectors would only allow the ladies to
pass. as their husbands had not On the
s'wedding garment" Never before did
the latter sympathize so much with the
Biblical persOnages who suffered for the
same reason. The ladies could not be
left alone, so all were forced to return
home re infecta. In Germany evening
tire, the raiment in which native
civilian pays a ceremonious visit
to state dignitary, professor,
or even sometimes private individ-
ual-in fact, the festive robe par
excellence. But even the Teutons
themselves are coming round to admit
the absurdity of seeing men in evening
dress early in the day just after break
fast, or even at all during the daytime,
when ladies wear their morning gowns.
On another occasion its unsuitability
was equally fragrant. Kaiser William
graciOuSly invited the American dele
gates to witness the military ceremony
at Potsdam of mailing the new colors to
the pole of the regimental banner of the
First foot guards. But his majesty
was obliged to nave it intimated to his
guests that, though he would willingly
have relaxed the Inconvenience of eti-
quette observable on such occasions for
their benefit, it was impossible to do so,
and they were compelled as civilians to
get into their dress clothes and travel out
by train. thus clad, shortly after the
rising of the sun. Under circumstances
such as these one almost wishes that
the Paris fashion of wearing red, green
or blue dress coats might its way to the
German capital. 1t would be more
picturesque. These unfortunate gen.
tlemen were conspicuOusly uncomfort-
able and alone among the most brilliant
collection of uniforms and decorations
that it is possible to witness at the
Prussian court. The beauty and. to
them, the originality of the sight made
them forget their discomfort SO long as
it was before their eyes, but their
lamentations again became audible On
the return journey.