Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-21

htfNNtS iheIt4N hcl own experience
BoyDoS, December 3. 49," What would
hey say at home in America. A" thought,
IF they knew | WAS going to bo pre-
senied to the Queen, Mamie Paul. Of
Philadelphia ? Would they consider
that had compromised the strict repub-
hcan principles Of the family 2" After
oil. being presented was only way OF
bcrg introduced "a Mrs. Victoria
Gu lph the way they DO it in England.
j felt pretty sure the family principles
co aid stand that much.
GETTING THE GOWN.
Lady Torquilin counsollod mild de-
gree OF eNtTsyagance IA dress, and
laughed at my ideas though she usual
ly respected them about clothes-when
j laid ont for her inspection three per
fcctly fresh New York dresses, quite
ideal in their way, and asked her If any
of them would do. "You have u
great deal TO learn. child" she said.
mo. they won't, indeed Who ever
heard Of attending one Of her Malestys
drtwingrooms IN irock made IA New
York;"
from this there was 10 appeal, so that
che uext day or two went IN deep con-
ference with the head ladies dressmaking
Establishments and absorbed contempla-
lion of resultant pattcrns-which Lady
I0rqulu never liked 10 hear me coil
sample / was spared the trial OF
deciding upon a color combination
being a young lady was 10 90 IN white,
Lady for4uihn gave mo 10 understand,
hy edict Of the court But should / have
tie train or the petticost of the brocade,
cor would prefer Il bangaline train with
a bodice and pctticoat OF crepe dc chine ?
Should the tinu come from the shoulder
.or DO "fulled' in 1T the waist,
and what did l really think my
self about ostrich tips grouped down
one side. or punches Of field flowers dis
persod through the pettIcCst or just a
suggestion of silver embroidery, CLEAN
ing an througl-or perhaps Mademol-
selo might fancy an Empress gown,
which would be thoroughly good style
they had made them for the last drawing
room ] never have boon 50 wrought
up about any dress before. When ]
found out how much the Lord Cham
berlain had 10 say IN the matter, how ne
arranged tho exact length Of my train
and cut Of my bodice. and what ! wore
10 my hair, the whole undertaking,
while il grew IN consequence, grew also
ln charm / enjoyed hIs interference.
This was hard 10 reconcile with demo-
cmtic principles, too.
one thing that surprised me during
that fortnight of preparation was the re-
markablo degree of interest shown IN
our undertaking by all our friends. !
should have thought It an old story IN
London, but il seemed Just as absorbing
topic 10 tine ladies who came to see
lady TorQmin on her "day,' and who
had lived an their lives IN England. If
the ladies had been presented them
selves they cave graphic aud varying &C
counts of the occasion. to which we
listened with charmed interest; If not
they brought forth stories If anything
more thrilling OF what had happened
To- other people they knew or had
heard of-the lady whose diamond
necklace broke as she bent, the lady VINO
forgot to take the silver paper out OF her
tram al home and left II in the arms OF
mo gentleman Of tho court as she sailed
forward, the lady who was attacked by
violent hys,eria inst ms she passed the
Iukc Of Edinburgh. One lady left us,
almos, in tears. lecause she had ialleu to
-persnede mo 10 take few lessons at Il
guinea lesson from a French lady who
made specially of dcbUtgH presenta-
lions. think | should have taken
them. the occasion found me with 50
little s,lf-rclmnce, If II had not been ior
lady Torqmhn. She could show me
everything that was necessary Tor
an practical purposes as VOL ms
Madame Anybody. So several morn
,nps We had little rehearsals,
Lady TorQuihn and /, after break
last, in my room. by which | protted
much. We did It very Simply with a
towel and whatever flowers were left over
nom dinner the night before. l would
Iin the towel to my dress behind ana
hold the flowers and advance from the
other end of the room to Lady Iorqullin,
who represents her Majesty, and gave
Igr her hand 10 kiss. found the curtesy
difficult Mt first, especially the getting up
psrt of IT,. and Lady Torqullln WAS
obliged TO give me Il great deal OF prac-
tcc.
Remember enc thing Rbont the
Queens hand absolutely. child, SAID
she. You're not, under any circun-
stances whatever, to help yoursen up 10y
IT," And then / would be the Queen
and Lady Iorqmiin, just to get into tho
way of It again, would pin on the towel
ami carry the roses. and curtesy To nag.
THE EvENTFUL DAY.
Perhaps YOU will find it difficult to
understand the interest with when i
watched my own development into lazy
.lrese.d for court. Even the most Ia
niliar detail Of costume seemed TO ac-
quire new meaning and Importance
While those of special relevance had the
charm that might arise from the MN
Cling of "a very august occasion WIN
fancy-dress ban. When l was qulte
ready. II seemed TO me that | was very
different person--yery pretty, very taii'
with tendency TO look backward over
NV shoulder, wearing as well as a beau
tiiul sweeping gown. lofty and com
plote set oil monarchical preIudiees'
which ! thought becoming IN masque-,
radc. was fascinated with my outward
cell / could have wished, for an instant
that the Declaration Of independence
was hanging about somewhere framed
The weather looked threatening as We
drove OIL, precisely at II o'clock, and
presently il began to rain with great III
dustry. Then we stopped behind the
last carriage in the middle OF wide
road heavily bordered under tho ttee'
with damp people and dripping umbrei
lss-thero for the spectacle
TIKI LONG CARRIAGE WAIT.
II was 3 O'Clock before we moved
again. In the hours that came between
we had nothing 10 DO but smell oul
towers, discuss the people who drove
past 10 take places further down the
line, congratulated ourselves upon oeine
forty-first, and ate tiny sandwiches done done
ord