Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07

ostrich plumes ornamentlng his cooked
hat, who precedes the royal party. A lane
forms, and his majesty, followed by the
royal family, passes through it. They
graciousiy greet their guests as they walk
along. On reaching the throne the queen
takes her seat in the state chair. She is
an invalid and can with difficulty take
part IN any ceremony.
The king proceeds to various of his sur
rounding subjects and talks generally on
| political topics. One may have in such
case, very pleasant conversation with
his majesty: otherwise the time passes in
an intentionally state of lounging about
until supper IS announced.
This meal is served in different rooms.
| If of rank or Importance, the guest is
shown into the royal apartment; if of the
general public, into the dining hall or
| elsewhere. and scramble takes place for
food and drink, no chairs being provided.
You grab what you can, and eat with
plate In hand as best you may. To pour
sauce over your neighbor, OR spill glass
of sherry down his neck is so common an
| occurrence that such triles are not noticed.
Stout-probably owing to the heavy duty
is regarded as a luxury and is served in
wine glasses
| About eleven o'clock their majesties re-
tire, but the guests remain, enjoying tue
| comforts afforded by good table and
wine ad libitum.
| As regards eating, the soiress or suppers
are of the best and could not be surpassed
in Europe. The balls given are like
hops" anywhere else. Gentlemen are in
uniform or evening dress and ladies in
white or black, accordingly as they dance
or not.
Some of the younger ladies are remark
ably pretty, but altogether wanting in
style. The elderl ladies. single Or mar
standard of beauty. In these Scandi-
navian kingdoms The freshness of youth
soon evaporates, and leaves what was
| pretty girl of twenty a withered up, sour
| looking woman of thirty.
| To the court balls from 1000 to 1900
people are often invited, and this precludes
the possibility of dancing with comfort.
| HIS majesty is non-dancer, but mingIes
freely with his guests, who, as a rule, treat
their sovereign with all due respect,
though it does sometimes happen that ig-
norance of court etiquette may bring about
the expulsion of an offender. When
proper respect is shown his majesty is the
kindest of the kind; but he can uphold
his dignity when occasion requires.
| A private dinner is the best occasion for
apprecis ting the kings anboupded hospi-
tality and studying his character. After
the repast coffee is served in one of ante
rooms, after which the gentlemen are in
vited to smoke in the billiard room. where
cigars and liquor are served. His majesty
invariably accompanies his guests, and is
| himself most entertaining. He goes
around to one and another, and converses
with each. At his approach the guest ma
turaly rises; but it will often happen that
his majesty says, ''sit, sit, and pushes
you gently back into your seat, while he
takes a place beside you and smokes and
chats on any subject Gifted as he is, his
conversation is always pleasant and in
structive.
One evening, after entertaining his
guests, he called every one to the table,
round which we sat. Then he sent for his
garter, the honor conferred to him by the
queen of Egand, of which he seemed very
proud. The insignia itself is a magnf-
cent band of diamonds and gold and after
being passed round, the tale of It's origin
pleased all present, some of whom had
never heard the story Of Edward III, and
the pretty little countess garter. ''Honi
soft qul NAL pense' are the traditional
words inscribed on the badge, the spark
ling brilliants forming the motto glistened
with superadded beauty. and combined
with the gold, produced the picture of an
order of distinction which could scarcely
be surpassed in taste or refinement HAY
ing enjoyed his cigar, the king withdraws
to his private apartments, after bidding
his guests farewell and leaving them to
%an,, l. Il
one of the princes will turn their attention
to the billiard table, and after a game or
two the party break up.
The swedish royal family may be re-
garded as tie most homeIy In Europe. 1t
has had two troubles; the serious illness of
the queen, which necessitated danger
Gus and painful operation, and the mar
riage Of King Oscar, which has deprived
him of all his legal rights. One cannot
comment on the first. it was unavoidable,
IN order TO save tie life Of the queen.
As regards the measures taken by the
crown and government to GUST Prince
| Oscar from his royal prerogratives, owing
| different opinions: some al!ege that 2
prince is bound to marry one of a royal
| house; others, and they are in the MA
jority, think that Prince oscars corduct
has been that which one could only expect
| from the most honorable and the best
hearted OF lnen.
| OF the sons of the king and queen the
crown Prince Gustaf has hitherto been the
delicate che of the family.
Now. unfortunately, it is Prince Car
who is suffering. From being a compar-
| atively small youth, the crown prince sud-
| denly shot up into an excessively tall,
slim man. The rapid growth. doubtless,
was the original cause of his delicacy. Be
ing very near sighted, the constant use of
glasses detraacts from his otherwise good
| looking appearance. He cultivates a mus
tache and beard. the latter now hiding an
unfortunately ugly mouth and chin.
| In September. 1881, he married Vic
torla Princess of Baden, and by her had
two sons. She appears to be delicate. and
not able to bear the rigors of the Scandina-
Wan climate. Norway has not been
graced to any great extent with her strik-
lngly pretty presence.
This may possibly be due to Teutonic
ideas of what court manners ought to be
and the treatment accorded Her ROYAL
Hiahness by the subjects of her father in
law. 1t is SAID that at state dinner one
Of The leading men of the Storthing who
was seated beside her, after being
thoroughly satisfied with the dinner.
placed his arm around the back Of of her
chair, as he crossed his legs with the re-
| lete idea of having cosy chat
| A breach of common deccncy by whom
| s0ever committed deserves CORRECTION, and
the Hohen znIlerns are among the foremost
! to resent any such remlssne>s.
Oscar, born in 1859, is the son who at
trac;ed every ones attention some time