The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-31
ROYAL " FUNCTION"
cIRST DRATTyG-RO OF THE EN-
PRYSS or AUSTRIA.

Notwithstanding tho death two days pre-
yiOusly Of the Archduchess Mara Antonio
the Empress hold her court drawing room on
Saturday night SAYS Vienna letter TO the
New York Tribune. postponing the beginning
Of the ofhcisl mourning for her young niece
until tho following day, 80 as to avoid any
disappointment 10 the ladies who had made
preparations 10 be present vt the court recep-
mon. These preparations were Of an exceed
lnVly elaborate nature fCT the occasion was
one Of considerable Importance. inasmuch ne
p WAS the first drawing room which had been
held by the Empress for several years. and
there were no less than hfty-si1 young dcbu-
tants. snxiously awaiting their presentation
e. their sovereign.
rAIBI-LISE sCrNH.
The aspect Of the hall Of ceremonies when
Ne imperial cortegc made its appearance
r.s Absolutely fairv-like Arrayed in su-
rerb uniforms and exquisite dresses were
tie very pink-tho fine four tho Aus
tLsn and Hungarian nrstOcracy. only those
who could show the proper number OF no.
hillary qukrterings, untarnishcd by any
bourgeois or plsbeian stain. And mesalh-
Nnce on the part Of an ancestor. even
couple If centuries back, il considered as
sufficient hero 10 render a woman, no matter
how high her rank and her title, unworthy
Of being received at the etlquet-bound court
cf Viernn The existence Of this strict rule
with regard TO ancestry leads the great houses
Of the kustrO-HunSarian Rrlstocracv to exor-
else great care in their matrimonial alliances.
and restricts their choice OF partners for life
70 the members ~ their Get The consequence
is thht almost all those present Saturday az
the Hofburg we're related ~ ono another.
calling each other h7 their christian names.
The diplomatic corps had not been invited,
snd consequently the company was limited 10
Nss imperial family and o. Tie great houses
~ ancient nobility. The Tna2ulho M hall
wss brilliantly lighted and the walls and
r0usOls W-ro decorated with groups of
fea,herv palms. white camelss and banks If
,iolsfs The long mirrors between the
windows were surrounded with thick Wreaths
u violets. heliotropes and pale yellow bank,
u rlimos blossoms. With here and there
lragrant bunch of tca-r0-es. Posted i'm the
81 oimug hail and salons voro the llunsa-
ra- h0avrusrds wearing tnelT silver eln-
fruiered uniforms, high boots and scarlet
ksIpaks with a snowy herona plume, the
Kei,er Gario Escadron. in dark green coats.
cold cusu'ettes white leather bTeechcs and
long natent-. leather boots with silver helmets
Oh tier heads, and the bodyguard Of archers
rHr FOUR HUEDEID INyITrD.
Pour hundred invitations had been sent hy
Prince Hohcnlohe. she grand master OF tho
co1r- Count Taqsilo-Festctics. who achieved
noforietv the other day by refusing ~ re
eeive ne Prince II Wales because he vas
eec7r7psriel hv Baron Hirsch. wore the
splendid violet dress Of Hungarian mag
nate II w,s trimmed with priceless sable
and literally covered with jewels. Inc
aier~.te on bis kalpak. the hilt ot ms sword.
and the broad golden belt round hi- waist
wsre al sparkling With hugo diamonds, sap-
Vhire~ and rubles. Count baQeW was re-
sBlsndent in the purple velvet costume of
Polish noble. he ALSO Wore Jewels 81 great
value and the front of his gold-laced coat was
incrusted with pearls and emelalds Many of
the men wore the black velvet and white
sAtin uniform Of the "1ohauitor order as
also did Archduke Wilhelm VINO Is the grand
master Of the order.
NoTABLEs pBHsRNr.
The orchestra was conducted rs usual hy
Eddy" Strauss, who has returned from his
American tour The maestro. wearing the
red court uniform with sword and dccora-
tions, looked jubilsnt at resuming his func-
tons Of "h0fhapelmester' AZ o'clock the
door Al the upper end q the throne room
were thrown open by two grooms Of the priyv
chamber, the band struck up the national
hymn. and the grand master Of the core
monies, Count kalinan Hunyadi. wearing
the crimson and gold uniform Of \ general
Of cavalry, with the hungarian "atlla7 n
white cloth bordered with Russian sal Dee
hanging 10y gold cords from the lofi
shoulder, walked in backward, preceding
the imperial procession with ms ivory
wand Inc grand MASTER sTuch inc l1Nr re-
Ventedly 20 announce the s0veregus' APP
Woach. The procession came IN the follow
ing order Fist. Empress Elizabeth with Ito
Duke Of Cumberland, then tho Duchess
4 Cumberland with the Emperor, the
widowed Crown Princess Stephsnie with
Archduke Karl-Ludwlg, and the Archluchc,s
Mana Theresa with Archduko Ferdinand
dE-te Then came AL the other arcAdukrs
Wchduchesses. princes and princesscs Of the
imperial family, followed 10y the ladies' and
gentlemen IN waiting. Every eye IN the
room vas turned toward Empress Elizabeth
who looked more beautiful. II possible. than
Sic las ever done before. nobody could have
believed her % he over 3d. She wore a very
Iasn black crepe dross. slightly embroidered
VIII jet and bOrdered with black usrlbout
feathers. The corsage VS. almost high 90 tLe
or a., and around the neck was a boa -
l..ek msrnbOut The beautiful white arms
wee are from The shoulder. whore gause
caf-re. we've fastened by iet cpaulettes A
long court mantle Of black maralout trail-d
Encenlly on the ground, and o disdeu ~
.e' from which long black eauze veil fell
down 20 the edge o. tie tram. gilttered ln her
wonderful auburn hair. She wore NO jewels.
and tho -ombre hue q her garments wrre
relieved only by the diamond decoration II
tie Siernkreuz attached 90 her lett shoulder.
and hy The mysterious CLEAN Of an enormous
black d.Amond-unlQue in the world which
sYarkled ~ her throat. In her gloved hands
tho Empress carried o cluster OF Russian
N1olets tied with black velvet ribbons Crown
Princess Stephanic wss also in black Her
VELVET dress, cut very low. had q stomacher
81 diamonds and IN her blonde curls were
three fat bands Of diamonds. The black yci-
Vet court mantle was embroidered with seed
pearls and silver and here and there 10 was
Hoped mp with punches of oIauon thistles.
The Duchess Of Cumberland looked well in =
dress of cloth-oi.ivcr with violet velvet
tain. silver lace half covering IT, Ropes If
neerls ware braided I'D lcr hair and ete yrrra