The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-15

INTO the dining hall or elsewhere and a
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 neigh
DOT, or spill glass of sherry down his
neck, IS so common an occurrence that
such tribes are not noticed. Stout-prob-
ably owing to the heavy duty--is regarded
as luxury, and is served III wine glasses
About II O'Clock their majesties retire,
but the guests remain, enjoying the CON-
forts 10: afforded by good table and wine ad
iiDitum. AS regards eating. the soirees
or suppers are of the best, and could not
De surpassed in Europe. The balls given
are like hops" anywhere else. Gentle
men are IN uniform or evening dress, and
ladies in white or black, accordingly as
they dance or not. Some of the younger
ladies are remarkably pretty but altogether
wanting in style. The elderly ladies, single
or married, are, on the whole, not up to
any standard of beauty. In these Scandi-
navian kingdoms, the freshness of youth
soon evaporates, and leaves, what was a
pretty girl of 20, a withered-up, sour-look-
ing woman of 30. To the court balls
from 1000 to 1900 people are often in-
yited. and this precludes the possibility Of
dancing with comfort. His majesty is q
non-dancer, but mingles freely with his
guests, who. as rule. treat their sovereign
with all due respect, though it does some
times happen that ignorance of court ETH
quette may bring about the expulsion of
an offender. When proper respect is shown,
his majesty is the kindest of the kind; but
requires.
private dinner is the best occasion for
appreciating the kings unbounded hospi-
tally and studying his character After
the repast, coffee is served in one of the
ante-rooms. after which the gentlemen are
invited to smoke in the billiard room,
where cigars and liquors 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 naturally rises; but it will often
happen that his majesty says, "Sit, sit,
and pushes you gently into yonr seat, while
ne takes a place beside you and smokes,
and chats on any subject Gifted as he is,
his conversation is always pleasant and
instructive
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 on him by the
queen of England, of which he seemed
very proud. The insignia itself is a mag
nificent band of diamonds and gold, and,
after being passed round. the tale of its
origin pleased all present, some of whom
had never heard the story of Edward III.
and the pretty little countess garter"
Honl sott qua nal y pense are the traditional
words inscribed on the badge: the spark
ling brilliants forming the motto giistened
with superaded 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 apartment, after bidding his
guests farewell, and leaving them to their
own devices. 1t may sochance that one
OF the princes will turn their attention to
the billiard table, and after game or two
the party breaks up.
The Swedish royal family may be re-
garded as the most homely in Europe. 1t
has had two troubles; the serious illness of
the queen. which necessitated dangerous
and painful operation, and the marriage
of Prince Oscar, which has deprived him
OF all his regal rights. One cannot COM
ment on the first, it was unavoidable in
order to save the life of noble queen. As
regards the measures taken by the crown
. and government to GUST Prince Oscar from
his royal prerogatives, owing to his marry
ing the girl he loved, there are different
opinions. Some allege that a prince is
bound to marry one Of royal house,
others, and they are in the majority, think
that Prince Oscars conduct has been that
which one could only expect from the
most honorable and the best hearted of
men.
OF the sons of the king and queen, the
crown prince Gustaf has hitherto been the
delicate one of the family. Now, unfort-
unately, it is Prince Carl who is suffering.
From being comparatively small youth,
the crown prince suddenly shot up into an
excessively tall, slim man. This rapid
growth doubtless was the original cause of
his delicacy. Being very near-sighted, the
constant use of glasses detracts from his
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beard, the latter now hiding an unfortu-
nately ugly mouth and chin. In Septem-
Der, 1881, he married Victoria, Princess
of Baden, and by her has had
two sons. She appears to be delicate
and not able to bear the rigors of
Scandinavian climate. Norway has not
strikingly pretty presence. This may
possibly be due to Teutonic ideas of what
court manners ought to be and the treat
ment accorded her royal highness 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 be-
side her, after being thoroughly satisfied
with his dinner, placed his arm round the
back of her chair. as he crossed his legs,
with the replete idea of having cosy chat
A breach of common decency. by whom
soever committed, deserves correction, and
the HOhenzOllernS are among the foremost
to resent any such remissness.
Oscar, born in 1859. is the son who at
tracted every ones attention some time
ago by marrying commoner, as / have
just-sai above. Previous to his marriage
his friendliness and his unblamable char
acter had endeared him to one and all.
He is a captain in the Swedish navy, and
is now on a long cruise on board a Swedish
frigate. His marriage with Miss Ebba
Munck has unfortunately deprived him,
both by Swedish law and royal decree,
of succession to the throne and
other royal rights. Miss Ebba Munck
had been maid of honor to
the queen, and was of deeply religious
nature. Prince Oscars disposition was in
the same vein, and there is no wonder
that he decided on taking her "for better or
for worse" especially as she was his royal
mothers favorite companion. They were
married at Bournmouth, England, three
years ago. Prince Oscar is the type of
nobleman; if he had lost position from q
creased his popularity in setting aside con-
ventionality and marrying loving and
true wife.
The third brother, Prince Carl, now %
years of age, is considered one of the
handsomest men in all Sweden. He is an
officer in the army. 1t would be difficult
to meet finer fellow, and especially when
clad in his grand uniform of Soea Life
Guards his appearance is most striking.
OF all European princes he takes the palm.
The last and youngest brother, Prince
Eugene, is q years old. When in Paris
he entered the studio of NJ. NJ. Humbert
and Gervex, who have many fine things to
say of the talents and industry of their
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