The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-12
IMPERIAL GERMAN DINNERS.
Much Finer Affairs Nowadays than They
Used to BE.


Used to BE.
dinner in the new palace at POtsdam, near
Berlin, is a much grander affair than it was
under the more recent predecessors Of En-
peror William III. The person honored with
an invitation receives great yeilum card
carrying the coats Of arms Of the Emperor
and Empress. The wording of the invitation 10:
At the supreme command OF their Imperial
and Royal Alaiestles the head court and house
marshal has the honor TO invite - 70 dinner
on - at o'clock, in the new palace at Pots
dam.
On the reverse side are several directions as
TO the dress of the guests Military men are
ordered to appear IN undress uniform and
civilians in knee breaches and shoes. dress
coats and white crayats. Guests who are to
arrive by train are informed that carriages
will meet them at the WIldpark station. A
small timetable of trains returning TO Berlin
after the dinner IS also given.
The gorgeousness Of great diD1er in the
new palace has been described pretty fully by
German snobs who worship this splendor and
German radicals who ind III It reproach %
the wOrklngmen's emperor" The details Of
dinner, at which only the nearer acqualnt-
ances of the imperial and royal party are
present, are, however, comparatively IN
known. The number of guests at great
dinner is usually about sixty or slIty-hye.
The dinner consists Of some ten courses, and
is served IN few minutes less than an hour.
There is one servant for every two persons at
the table.
The dishes are prepared in the imperial and
royal kitchens at some distance from the pal
ace. and are TRANSPORTED there on a little un-
dereround railway, with It's terminus near the
dlning-rOOm. The principal dishes are served
on silver platters. the others on china OF the
royal Berlin manufacture. The crystal wine
glasses have broad gold bands and bear the
combined m0n0gams OF the Emperor and
Empress. The quality OF the wines at the
imperial table is the best 10 be bad in heinz
ers and bergers. and inferior TO few imported
brands German champagne IS drunk only
with the soup, otherwise French champagne
is served.
The table is decorated with huge masses
of flowers mostly roses, which are the En-
press favorte flowers. Before every cover
there is q small bunch Of roses in glass The
room is lighted exclusively by wax candles IN
silver candelabTa. 1T every place there lies
a menu and musical programme. Both arc
on white yellum are ornamented with the
united coats of arms of the Emperor and En-
press, and bear only German type. Not
single foreign word appears on the bill of fare.
At the top are the words imperial dinner
The musical programme contains between
twenty -five and thirty numbers. mostly by the
EmperOr's favOrte composers. Wagner,
Delibes. Meyerbeer. Weber, Sullivan, AS we'll
as few military pieces After dinner the en-
tertainers entertain with conversation. but
only q chosen few participate in it. The
court marshal and chamberlains usually learn
in advance whose society is desired by the
imperial couple during the evening. and these
persons are escorted 10 the spot where the
Emperor and Empress await them.
In Potsdam such dinner as the one de-
scribed IS usually given in the Casper gallery.
and coffee is served in the shell saloon. The
music is played in the garden.-New York
Sun