Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-07-31
IN ROYAL COURTS.
Americans Who Gro Abroad and Affect "a
Ignore Their Countrymen.

many AheIlCdh Ldules 10 Oe presented at
court seems unaGcountable and !ncousis.
tent, says Elizabeth Z. Evans in Kate
Fields Washington.
Consider how many objects of interest
there are in all these ancient lands. il is
strange that travellers from a country
where things, however magnificent, are
new, should be willing to sacrifice an hour
OF their limited time to social dissipation
OF any sort, especially to so troublesome
and thankless and undertaking as going to
court.
Most of our countrywomen, doubtless
prefer the court of Queen Victoria to any
other. | should advise such persons to
read Louise Blaine's description in the
Revue de Deux Mondes, of royal recep-
uona, and see whether they think it worth
while to waste time and risk health in
waiting for hours in the street, cnly to
have their hair pulled down and their
clothes nearly torn off in the struggle to
obtain careless glance from the tired and
bored lady, who probably does not hear
their names and certainly will never think
of them agilin.
A few years ago the American COLONY at
Dresden was in ferment because certain
new corners were extremely anxious to 90
to court and there was no resident Ameri-
can minister to present them. After much
maneuvering they obtained permission
from the English Ambassador to join a
batch of British rspirants to the same
honor, whom he was Introduce at given
date, and then there was great rejoicing
and grand preparation ON the part of the
tair republicans. One lady declared her.
self entirely free from timidity at the pro-
spect.
kings and queens are, after all, human
beings like ourselves, she sagely remark
ed, land | am not afraid of item. know
what am going to say to the king" she
continued. 81 am going to tell him that
in our country we don't value rank, but we
adore scholarship.
This happened during the reign of King
John of SaXOny, whose literary ability is
known to all the world.
You are not in emnest!" exclaimed
German lady, aghast at the want OF ta
displayed in such reflection.
'lndeed | am, was the cheerful reply.
"l'tell you all about it after | come home,
and you II see that he was pleased"
The presentation took place the next day
the American lady described the event in
all its particulars to her German acquaint-
ance.
THE king was very friendly" she said.
He did not merely bow, but spoke to
every one of US, and said something differ
ont to each. After had answered his re-
park | said: En- Amerique nous n
aimoas pas les rois; mails nous aimous
bien les ecoliar.
Got in Himmel' cried the German
lady. "did you really say that?"
Yes, did, WIS the reply, land the
king laughed heartily, and went away
very much pleased
81 don wonder!" groaned the German
lady. at would have been bad enough if
you had said savants and called him a
scholar, bnt to say eCOIIer and call him a
school boy was ltte too bad!'
1t was at about the same time that n
young American girl appeared at court IN
a magnificent dress made in Paris for the
occasion, not only too snowy to please the
taste of the king and queen-who believed
in "plnin living and high thinking and
were always simple in their attire-but 90
decollete as to shock all behoIders and
cause the royal entertainer to forbid the
presence of the young lady at any future
reception.
Not long ago the American colony in
Munich was increased by the arrival of
two ladies, a mother and daughter, who
made haste to inform the consul that they
did not wish to become acquainted with
any of their countrymen, and then pro-
ceeded to apply for admission to the court
circle by means of certain letters of intro
duction addressed to the queen-mother.
At the time Munich could hardly boast
of having a court, as the king was in
visible to everybody and the queen-mother
lived in retirement; but the princess of the
royal house gave occasional entertain
ments, and our two ambitious ladies were
made happy 10y invitations, although their
presence were unwecOme and they received
as little attention as was consistent with
decent civilty. That made no difference
with the satisfaction of these representa-
tives of the republic: they felt that they
we're, in a sense, members of the royal
family; and once during their stay. when
some princeling of a iar.otf house was so
obIigmg as to die, tneir mourning exceed
ed in backnass thar of all the little boys
cousins by birth or by courtesy.
Another American lady was not so for
tunate in similar quest. She made her
first attempt in Berlin anI tormented the
minister for a long time to try to induce
him to undertake what he told her in the
beginning was impossible. She coaxed
and begged and argued and threatened,
and when nothing avaied hounced off in
a rage and went to Stuttgart, where she
met with the same obstacle and the same
refusal. Finally she attained her object
through the American minister in Lon
don, and, let us hope, will be happier all
her life for the qualification.
Once a bevy of school girls came to Mu-
mich, escorted by teacher, and each pro-
vided with a new and handsome black
silk dress, bought at considerable sacri-
fee of their small means. This was in
order to be prepared to attend the tea
parties, which they were told by the :
teacher the Queen mother was in the habit
of giving to foreigners residing at the
Bavarian capital. 1t is needless to say
that the silk dresses were not needed for
any such ceremony, and that all
the young ladies saw of the Queen
mother was when they met her ac-
cidentalIY on the street and received
one of the mods with which the greetings
of passers-by were always acknowledged.
But, although il is not easy for strang-
ers to be admitted t. the royal circle in
Munich, the inmates of the palaces often
4, nj f,rat