The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07

accompanied by her ladies, who introduce
every one. she speaks to him or her in his
own language; she is mistress OF ten
languages.
After she had said few gracious words
the,queen disappeared and the Villamarina
asked us to take some refreshments, say
ing: II hope We will see you on Thurs
The next day came an invitation to the
grand court ball.
This Is very fine sight. The king and
queen enter and take their places on q high
estrada covered with q crimson velvet
baldachin.
Then the ladies and gentlemen of the
household and the ambassadors enter.
The Count Gianotti, very handsome
Piedmontese, the favorite friend of the
king, the project of the palace and mas
ter of ceremonies, declared the ball opened
Kendall.
The royal quadrille over. dancing became
general: The king stood about. looking
soldier-like, bored and silent. A patriotic
and brave man hates society. The queen
does all the social work, and she does it
admirably.
What company that was, all the Roman
nobility, diplomatic corps, the visitors to
Rome, s. P. @. r. The senate and the
Roman people. After the dancing supper
was announced.
Royalty does not sup in public in Rome
as in England. 1t is curious the difference
in etiquette. The king and queen retired.
We went in as we pleased at 10 o'clock,
had seats and supped gloriously: The ex-
cellent Italian cookery of which we have
spoken previously was served admirably.
The housekeeping at the Quirinal is excel
lent; such truffiesl
The queen of Italy moves about amongst
the ambassadors wives, and summons q
stranger to her side if she wishes to speak
to one. A presentation to her is more per-
sonal and gracious than at any other court.
The fact of being presented at court re-
solves itself into two advantages. One sees
the paraphernalia ofroyalty, always anus
ing and interesting to American eyes.
We see its poetry, its almost van
ished meaning more than they
do. Power, even when it descends for
a day on fresh republican shoulders,
is awe inspiring. The boy who is leader
at school is more important than the boy
who walks behind him. "a captain of
thousands was the old Greek term for
leadership, dignity and honor. Therefore
1t IS not snobbery to desire to see those
people on whom have fallen the ermine OF
power. 1t is snobbery TO lick the dust be-
fore some unworthy wearer OF a title, but
when, as in the case of Marguerite of
Savoie, there is very good, very gifted,
very wonderful woman behind it all, we
are glad that she has been born to wear all
these jewels.
We have i'll our minds one more picture,
and very picturesque one.
In September, 1888, the Due d'Aosta,
brother TO King Humbert, married his
neice. Letitia Bonaparte, daughter of
the Princess Clotidde and Prince Jerome
Bonaparte. This marriage occurred at
Turin. A fine week of autumn weather
was devoted to this ceremony. 1t was a
great gathering of all the family of Victor
Emmanuel. The pope had granted an
especial dlspensation to the nearly related
couple. This degree of consanguinity so
repellant to US IS not considered, however,
as prejudicial to marriage in Spain, Italy
or Germany.
The king of Italy made this occasion of
his brothers marriage an open door
for the returning to the old Italian GUS
toms of past centuries in the art of enter
tanning.
The city of Turin was en- fete for the
week. At booths in the open air were
strolling companies playing opera, ira
gedy, burlesque and farce. At the king 8
charger the streets were lined with gay
decorations of pink and white silk, BAN
ners and escutcheons; music was heard
everywhere, and at evening brilliant
iIluminations followed the river.
When the royal cortege appeared on
their way to a public square they were
preceded by $50 young cavaliers in the
dress of Prince Eugene. Powdered hair.
bright red and blue coats, each detachment
escorting royal carriage. First came the
king and queen, then the bridal pair.
They mounted a superb thing like a
basket of flowers in the piazza Vittorio
Emmanuel, where all the royalties sat
around the bride. Music and flags sa-
luted them. The vast crowd sat and
looked at them for two hours. A gayly
decorated balloon, covered with roses,
foated over the queens head, and finally,
as the rosy light faded away, gun from
the fortress sounded the hour of departure.
The glittering cavalcade drove back to the
palace, and we foreigners knew that we
had seen a real medieval Italian fiesta.
NJ. E. w. SHERWOOD.