The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-07
cuirassiers in scarlet, who stood as motion

.uiFhsSieTB IN scarlet, VINO STOOD as notion
less na statues.
We entered a grand hall frescoed by Do
menlchino. How small we felt under these
giant figures. We passed on to another
salon frescoed by Julio Romans, 30 on to
another, where n handsome cavalier, Prince
vicovarn, received our cards, and opening q
door presented ua to Marchesa ViIlamarinn,
the queens dearest friend and fayorito
lady IN whiting. We were arranged in rows
around u long and handsome room. Pres
entity Il little movement Mt tho door, and the
deep %curtseys Of Princess Brancaccio and
Princesa Vicovara fboth Americans) told
US that the queen had entered.
Truly Il royal beauty. It wonder on q
throne. An accomplished scholar, q
thoughtful woman, Marguerite. Of Savois,
IL the rose OF the nineteenth century. Her
smile keeps Italy together.
She is the sWeetest, the most beautiful of
AL the queens, and as she walks around, ac-
companied by her aides who introduce
every one, she speaks to him or her in his
own language; she 10 mistress of ten Ian
gungcs.
After sayinga few gracious words the queen
disappeared and the Villamarina asked us
to take aome refreshments. saying: II
hone we will SEQ You on Thnraday."
Ihe next day came an invitation to the
grand court ball.
This ia O very fine sight. The king md
queen enter and take their places on q high
estrade covered with u crimson velvet bald
achIn.
Then the ladies and gentlemen of the
household and tue ambassadors enter.
Inc Count Glanotti, n very handsome
Piedrnontese, the ~fayorite friend OF the
king, the project of the palace and master
of ceremonies, declared the ball opened and
the queen danced with the Baron Kendall,
The royal qnadrille over, dancing be-
came general. The king stood about, look
ing soldier-iike, bored and silent. A pat
rlotic and brave man hates society. The
queen does all the social work and she does
1t admirably.
What a company that was, all the Roman
nobility, diplomatic CORPS, the visitors to
Rome. 3. j.. q. X. The senate and the Ro-
man 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 ten 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 Qurinial is excel
lent; such %truff1es!
The queen of Italy moves about among
the ambassadeurs' wives. and summons a
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
Ilo pdAdpiel udllt VI IOydluy, hlWAYS anus
ing and interesting to American eyes. W.
see Its poetry, it's almost vanished mean
ing, more than they do. Power, even when
it descends for a day on fresh republican
shoulders, is 1--WE inspiring. The boy who
is a leader at school is more important
than the boy who walks behind him. "A
captain of thousands'' was the old
G eek term for leadership. dignity and
honor. Therefore it is not snobbery to
desire to see the people on whom have
fallen the ermine of power. it is snob-
berry to lick the dust before some unworthy
wearer of a title, but when, as in the case
of Marguerite of Savoie, there is a very
| good, u very gifted, a worry wonderful
woman behind it all, we are glad that she
has been born to wear all these jewels.
We have in our minds one more picture,
and a very picturesque one.
In September, 1883, the DGe d. AOsta,
brother to King Humbert, married his
niece. Letitia Bonaporte. daughter of the
Princess Clotidde and Prince Jerome Bona
parte. This marriage occurred at Turin.
A fine week of aulumn weather was devoted
to this ceremony. It was q great gathering
of all the family of Victor Emmanuel. The
pope had granted an especial dispensation
to the nearly related couple. This degree
of consanguinity 80 repellant to US is not
considered, however, as %prejudicial to mar
riage 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 customs of past
centuries in the art of entertaining.
The city Of Turin was en- fete for the
week. At booths in the open air were
strolling companies PLAYING opera, tragedy,
burlesque and farce. At the kings charger
the streets were lined with gay decorations
of pink and white silk, banners and
escutcheons, music was heard everywhere,
and at evening brilliant Examinations fol.
lowed the river.
When the royal cortege appeared on their
way to a public square they were preceded
by six hundred young cavaliers in the dress
of Prince Eugene. Powdered hair, bright
red and blue coats, each detachment escort
ing a royal carriage. First came the king
and queen, then the bridal pair.
They mounted n superb thing like a
basket OF flowers i'll the piazza Vittorio
Emmanuel, where all the royalties sat
around the bride. Music and flags saluted
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 tho rosy light
faded away n gun from the fortress sounded
the hour of departure. Tn glittering cav
alcade drove back to the palace. and we
foreigners knew that VIC had seen a real
medieval Italian fiesta.
Nj. +. w. SHERWOOD.
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