The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-25

! not consider hims ELF superior TO every
| body else and he is even In the haDit,
when attending dramatic perform iIces'
Of summoning the 'eading actors and ac-
trcsses TO his box. In order TO indl cate 10
them how they ought TO play their re-
spective parts. ] have not seen Emperor
William since he assembled the throne.
but friends and relatives connected with
the court coincide in one expression OF
opinion concerning him--namely, that he
is an excellent and sensible fellow, thor
oughly unaffected and amenable to rea-
son. If one can speak 10 him alone, but
that from the very moment That any
third person approaches, no matter VINO
il is his manner undergoes a complete
change He. perhaps unconsciously. be-
gins 10 pose and play a part, and is no
longer amenable, since he fears that on
admission. either direct or implied, that
he is in the wrong would injure his pres
tlge II made in the presence or two or
more witnesses.
At Madrid | have several times wit
messed the customary Saturday afternoon
procession OF the court OF the Church or
the AttOcha, and. being fond OF the late
King Alfonso XII, 10 whom ! was IN
debted for many acts Of kindness, ii used
10 pain me to see him crossing the Fu-
erto del Sol in his carriage, with his hat
I'm his hand. bowling 10 the right and TO
the left. practically inviting salutations
on the part Of the public that the latter
neglected TO accord Indeed, on several
occasions. 1. a foreigner. was the only
person on that great. crowded square
who took the trouble 10 respond TO the
bow of the King by barring my head. Ihe
spectacle presented by the Ing on these
occasions always had the effect OF recall
ing TO my mind that Of an unpopular ac-
tor on the stage pitifully endeavoring to
invite APPLAUSE which the audience was
disinclined to concede.
The carriages OF the Empress OF Aus
trIa and, I'm fact, of almost every royal
and imperial parsonage IN Europe al 2
prcvided with queer Kind Of automatic
rfCl arjsm Of the seat and back cushion
which forces the occupants. by means OF
geared connection with the exles, to bow
incessantly without any eNertion while
the carriage is In motion. While the con-
trivarce. which resembles the sliding scat
of a racing shell. is exceedingly ingenious,
and. as a rule. saves much fatigue, yet,
on the other hand. it is not without its
disadvantages. since It obliges the royal
or imperial persOnages to cOntinJe be w
ing. even when there is no one 10 respond.
There is something very theatrical, too,
about the state carriages of royalty, and
whereas some Of them find their way
from the palace stables to the circus,
such as. for instance that Of the late
Duke Of Brunswick, there are others,
such as that OF King George OF Greece,
which find their way from the circus TO
the royal news.
Indeed. 70, atty nowadays is rs much
dependent upon winning popularity by
spectacular representation as are the
atrical managers and actors. They use
almost identical methods to captivate the
public and 10 win its support and the
cajoleries employed for this purpose by
both bear a striking resemblance 20 one
another. The masses everywhere are
fond OF a good show. no matter whether
n be furnished them by royalty or by
professional actors. Each year that
masses. however. renders them more re-
luctant to pay large prices for this species
Of entertainment. which. with the in
crease Of the standard OF education
throughout the old world is commencing
10 pail upon their taste. Monarchs are
beginning TO realize this. and to appreciate
the fact that royal and imperial institu-
tions are no longer in accord with the
present growth Of popular enlightenment
and nrogress IL Is gradually dawntng
uDon them that their day is past, ana
that the time is coming when. by reason
Of their inability to please or satisfy the
public. they will be reiegated into the
background like any other broken-down
actors or superannuated actresses. Charl-
table homes have been provided by the
benevolent public for the latter and we
,,ov nerbons live to see the establishment
~ analogous institutions destined 10 pre-
serve from want rulers Of both sexes
who have outlived their day and vocation.