The herald., 1893-05-31
MAKING FOOLS OF THEMSELVES.

At the fetes recently given in honor OF
the Iniants Eulalia and her husband,
Prince Antoine, in New York, the ladies'
OF Gothgm's -Four Hundred made them
Belves highly ridiculous, and in quite a
number of ways. Very many of them
jewels galore. They must have been
somewhat aetonished, on the other hand,
at the extreme simplicity Of the toilette
of the daughter OF a queen. Another
! amusing circumstance Of the ball given
in her honor was that two chairs we're
| placed on daiH for the infanta and her
husband. Then came the Aunkeyism.
In the drawing room of Buckingham
palace it is customary for pereons pre-
sented to her majesty to retire back
wards from the royal presence for few
steps; and then, having made a very
ceremonious obeisance, to walk away
like any other sensible human beings.
This usage is strictly limited to sover-
elgns, and is never praCticed or exacted
in Europe towards anybody but the
parsonage travelling in the United
States, knowing our republican
traditions and present republican
professions, would 80 much as think
of expecting such an obsequious
Observance. On the principle of doing
in Rome ne the Romans do, on Ameri-
can abroad might deem it the correct
thing to observe court etiquette, and any
ono who 80 thought and acted would GER
tainly be excuaable in 80 doing. Even
the illustrious Pixley was once known,
when in Rome, to have kissed the pope's
toe. This he undoubtedly did on the
strength OF the old saw which we have
quoted. 1t was tho most remarkable
instance OF "going to CanosBa" that we
have had in American history. To his
regret at having ever been betrayed into
observing this European usage may
probably be referred the extreme bitter
ness OF his subsequent denunciationa OF
the sovereign pontif and his devoted
Irish adherents. But there is no rule
which can be held to exact any slavish-
republic. Snobbery ought to be exotic
in country that has apotheoaized
Jefferson and is supposed to have cor
tdially adopted his code of republican
simplicity. Then, even those persons in
whom the instinct OF tuit-hunting is
very strong, ought not, one would think,
to try to make consummate asses of
themselves, which they full surely do
by esHsying to ape European customs
which they imperfectly understand.
1t is really astonishing the rate at
which downright alteration of rank ~Aa
richea Ia growing in this country, and it
ia the more curious because there is the
development of Il precisely opposite
spirit in England. While q certain
claas of American parvenus would be
only too delighted to be ruled over by q
king, the English people, on the other |
hand, are rapidly emancipating, them
selves from the glamour of royalty. The
growth of a democratic sentiment in
that country is quite remarkable, and it
is largely owing to the reBpect in which
the personal character of the queen is
held that it does not show even revolu-
tionary tendency. 1t may be with Victoria
as it was with Louis XIV, latter me
the deluge." However that may be, it
ID certainly ridiculous to see growing up
amongat Americans disposition to re-
pudiate the institutions under which
this country has become great and pros
porous. Fortunately this spirit is con-
fined to very limited set on the east
ern coast, and it's principal center ia the
city of New York. The moment the in
spiriting people of the western states are
reached the germs of monarchical snob-
berry are killed by an eager and nip
ping sir.