The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-04

xho M longer figured in State ceremonies.
The Cardinals-conside as Princes OF
the Church-come next, foIioweu %
the Cabinet Ministers. Thus IL harsna's
Canrobert or Mcmahon were present tney
would pass after the Ministers me
diplomats have, Of course. always tne
precedence. In Catholic countries the
Papal Nuncio Is de facto the doyen OF
the whole corps; where there Is no envy
OF the Pope. the doyen Is the Ampassaooi
who has been the longest accrediteo 10
the country. The same RUE app.ea es
Ministers Plenipotentiaries and charges
d'Affalres I'm the absence OF Ambassadors'
Etiquette questions were not always
settled smoothly in spite OF precedent
At the court OF Louis XVI tnere oiee
occurred a sharp discussion between 'ne
King and the Princes of the blood as
10 who was TO pay the nrst can o,s
Joseph H.. who was not yet EmpeTo' "a
Austria, themselves or he. fihaiiy ""
Princes of Orleans and Conde, VINO iiau
tho most strongly advocated the prlVnese
~ the House OF France. consented 10
wait on the foreign Prince, when the
Mica was alleged that he was aireduy
..Na iesty" az King of the Romans
M de Talleyrand. who was proverpia'!
strict on all uuestiors OF etiquette, oiiCe
turned an en,barras sing situation WIN
lis witty tact. Arriving late AT siOd'
6iplomatic banquet, Mt winch All MS ~
leagues were Present, he found tnae ~
only vacant seat was at the pottoii
the table; the mistress or the mousse VIZ,
uupardonable want of tact, apoloslHcu
for 4, and hereby drew attention TO the
fact: but Talleyrt I'd. sitting down WIN
opparent unconcern, merely remarheu
I'm his clear, incisive voice that Wherever
the Ambassador of France sat was az
WAYS the first place-a story toiu a'S0
Of OConnell. ho
Ouite lately IL has often been asked VINO
should be the first to give the sisnai Vi
breaking up party after dirheI.
intend to return to ancient customs o. -
traditions there Is no uouo. 40 -
answer. II is the hostess. Those VINO
maintain that the initiative must be taken
nv the most important among the guests
declare that IL is ungracious IN the
hostees 70 make q move when imphes
that she Is tired of Ber company ana
DESTROYS OF retiring. But the adNoCa'NS
NJ tho old custom aver, not without pau
sibility. that II is very diitlcult 10 ne-
termine who among the guests mas the
qualifications that constitute MN the
leader: whether ii should be man or
a WON'T n, and whether there would no'
he undue resumption in assuming the
mart The old system is, on the contrary,
only another form of courtesy. In rising
10 terminate the evening the lady OF the
house intimates that II her guests are
DESTROYS Of Withdrawing 1t is her duty TO
spare them the annoyance of confesslng
their WEAKNESS and to take that onus
on herself
with our Empire dresses, noiseless
slippers. and Queen Hortense coiHure are
we to arop the easy, convenient, but rough
A.I,4 int ttrhf =
fallen so readily? Are we to remember
that politeDess is n virtue, for 1t Is the
constant preoccupation Of making others
comfortable, of pleasing them, of spar
ing them vexation. Of putting them at
their ease; a virtue that cannot be learned
too early or practiced too thoroughly.-M.
de s. in New York Sun.