The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-03-23
He DlNED WITH rHs QUEEN.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
''Once, and only once IN my life,
,aid well-known diplomat who now
represents England as ambassador t<
one of the 6rst-class missions, Il was a
| rampant, red-hot republican, and fol-
twenty-four hours would have gladly
seen our monarchical institutions de-
stroyed forever.
| 81 was attachs 1t the time at one OF
the small South American places and
had been sent home on a special mis-.
sion with dispatches to present to the
queen and foreign minister.
Il was only youngster, it being my
first year of service, and no words can
express my sense of my own import
ance, as well as the Importance OF the
affair with which I was intrusted.
$50 l was quite prepared on my ar
rival IN London to receive a personal
communication from the queens pri-
vate secretary commanding my attend
ance at Windsor, with the intimation
that it was the royal pleasure that !
should dine and sleep at the palace
Nevertheless the actual reception
of the mission with its large envelope
and official seal filed me with boyish
delight. Visions of special favor and
immediate preferment, as well as of
the brilliant society in which I was &c
be thrown, glimmered through my
brain, and wiring Sir - that would
wait upon her majesty Immediately,
and having been cautioned by my chief
against any delay, took the first prac-
ticable train to Windsor.
ut rather hurt my dignity on my
Arrival at the station to be obliged to
take rickety-looking fly, for 1 verify
believe il l had found chariot with
outriders l should not have been aston
fshed, or deemed it inconsistent with
the dignity of the occasion.
son my arrival at the castle, how
ever my pride received another shock
by my being sent by supercilious lack
eys to several doors before effected
an entrance.
Finally some head steward or butler
looked at list, and then at my card,
nodded, and consigned me to an auto
maton in livery, who led me through
circuitous passages. up several pairs OF
narrow stairs, showed me into a bare
little bedroom, put down nv traps,
which he actually had had the kind
ness to carry for me. and with the
words, Dinner at eight with the
queen, left me to my own devices.
at was then only three o'clock, and
/ had had no luncheon. sat down on
the edge of my bed. the most disillu-
sionne person in Great Britain. All
through that weary afternoon waited
IN vain for summons, not daring to
absent myself for fear of committing
some solecism in official etiquette.
Toward evening, however, my sp;r.
its revived. Il shall see the queen now
at all events thought to myself; and
making a careful toilet left my room
(where, by the way, not the slightest
attention had been shown to me. not
even jug of hot water having been
brought to my door, at little before
eight o'clock.
Having finally found an attendant
who seemed to know where to take me,
i was conducted to a large drawing.
room, where there were several groups
of well dressed men and women, all
talking together and taking not the
slightest notice of me. After a few
minutes sort of fiutter of expectation
made itself observable.
''Those who were sitting rose; a
couple of footmen opened a door, sta
tioning themselves on either side, and
a quiet, rather cross-looking little cid,
erly lady entered the room, followed
by half dozen ladies and gentlemen.
''How the rest happened do not re \
there seemed to be a general
and found myself in the
next room seated at a table between
two men who were perfect strangers
to me and who talked across to each
other. barely recognizing my existence
Fortunately for my patience the
dinner was not long. The queen gave
the signal, every one rose, and with
slight bow on her part and deer
Obeisance and curtesies on the part OF |
those present, she left the room for heI |
private apartments And this was my i
dinner with the queen!
"Afterward followed one of the most |
hours / have ever spent. |
Utterly neglected and too shy to assert |
myself, l stood it as long as could, and |
finally betook myself to my room,
feeling the most intense hatred for /
both royalty and the ar;stocracy in gen.
raj.
"At eight o clock the next morning
ny breakfast was brought to me on
ray, and with it card from the mas
er OF ceremonies, stating that was &c
lave an audience at ten o'clock.
''At the hour named I was ushered
nto the presence-not of the queen,
,ut of her private secretary, Sir -,
Who received me politely, fled my dis
catches and-dismissed me. leaving me
o find my way to the station as best
ould.
They say that those things are man
ged better now for the subalterns,
,ut if there ever was a red-hot socialist
was that man On my way hack &c
.ondon-