New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-13

sva,,ng as the universe long since knew.
plcasing survival of ancient custom TO
a., tho Home Secretary announcing 1t by letter
' .,ce 70 the Lord Mayor. The letter IS
r,o-,s,ce of brief formally. but brief as II
600, do no, think the postal telegraph wires
.oa the privilege of assuring the Lord Mayor
.n.. 1tar ROYAL Highness the Duchess Of York
-. safely delivered Of a son and that Her
ro,a, Highness and the infant Prince were both
,.,rc perfectly well:-still less that Mr.. II. H.
,scuith had "the honor 10 be. my lord. your
,,,sship's obedient servant: all Of which duly
a,nears in print. 1t Is permissible to suppose
49, the letter was written and signed before
Nr Asquith quilted London date Of the happy
Ian, and sex of the offspring left 10 be filled
a, A. the Home Office on receipt of message.
The fact at any rate, was known in London
NV II or So and letters 10 persons entitled to
=, Informed began 10 arrive soon after. The news
ros ,eIephoned 10 the officials at various points
eating 10 receive 1t. saw one of these letters
cot ~ all n solemn document. but few lines
,-,u the Duke of YOrks equerry to one of the
rovaI household. There party. Most OF
,he guests were gone. The drawing-ro were
.mntv. In the dining-room some twenty or
,hirty people were still lingering. 1t was the
re1od of that agreeable intercourse when the
whirl Is over and people think themselves en-
titled 10 indulge in conversation involving some
ching more than a rapid interchange Of views
about the weather and the new French play.
IN tie midst Of this eisurely and sometimes de-
urhtful discourse appeared the host with an
men letter In his hand Everybody knew what
.jilngs were expected and was eager 10 know
whether the infant boy or girl. so there
was hush The host read out the letter and
there was a murnur Of pleasure when the word
nov was heard. and another when II was known
that the Duchess Of York. whom all the world
,kes and admres was all right There Is a
new King Of England" said our host. perhaps a
p,ta prernaturely. but nobody was critical, land
7 think we might drink his health There was
No speech no demonstration. no cheering; the
glasses Just touched. the health was drunk, and
.he conversation sped on. If nothing had hap
nened or nothing but new topic.
All the same. the little scene was slightly un-
usual Not many OF the few present could rec
ollect the birth OF the last heir. a little more
than thirty years ago. or. at any rate. had
heard It announced in this way 1t is rare that
IN the easy social life Of London anything like a
Formally occurs that any event Is treated
with any ceremony whatever The English. as
all the world knows. are seldom demonstrative in
private On this occasion they did seem to feel
that something had happened which concerned
them and their country. and they took note OF IT |
IN the way have described to that extent and
no more As looked about the room IL seemed !
% mo that the very servants showed some slight
human concern-mach!nes though they be-and |
not least the six huge scarlet-coated footmen |
whose livery denoted their connection with the |
household These majestic beings were not IN |
sensible TO the significance Of the occasion. |
had Just come from seeing Madame Rejane In |
Madame Sans-Gane at the Gaiety. In the house |
hold OF the Emperor Napoleon there is a servant |
who tells his comrade with pride: Il was OF the |
Court Of Louis Sixteenth" and when asked what |
most he held In that royal household. answers |
stlll proudly: "S,abe-boy." He thought him.
self. and perhaps was. as much part OF the |
brilliant establishment as II he had been Master
Of Ceremonies TO the whole And so. | presume,
did the scarlet footmen Of Saturday evening IL
vas halt-past IL when this news came to Client.
G. W. :.