The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-25

|
| upon divine interference in Portuguese,
| until the whole thing was decidedly COM
lcal, and he was evidently greatly sur
| prised that did not fume and swear and
walk the floor as he did.
After finding that he had no solution of
the puzzle | suggested that | remain
away from the reception altogether. My
| Godo' he calculated, rising and walking
| the floor, that is not to be permitted for
| a moment. The absence of any Minister
! known to be III the capital will be noted
and commented upon. No. no, MOI" and
he sank into his chair again. Then" l
said, what is the matter of my going up
and being presented to the Queen before
the eception-certainly there will be
time" The Marquis jumped to his feet
and fairly flew at me. He pounded his
! breast, while his face became radiant.
"Obrigado! Obrigado Agradecado !!
Nadamais faci. Thank you! Thank you!
| Much obliged. Nothing is easier! !" he
! exclaimed, wrlnging my hand. lie
| Queen sail approach you and vat you
call him sail git you re pTematur audi
! ence! Gisn' and he almost danced with
JOY. Promising to see to il at once he de-
parted, and at an early hour the next
morning word came that l was TO be at
the palace at sharp, when L would be
presented to the Queen.
AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING.
Before speaking of my experience
! IN observing this programme, let me de-
scribe my formal presentation to the
king the preceding day. The hour for
the ceremony was fixed at half-past 2
O'Clock, and a few minutes before this |
was driven to the Palace of Necessidades.
where there was an imposing display of
military. l alighted and passed between
TWO lines of soldiers, up long flight OF
marble steps, followed by an attache of
The Legation, who accompanied me until
the upper landing and first anIe-room
was reached, where he was requested to
remain until my return. N official of
! the Kings household then conducted me
to richly furnished room, where ! was
soon Joined by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, the Kings Secretary and several
| officers OF high rank, III blazing court
dress. They soon left me, however, to go
TO the King IL the Audience Chamber,
| their place being taken by the pleasant
Marquis &c POmbal of whom l have
spoken. The Marquis described, in very
broken English anu French, the manner
OF procedure upon entering the august
presence of his majesty, aud we soon re-
ceiVed the signal 10 proceed.
From what L have been told of the
mysterious ceremonies attending the in
ducLiOn of candidates into certain secret
| orders, | fancy the preliminary steps
must be something like those attending
my presentation. Arrayed in a gorgeous
uniform, and with great staff of office,
the Marquis marched by my side through
several rooms until finally door swung
nOlselessIy open, and we were confronted
by semi-circle Of dignitaries in glitter
ing decorations, each seeming to Outshine
the other. We bowed on our entrance
ostenslbly to the King, but really to
everybO IN the room, 1t being impOssi-
| bic Tor a stranger to tell King from court
ier IN the array OF richly-appareled Off
Gals. AS we approached the center Of
the semi circle, however, the King stood
out from the rest, and, as we bowed
again, saluted US in return.
AS was leaving Washington on nv
way to Lisbon happened in the White
House at the hour for the presentation Of
the new Russian Minister to the Presi-
| dent. The latter had been busy up to
| the moment that Secretary Foster had
/ come IN. and announced that the Russian
dIgnitary was below waiting 10 be pre-
seuted. Then taking the Secretary's arm,
| the Chief Magistrate of the great Repub-
! lie walked downstairs, shook hands
with the Minister, heard his few words
/ OF welcome in return, and walked back
to work. The Secretary had said to me,
| Come down and see how it's DONE"
and it seemed mighty simple and in
/ formal, but when that performance was
cOntrasted with the ceremonies of the
court at Lisbon, [ felt as if | hadn't
! learned much in seeing it.
1t is the custom Tor Il representative,
who is about to De presented, to put his
! speech in writing, and send CODY there
| OF through the Foreign Office to the
King. This IS merely to acquaint his
/ majesty with the subject matter and sub
/ stance of the address in order that he
may frame suitable reply. | had, of
course, observed the usual form, never
| theIess, upon hating in front of the
{ Il n / n fnlI nv
script and read the speech already IN his
! hands. | think | did it with due solem-
| nifty, although the situation was enough
/ to seriously threaten ones gravity.
/ When l had finished his majesty I'M
rolled similar paper and proceeded to
| read a speech in Portuguese as near the
/ length of the one | had delivered as it
] was possible TO makeit. He might have
| been grossly insulting Uncle Sam in that
/ speech and l should have been none the
( wiser, but as a matter of course the
! Kings speech was excellent in tone and
! spirit, and full OF friendly assurances and
/ good wishes, as l learned the next day.
when l read the translation. After shak-
! ing hands and chatting few minutes on
! ordinary affairs, / bowed myself out, tie
/ Marquis still by my side, and soon alter
ward left the palace.
\ STRANGE CALL.
I made two or three calls of ceremony
/ on my return to the Legation, and was
an hour or TWO in reaching the office, but
when l drew up at the entrance l was
! surprised TO see it surrounded with SOL
diers. l alighted and passed between
them to the door, but as l did so the
! leader Of each squad stepped forward and
! handed me a sealed envelope. l passed
! these over to the venerable Vice Consul
/ General, inquiring what they meant, and
what this military display below signi-
{ flal ~ 10 emil ar n rr3Io
smile, and told me it was the Kings
guard come for their fees, their tips, or
! whatever one cared to call them, and the
! letters were simply congratulatory mis-
/ sives accompanying the demands for
cash.
The spectacle is a queer one to an
/ American, but does not seem to surprise
/ the representatives of other nationalities,
| probably because this genteel manner OF
/ asking aims Is more common in Europe
than America. There were several Of
/ these letters, each couched III a different
/ form, and coming from a different de-
1 taChment or command, but the purport
and object Of all were the same. 1 give a
! translation OF one OF the letters, which is
sample of all:
/ R0ydL Pdiace Of the NeusSjdades Lisbon
/ MOSr ILLUsTRIoUS SIR: The Courers OF the
koya! Cabinet in the service Of His Majesty,
LAe INlhS, respectfully congratulate our EX-
/ cellency on the honor OF having been received
/ by tae same August Parsonage as American
Minister. The SAID Couriers wish to congrat-
ulaJe our ENceilency on the honorable post
which you are chosen TO fill.
JOSE BIAS G0NzALAEs
l. JOSE MARIA DA FONSECA.
And just below is the following receipt,
cheeriully signed by the royal courier
who presented the letter:
Received A, 800 reis. about ST. 5O1
JOSE MARIA DA FOSsECA.
There were four or five squads, so the
congratulations" of the 'couriers'' cost