The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-30

Royalty I'm English Society.
word must he said, suppose, upon
the effect which the presence of royalty
has on English society. To trace it In
all its ramifcations would carry me too
far, and i can imagine that American
readers, with their absence of interest In
rank or titular distinctions of any kino,
might be impatient OF any long discus
sion upon the rank and distinctions
which in England are reckoned highest
Of ell. | will keep to the surface, and II
you look only at the surface it has to be
said that the social influence of royalty
is apt to be little depressing. No mat
ter how animated the conversation, q
hush comes over the company when roy
city enters. The tone Is lowered; q
raised voice Is not thought respectful.
There comes at the same time a certain
constraint. Few even OF those who live
most constantly in these exalted circles
who a moment before were entirely at
their ease are or appear to tie slightly less
at their ease Before, every boz dy wss equal
now, a superior is present. Shocking az
the word must be to an American, 1t has
to be used. Royalty in England 10 still
a caste apart, and treated as such. The
substance OF superiority, and especially
the substance OF power, has passed from
these superior beings. Tho more closely
do they cling to the shadow, to the out
ward signs and observances which once
denoted a submission to a real master,
who could and did impose his will on
lis subjects.
A lady long used to these royal usages
once made remark on them which hiss
the usual feminine acuteness of percep-
tion. dinner party, care fully COM
posed ana long planned for particular
purpose, had been broken up by a sum-
mons from Marlborough House to some
OF the chief guests. There was a good
deal OF comment on the want of consider
alton shown-and often shown-by the
royalties for the convenience of others.
Said this lady: "Don't blame them
too much;ili about the ;ast OF the old
royal prerogatives now left to them
had to consider our comfort, where
would be the use of being Prince2" The
other side may be seen in the remark of
one OF the most amiatle of the rsigning
family: "If you knew how we had been
brought up, you would wonder we re-
have as we'll as We DO" Nor do think
the English themselves much resent be-
ing summoned, as the phrase Is, to q
royal ent ertainment. 'Commapded"
they are not.
Invitations 60 in the name or under
the hand OF the proper official of the
household, and lie it is who has Her
Msjesty's commands, or is commanded
by His Roval Highness, to invite MIR.
and Mrs. Jones to dinner. Their Royal
Highnesscs have the further privilege OF
inviting or proposing them selves, but
then 40 nave their subject, in the way /
have explained elsewhere. am far from
meaning to suggest that the constraint
imposed by their presence is voluntarily
or consciously imposed by them. 1t has
always been said In England, and think
truly said, that the distinction of classes
Is largely Kept up by the in ferior classes.
So MS between the upper classes and that
royal caste which stands 50 far apart from
them all. The obssrvances of loyal re-
rpect are practice1 willingly and of
cnoics by those from whom they are
thought to be due. Tne hush in converse
ton on the arrival of q Prince or Prin-
cess is voluntary. There Is 10 compul-
sion. II Is tribute yielded without
heart-hurning.- Conyer istion flows on
after moment-nos WIKI so impetuous a
stream, but freely enough. Only there
are certain conventit n Mites which must
not be forgotten. Mnen Carlyle sat In
he presence Of the Queen at Lady Angus
IA Staulsy's tea party at Westminster Alb
boy the company we're shocked perhaps,
but not the Queen, who, with real con-
,ideratiou for Carlyle. simply motioned
70 the rest to be seated. No story is bet.
.er known; none gives . better notion OF
he Queens manner; none shows more
clearly how great q rersonage you must
be before you can expect customs to
curtsy to you.-From "Epglish So
,iety." by George w. smalley, in Har-
per 'sAIagazine for January.