The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-02-27
ENGLISH SOCIETY.
George W. smalley in Harper's Magazine,

George w. Smalley in Harpers Magazine.
A word must be 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 | can imagine that American readers,
with their absence of interest in rank or
titular distinctions of any kind, might be
impatient of any long discussion upon the
rank and distinctions which in England
are reckoned highest of all. will keep
to the surface and if you look only at the
surface it has to be said that the social
influence of royalty is apt to be little
depressing No matter how animated the
conversation, hush GENES over the COM
pany when royalty enters. The tone is
lowered; raised voice is not thought re-
spectful. There comes at the same time
certain constraint. Few even of those
who live most constantly in these exalted
circles escape it. Groups of men and
women who moment before were entire
ly at their ease are, or appear to be,
slightly less at their ease. Before, every
body was equal; now, superior is pres
ent. Shocking as the word must be to an
American, it has to be used. Royalty in
England is still a caste apart, and treated
as such. The substance of superiority,
and especially the substance of power, has
passed from these superior beings The
more closely do they cling to the shadow,
to the outward signs and observances which
once denoted submission to real master,
who could and did impose his will on his
subjects
A lady long used to these royal usages
once made a remark on them which has
the usual feminine acuteness of perception.
A dinner party, carefully composed and
long planned for particular purpose, had
been broken up by summons from Marl-
borough House to some of the chief guests.
There was good deal of comment on the
want of consideration shown-and often
shown-by the royalties for the conve-
nience of Others. Said this lady: Don
blame them too much; it is about the last
of the old royal prerogatives now left to
them, and they cling to it. If they had
to consider our comfort, where would be
the use of being Prince p The other
side may be seen in the remark of one OF
the most amiable of the reignlng family
"If YOU knew how we had been brought
up. YOU would wonder we behave as well
as we do Nor do l think the English
themselves much resent being summoned,
as the phrase is, to royal entertainment.
Commanded they are not. Invitations
90 in the name or under the hand of the
proper official of the household, and he ii
is who has her Majesty's commands, or l.
commanded by his Royal Highness, to in
yite Mr. and Mrs. Jones to dinner. Then
Royal Highnesses have the further priv
ilege of inviting or proposing themselves,
but then SO have their subjects, in the way
l have explained elsewhere. am fal
from meaning to suggest that the constrain
imposed by their presence is voluntarily Oh
consciously imposed by them. 1t has al
ways been said in England, and | think
truly said, that the distinction OF classes i
largely kept up by the INFERIOR classes O'
as between the upper classes and that roya
caste which stands SO far apart from then
all. The observance of loyal respect art
practised willingly and of choice by thos'
from whom they are thought to be due
The hush in conversation on the arrival Of
a Prince or Princess is voluntary. Their
is no eompuls;on. 1t is tribute yielded
without heart burning. Conversation fow'
ON after moment-not with so impetuou
stream, but freely enough. Only there
are certain conventionalties which mus
not be forgotten When Carlyle sat in th'
presence of the Queen at Lady August'
Stanley's tea party at Westminster Able!
the company were shocked perhaps, bu
not the Queen, who, with real considera
ton of Carlyle, simply motioned to the res
to be seated No story is better known
none gives a better notion of the Queen
manner: none shows more clearly how grea
parsonage you must be before you cal
expect customs to curtsy to you.
Society, whether English oil American
is a word which means several differen
things. Il has never been defined to tn
satisfaction of everybody; nor is it certain
that any two men or women, whether In