New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-04
rendering Of these two words being, as . rule,
used only when talking Of animals
SOME INGENIOUS DEVICES.


Sometimes this walking backward gives rise
to rather pretty and even pathetic devices on
the part Of those who desire to avoid accidents
such as happened to the Duke Of Argyll. Thus,
can recall the case Of relative who on re-
turn from active service, was summoned with
several brother officers to buckingham Palace
in order to receive from the hands Of the sover-
eign herself the Order Of the Bath. He had lost
his right leg in action SO near to the hip joint
that there was no means Of wearing an artificial
limb, and he consequently dependent upon
his clutches When he entered the royal pres
ence it was noticed that he held. fastened APP
parently to the hand rest of either crutch.
couple Of lovely bouquets. A third of the dis
lance up the long room he stopped, made the
regulation bow best he could. and dropped
one Of the punches Of flowers to the floor. Then
he made his way up to the Queen. rendered her
the other bouquet. which she gracously ac-
cepted, received his Order Of the Bath. which
she herself fastened to his uniform with many
kindly word 0or he had been a favorte OF her
husband); and tten he proceeded to withdraw
from her presence. IL ever there was a case in
which the walking backward might have been
excused, it was there, and the faces Of the Queen
and Of those around her betrayed signs Of con-
Germ and anxiety lest some mishap should over
take the Colonel He, however, backed away,
displaying himself some hesitation and anxiety
until he reached that part Of the room where he
had purposely left the first bouquet on the
ground. That gave him his bearings. He knew
where he was then. and leaving the flowers
there reached the door in safety. the Queen
kindly noddng and waving her hand to him in
l. hat not Of
homage. That Her Majesty was moved thereby
was shown by the fact that a few days later he
received from the Queen rather unusual pres
ent, namely handsome carriage and a pair or
horses. together with expression Of the wish
that the conveyance might in some measure tend
to alleviate the discomfort caused by the alb
sence OF the limb which he had lost IN her ser
vice the field Of battle.
TRIALS OF THE SHORT AND FAT.
Sometimes when the court dgnitares hap
pened to be fat or unkind'y treated by nature
with regard to figure and form, they present an
exceedingly comical appearance when walking
backward that is to say, to those who, not
being Of royal blood. have the advantage Of the
rear view; and l. for one, shall never forget the
mrth-engenderng spectacle offered to my sight
by certain noble lord, who shall be nameless,
and who formerly occupied an important post
in the Queens household. Providence had been
so bountiful to him in the matter Of talent and
intellect that presumably, with the object OF
evening up things, it had been less liberal in
physical matters, and while his body was UNI
naturally long his legs were both abnornally
short and, to say the least, detected. Imagine
the figure Of this stunted nObleman-for he was
very shOrt-arrayed n the hideous Windsor
uniform, with knee breeches and silk stockings,
walking backward. and you have something
very much in the nature Of human crab.
Nothing, however, can be more stately and
digniied than the present Lord Chamberlain
and Lord Steward, the Earls Of Pembroke and
Lathom. who adopts in the art OF walking