Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-09
WALKING BACKWARD.
The Difficulties and Dangers Of Custom
at the English Court.

Among the manwapecuiiarities of eti-
quette at the monarchical courts of Eu-
rope. there il none that To American pro-
PIE must appear more strange than the
walking backward IL Is an accomplish
ment nay, one might almost describe it
as an art, that is by no means easy to
acquire, ana YET which is Indispensable
for those who are called upon to hask in
what Is known as the sunshine OF royalty.
Nowhere is IL carried 10 greater perfec-
ton nor more frequently practised than
at the court of Queen Victoria, and the
great officers of her household have dur
ing the last three weeks been doing SO
much of IL in connection with the various
state functions and ceremonies conSe-
quent upon the jubilee that they may ex-
perience some difficulty in reVerting To
the normal and everyday method of pro-
gression.
1t is scarcely necessary TO state that
the walking backward constitutes to-
ken of profound respect. II is an act OF
homage that men of the old regime in
Europe still accord TO every great lady Of
their acquaintance, when they back out
of her presence at the conclusion of Il
call, ana is based on the doctrine that 1t
is diScourteouS ever to turn their back
toward any one entitled 10 Difference.
The turning of the back upon a person is
To such an extent "A demonstration of dis
regard and contempt that Il has even
come To be used as a figure of speech for
the expression of aversion. and hence il
Is not unnaturaly forbidden by the ell
quette of most Of the courts of Europe in
the presence of royalty. At Berlin, at
Rome, and ut the courts of some of the
more modern and minor Gynasties, the
rule is not so strictly observed and IN
the Prussian capital as well as at the
Qldrinal have often watched the great
dignitarles Of the imperial and royal
households with their marching wands Of
office in hand. at the head of the process
sion, turning their gold embroidered
backs full upon the anointed of the lord.
who followed in their wake. But at
Buckingham palace, at Windsor or at st.
James's, the Lord Chamberlain. the Lord
Steward and the other officers of state
Invariably precede either the sovereign
or her children, walking backward. keep
ing their faces toward royalty and their
backs to the remainder of the world.
Let any one try to walk backward along
the full length of a big hail. bowling every
few steps, never looking backward. and
Yet Keeping in the proper direction-all
the more important Ito preserve since the
officials thus walking backward lead the
royal procession-and he will see how diff
ficult 1t is to preserve either ones dignity
or ones bearings. And very often the
walking backward has to be DONE not
merely on the level. but also up and down
steps and stairs, which is still more ar
duous, and requires an immense amount
of practice. Indeed, those who are not
accustomed thereto sometimes come to
grief in the same manner the Duke of
Argyll. On one of the rare occasions on
which Queen Victoria presided at the
opening of Parliament in state she was
attended by the Duke who doing duty
for the nonce as Lord High Steward of
the Realm. carried the crown on a vel
vet cushion. At the conclusion of the
ceremony. during which he had occupied
place on the dais of the throne in the
House of Lords. he proceeded TO move
backward from the presence of her mai
esty. He forgot. however the steps of
tn dais and when he reached the edge of
the latter he fell backward, all hutlslled
up in his long and heavy ermine- barred.
red peers robes. from the folds of which
he was extricated with difficulty. The
crown shared in the mishap. for it rolled
from its cushion to the ground and a
number of the stones dropped out.
The Queen. whose face showed more
concern than amusement. although the
gravity of those about her was sorely
taxed by the spectacle presented by the
Cock Of the North Gas His Grace is
styled in Scotland in CONSEQUENCE OF his
somewhat strutting gait), spoke few
kindly words, expressing her hope thai
ne was not hurt, and begging him not to