Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-01-16

each other. Each gentleman is in
formed by his escort whom he is to
have the pleasure of taking to the ia
Bile, and is properly introduced. He is
is also shown On diagram the seat he
is to occupy at the table.
After these preliminaries are over
the pOrtieres that hide the second re-
ceptlon room are thrown back, to
disclose the lord steward, in full court
dress with his gorgeous staff of Of
flcers, standing beside a stout, red
faced little woman, who sits on the
edge Of a great gilt chair. By her
side are usually two or three princess
es and maids of honor, and often one
or more of her sons or sons-in-law
The guests then formed a procession
in the order of their rank and pass
before her majesty, who offers her
hand to them and murmurs few
pleasant wordS. Loyal subjects always
kiss the seams upon the back of her
white glove, but she does not like to
have Americans do so, because she
knows that this ancient custom is not
in vogue in our country. Therefore,
when she withholds her hand from an
American guest it is an act of cour-
tesy rather than a slight. Americans
are usually informed in advance by
their attendants of this popularity and
ere prepared for it.
Ihere is no time for conversation.
Only few words are exchanged. Her
majesty usually asks Americans about
the health of the President and his
wife and expresses her faterest in
their welfare
LII there has been a notable incident
or event in the United States she may
allude to it, for she keeps well in
formed concerning current events
Sometimes she invites a guest to take
a seat beside her, which is a mark
of unusual distinction that was con-
ferred upon Mrs. Grant when she and
the general were visiting Windsor
some years ago, and upon Mrs. John
Hay during the jubilee ceremonies last
spring
When those in the party have all
passed in review they proceed in the
same order to the dining room and
each stands behind his chair until
the Queen enters on the arm of one of
her sons, or Sonsin-law or in their
absence on the arm of a maid Of honor.
She is always dressed in black or
gray. If in black she wears white
gloves. If in gray, black gloves. She
carries an ebony goldheaded cane.
Usually two East Indian servants in
brilliant native costume follow her and
wait upon her at the table
Before her majesty takes her seat
one Of the court chaplains says grace.
She never sits with her guests, but
has small round table at the end
of the room near the door, and sell
dom has more than one companion,
who may be one Of her daughters or
the senior maid of honor, or lady in
waiting. This is due to her majesty'S
feeble health.
She cannot sit through a long din
ner and quietly slips out before the
guests have half finished. Nor does
she take the food that is served to
them. A few plain and simple dishes
are provided for her repast-soup, fish,
roast beef or mutton, with a salad,
and sweets. She drinks no wine, but
takes a little Scotch whisky in ap-
pOllinaris water
At the main table long French din
nor is served of 10 or IL courses. There
is a waiter for every two persons and
they move with military precision.
Their livery is scarlet dress coat
with brass buttons, trimmed with gold
lace, blue velvet short trousers with
gold braid along the seams, white silk
stockings and patent leather shoes
with gold buckles.
The guests are in court dress, and
the gowns of the ladies must be cut in
a certain way. American gentlemen
and other commOners must wear black
swallow tail coats, white silk low cut
vests, knee breeches, black silk stock
ings and patent leather pumps.
The table service IS gold plate pur-
chased by George ~ at a cost Of sew
cral millions Of dollars. 1t is large
enough to dine 12O persons, but more
than 40 are seldom invited 1t is said
that the gold and silver plate in Wind
sor castle is worth at least S1000O,0O0.
Great chests OF it are never used.
This belongs to the government.
The furnishings at Balmoral and Os-
borne palaces belong to the queens
private estate.
Among the decorations that inyari-
ably appear upon the table at state
dinners are two immense fiagons of
gold, set with precious stones that
were cantured from the Spanish arm
ada at the time of Queen Elizabeth,
presented to George " and is said to
have cost s35, 1000. often occupies the
center of the table
A peacock made of gold and pre-
cious stones is favorite of the Queen.
1t was made in India and presented
to her on the occasion of her f1ftieth
anniversary. Another of her favor
lite ornaments is a tigers head Of gold
with immense rubes for eyes and dia-
monds for teeth. 1t also came from
India and was jubilee gift.
If her majesty is feeling we'll the
guests find her in the drawing room
when they retire from the table. and
there is usually a program of music
for their entertainment, which she
thoroughly enjoys. Sometimes she
asks guest to sit by her side, and
know a pretty American girl whose
hand she held in her own in an affec-.
tionate way for half an hour one even
ing, and whom she kissed on both
cheeks as she retired at the close of
the evening.
Il hope to see you again, my dear"
said the Queen of England and EN-
press of India. Il shall send for you
to spend day with me very soon, and
want you all to myself" and sure
enough she did, and the young Yankee
damsel was not only with the Queen
all day, but drove with her in the
park and slept that night in room
adjoining the imperial bedchamber
When the Queen retires the party