Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-02-11
LEAVING ROYAL PRESENCE.
Some Instances of the Difficulty of Walk
ing Backward with Dignity.

I A correspondent of the New York
Tribune has some interesting things
to say about the difficulties and dan
gers attendant upon the walking
backward which etiquette makes
imperative upon those who are leav-
ing the presence of Queen Victoria
and other European sovereigns.
Let any one try to walk backward
along the full length of big hall,
bowling every few steps, never
looking backward and yet keeping
in the proper direction, and he will
see how difficult it is to preserve
either ones dignity or ones bear
ings, and very often the walking
backward has to be done, not mere
ly on the level, but also up and
down steps and stairs, which is still
more arduous and requires an i'm
mense amount of practice.
On one of the rare occasions on
which Queen Victoria presided at
the opening of parliament she was
attended by the Duke of Argyll,
who, doing duty for the nonce as
lord high steward of the realm, car
ried the crSwn on velvet cushion.
At the conclusion of the ceremony,
during which he had occupied a
place on the dais of the throne in
the house of lords, he proceeded to
move backward from the presence
of her majesty.
He forgot, however, the steps of
the dais, and when he reached the
edge Of the dais he fell backward,
all huddled up in his long and heavy
ermine barred, red peers robes,
from the folds of which he was ex-
tricated 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, al
though the gravity of those about
her was sorely taxed, spoke a few
kindly words, expressing her hope
that the duke was not hurt and beg
ging him not to be troubled about
the affair, and then swept out with
her eortege.
No sooner had she left the gilded
chamber, however, than those pres
ent, comprising ambassadors, great
officers of state, peers and peeresses
of the realm, prelates and judges,
were requested by the officials of
the house of lords not to stir from
their seats or to approach the throne
until the stones which had dropped
from the crown had been collected.
Of course, the object of this pre-
caution was to prevent the gems
from being injured by being trod
den on. But it sounded for a mo-
ment as If the officials entertained
apprehensions lest some impecu-
NOUS peer or shady diplomat should
take advantage of the clumsiness of
the Duke of Argyll to pocket a
crown jewel.
Sometimes this walking backward
gives rise to rather pretty and even
pathetic devices on the part of those
who desire to avoid accident. Thus
I recall the case of a relative who,
on return from active service, was
summoned with several brother off
GERS to Buckingham palace to re-
ceive from the hands of the SOW
ereign the order of the Bath.
He had lost his right leg so near
to the hip joint that there was no
means of wearing an artificial limb,
and he was consequently dependent
upon clutches.
When he entered the royal pres
ence, it was noticed that he held,
fastened apparently to the hand rest
of either crutch, a couple of lovely
bouquets. A third of the distance
up the long room he stopped, made
the regulation bow as 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
graeiously accepted, received his
order of the Bath, which she her
self fastened to his uniform with
many kindly word, and then he
proceeded to withdraw from her
presence. =
If ever there was a case in which
the walking backward could be dis
pensed with, it was there, and the
faces of the queen and of those
around her betrayed signs of ankle
ty lest some mishap should overtake
the colonel. He, however, backed
away, displaying some hesitation
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 leav-
ing the flowers there he reached the
door in safety, the queen kindly
i L