Arizona republican., 1901-10-11
AT KING OSCARS COURT.
Balls Democratic as Public Receptions
 at the White House.


 The palace is the center of the social
 system in Sweden. and only certain
 persons are eligible to invitations to
 the kings balls and dinners. All ofu-
 cers of the militia are included in the ! list. and all the peasants in the riks- | dag, although their wives are never | invited
 Interesting stories are told of the ap- | pearance of these gentlemen at the | palace. Nearly one-half of the mem | bers of the lower house of parliament ! are peasants, and they always go to tn. | balls because they consider it d part | of their offcia! duty and wish to show | the respect they owe to the king. NJ doubt they are also prompted by curi- | osity to witness the sDlendor and the
 desire to eat at the kings table and to | drink his wines. Most of them have no
 dress clothes, but attend in their ordi- | nary peasant costumes Those from | Dalarne add to the picturesqueness of
 the scene, but. however humble and
 uncouth their attire may be. their ma | tive dignity is always apparent. Two balls are given at the palace an i nualiy. on the 2lst of January. the | birthday of the king. and upon the ma | tional holiday. Invitations are issue | in the name of the grand marshal o: | the court and read: By the king $ | most gracious command" etc. The cards state that ladies who intend to | dance are expected to wear white | gowns without trains. and ladies who
 do not expect to dance black gowns with trains. No formal acceptance or | regrets are expected but those who
 cannot attend must return the invita- | tion cards to the marshal ten days he
 fore the date. The guests are invited l from 9:3o to F o'clock, and everything l is over and the lights are out at l. | Supper is served al H. Tickets at | tached 10 the invitation cards are | shown at the entrances. and direct the | bearer to the robin.. and reception
 room to which he is assigned The | guests are thus distributed in different parts of the paace. so that there is no
 rush. crush or confusion. The, is q | printed list of all who are invited ar | ranged in the order of precedence. and | copies are furnished to the attendants l so that if q stranger happens to forget his card he need only mention his name
 to he directed to his proper place The social status of every person having the entre at court Is fixed. ami | ;L book is published containing the:r
 names and order of precedence for pri- vate well as public use Strangers
 can obtain invitations to functions a the palace if they are or have been iu distinguished official position, ir they belong to the army, navy diplomatic service of their country, or have. per
 sonal friends of influence in the court.
 Their names are placed at the bottom
 of the list with the names of the per sons who vouch for theIr rank and
 station at home. No European can re- ceivc an invitation unless he lial, been
 presented at the court of his own sov- ereign.
 The grand chanIb1 rIain receives in behalf of the king. and at 9:SD cver- guest Is expected to bc present. No
 person Is admitted to the palace after
 that hour. for precisely at the half hour the royal family enter, preceded by the
 king In na1 1al or military uniform. with
 the queen by his side. Their mnicgt,e.:
 are followed by their sons and daugh-
 tsrs. Ushers precede the royal party
 and open a passage through the guests for them. beginning with the reception room or the lowest rank. As the king
 and queen pas. slowly along they orte,, bow and sometim.s stop to s:ake
 hands with favoIite friends or como
 distinguished persons who have re- turned from an absence. or some stranger whom they delight to hono~ | The rest of the family do the saine. and their progress is so slow that it usu- ally takes about half an hour Tor them
 to make the tour of the rooms.
 Upon reaching the great ball room.
 or White Sea" as it is called--a spleii- l did apartment 1S5 by 114 feet in size