The Washington times., 1902-10-17
COURTS AND CAPITALS
OF THE OLD WORLD.

|
General Corbin and the other United
| States officers at Buckingham Palace
last Monday was with the object Of pre-
venting any one of them from delivering
a speech in response.
This would have been contrary to eti-
quette. Only princes of the blood oil
rulers are qualified to respond to the
toast of crowned head, and for anyone
else to do so would be, according to the
usages of court life in the Old World, a
piece of presumption, since 1t would
imply that the non-royal parsonage re-
spending was, to all intents and pur-
poses, placing himself on level with
the sover ,ign.
Lord Wolseley. besides being gal
liant soldier. has always been looked
upon as finished cou-tier. But he
committed a memorable breach of eti-
quette when, sftsr his return from Egypt
in 1882. as the victor of the battle of
Telel Kebir. Queen Victoria, making a
little speech. drank to his health at
dinner at Balmoral, he arose from his
seat and replied, giving the health of the
Duke of Connaught, who had taken part
in the battle. The Queen was so de-
votedly attached to this, her favorite
son, that, in the pleasure and the pride
at the ecomiums lavished on him by his
commander-i chief, she overlooked
Lord Wolseley's offense.
At state banquets at Vienna and at
Berlin it is sometimes the custom for
the monarch, If he wishes to honor
great statesman or general, to drink to
his health. often preceding the compli-
ment by little congratulatory speech.
The object of this token of royal or i'm
perial regard rises, and, on the con-
clusion of the speech and of the toast,
bows low to the monarch. and drains
his own glass to him before resuming
his seat.
Had Ambassador Choate or General
Corbin attempted to make speech In
response to King Edwards remarks
about President Roosevelt, the laws OF
etiquette would have been infringed,
and, above all, an awkward precedent
set. King Edward has a deal of tact,
and, realizing that it would be unfriend-
ly to point out to his American guests
that they were not qualified in point OF
rank to reply to his toast. he compro-
missed ", matter by giving the signal
for the adjournment to the smoking
room as soon as he had finished his
speech and drunk the Presidents health
incidentally, 1t may be of interest 10
give some data concerning the stature OF
King Edward, about which so much mis-
apprehension prevails. He stands exact
" five feet seven inches in his stock
inged feet, or FIVE feet eight inches when
in uniform. His lack of height is rem
dered more marked by his girth; but, on
the other hand, he carries himself with
so much dignity that one soon grows to
regard him as a far taller man than he
really is.
Not since the withdrawal of the Ger |
man Count Paul Hoensbroech from the
Jesuit Society. some eight or nine years
ago. has there been any sensation in
Continental Europe to compare with
that caused by the retirement of Count
Eugene Esterhazy from the same order
and his institution OF legal proceedings
against 1t for the recovery of about a
quarter of a million dollars. which he
intrusted to it on joining the society.
This demand Is resisted by the order on
the ground that the money was an un
conditional gift.
The count withdraws from the Jesuit
Society in order to marry French
woman, a widow, and 1t may be recalled
that Count Paul Hoensbroech, since his
retirement from the socity. has likewise
married Count Eugene Esterhazy is
brother of the present head OF the non
princely branch of the house of Ester
hazy, and another brother, Francis by
name, is proprietor of Totis, the most
ma agnifcent country seat and estate In
all Hungary.
Among the many English officers who
have resigned from the army since the
conclusion of the Boer war is young Sir
Merrik Burrell, who is married to the
laughter Of Walter Winans. Although
Lady Burrell was a great neiress. her
William l.. Winans, of Bal
timore, having made a great fortune in
Russia, Sir Merrik was quite rich, his
mother having had some s3,000,0 900 in her
own right.
The Burrells are an ancient fam
ly, in spite of the fact that their baro-
ietcy is only about 200 years old. Or
ginally settled in northumberland,
hey claim kindred with one Borrell, a
10th, who figured prominently at Bar
,elona in the first century. AS early
Is the reign of Henry V. they must have
,een fairly wealthy. for a Burreil
s on record as having furnished that
with a warship and hundred
men for service against France. while :
mother ancestor of Sir Merrik bore the
,anner of the Black Prince at the
'attle of Poictiers r
Sir Merrik and Lady Burrell make
heir home at Knepp Castle. built by his i
ather largely from the ruins of grand
Id stronghold, and is perched on an
overlooking one OF the finest
axes in the southern counties. There
5 a splendid collection of old portraits
hn ,ir tn c1,,Ii M lose