New-York tribune., 1905-06-04

GIdds Ages thc younger HohenzoIlern princes
&nd princesses win wait upon the Emperor the
Erpress and upon the bridal couple The EN-
perur VIII. OF course, propose the health of the
bride, and subsequently there will be ad-
tournment to the Wesse Saal for the famous
"Fackeltanz-" This is peculiar to the court of
Prussia, and to be seen nowhere else in the
world After the royal and imperial personages
have taken their places on the dais. Chancellor
Count BUlow and all of the Prussian Minis
ters of state viii. in response to the call Of
silver trumpet, present themselves before the
throne, with a low bow. to the bridal couple.
and then win precede the latter in slow and
stately march. to the strains of the Polonaise,
around the great room, led by the grand master
Of ceremonies, tapping his gold and ivory
wand of Office upon the polished floor, the Min
listers, in full uniform, walking two by two and
bearing huge lighted candles, similar to those
used in Roman Catholic churches. After the
bridal couple have marched thus escorted around
the huge hall, they stop before the throne with
a low bow TO the Emperor and Empress. and
then the procession starts afresh, the Kaiser
with the bride and the Empress with the
Crown Prince In this fashion and always pre-
ceded by the Ministerial torchbearers, the bride
and bridegroom will perform circuit after cir
cult of the great hail. she between two kings or
princes, he between two queens princesses,
always TO the strains OF the BOiOnalSe-d rather
harassing and firing ceremony. but one in
which the hOnOrs severely and justly di-
vided, the courts of Berlin, Vienna and ST
Petersburg being almost the only ones nowadays
where the most Scrupulous eXactitude with
gard TO precedence and prerogative are still OBJ
served, and where ''passe droits"
allowed
AT length the dance comes to end But not
yet have the labors of the unfortunate Ministers
Of state been brought to a conclusion. For they
are compelled to march in procession with their
torches to light the newly married couple TO
the bridal chamber, receiving at the entrance Of
the private apartments, by way of reward for
their services, pieces of ribbon, which are sup
posed to represent the garter Of the bride.
Only one Cabinet Minister of the Prussian
crown is record as having declined to con-
form to the etiquette that demanded his taking
part in the torchiight dance, and that was
Prince Bismarck who did not hesitate to de-
clare publicly that under no circumstances
would he consent TO make such fool of him
self Indeed, it in order to avoid being
compelled to figure in the "Fackeltanz'-t
terror OF all Prussian statesmen-that the Iron
Chancellor was absent from the wedding of the
present Emperor.
Unlike people in less exalted ranks of life, the
Crown Prince and Crown Princess will not be
permitted to start off Immediately on a wedding
tour, for the very next day after their
marriage they will be obliged to appear at the
state performance at the opera. The latter will
be preceded by great gala banquet, to which
Will be hidden all the royalties and princes the
special ENJOYS the Ministers of state and the
great dignitaries at Berlin, each royal and i'm
perial guest being attended by pages of honor.
boys Of noble family recruited from the cadet
school at Potsdan- At the opera the newly
married couple will be seated between the
Emperor and Empress, and it is only on the
following day that the Crown Prince will be
permitted to carry off his bride to his Chateau
of Oels into the privacy Of fortnight's honey
SNIP REQUISITE IN THE DRAMA.