The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-17
EXACHIHG COURT ETIQUETTE.
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euuft va feeacir,i ~ eirmshrv laaif 1.w
pafri sIth that ~ no eouft ~ ata,s ~
81 Its NFemoniai oi,.rfvsnres oore 10 m.fs
generally hh1wN than thr flrhf ritimst rv
thg aFeh,lers N suni0 Nv irfrrf ervet
t@fofv ihp klhe
This punctliio Va characterized I,
many Hice ersia'iops which hal 1 ft,l
THAR m~nnlns fof thu-r VIM sefo ~ tt,
nanner harm fof there srfr Fftrirr
Whu covered their hesds lrfnrr gl,fe s.ur
the Ring while ihu-e ~ another gtn,le uuI,
pst 90 their hate after They had stulrn
and willis waiting Tor tho kins's nn.ssr
Aeain, thare wrfe others whpar pri, lrs,
only permitted them Ia cuyef when fhcv had
made their last INV and again mingled VIM,
the train ~ ruuftieta N has hreh hajyrN,
suggested by an English wrter that fh.
form of etiquette WIS Intended ~ show ma,
the grnndeea we're not 20 much subjected
10 the King ~ 90 the rpa, NJ tho nation an
explanation which would certainly lo
secuted by all true %Spaniaris ~ whatever
rank.
Although the etiquette ~ tho Spanish
court was often misunderstood and misrcr.
reeented by other countries il was UNI
yersally regarded az q code ~ tho most
%fastldloua and eSacting kind. says the
London Ulobc. Pepys says of the arani.h
King that "he do nothing but under SOM
ridiculous form or other, hut he omits ~
tell us how tho indifference shown by Charlie.
II, TO the regulated formalities of court
etiquette" gave the Spanish Amhassador
many advantages. All such formaliir4
have presented features naturally scizod
upon by the %satirist,
II Ia related that Philip III. died Of n fever
caused by a chill, taken after being over.
heated by a large wood fire in the palace.
As to the fact there Ii perhaps little reasona-
BILE doubt; but when we come to the en-
broideries with which 1t IL act forth as an
"~anecdote,' we have to receive them with
the usual grain Of salt. For according 10
this version, although the King was almost
suffocated by the heat, his grandeur
would not permit him to leave his chair.
II was against the etiquette for any
servant to enter the apartment, and when
the Kim ordered one OF the grandees present
to damp down the fire, the courtier was
compelled TO decline, because he was for
hidden by the etiquette to perform such a
function. The duke upon whom this duty
devolved was unfortunately absent, and so
the poor King had to endure his sufferings
VII tlhh tCI OedOS HUH IHS ulRIllY,
by removing himself from the cause.
Formidable a. was the etiquette OF
courts. its extreme expression seems to have
been reserved for Ambassadors and Envoys
in foreign countries. Jealous for the dig
nifty Of their several royal masters, these
high functionaries were in continual con-
fict as to some fancied privilege or knotty
point Of precedence. The tenacity with
which such matters were argued and in
sisted on generally appears to have been in
inverse proportion to the value Of the sub
iect in dispute.
An amusing instance Of this kind is re-
corded in our own archives. In 1924 Lords
Holland and Carlisle arrived in Paris as spe-
cial Ambassadors to treat for the marriage Of
Charles /. with Henrietta Maria. But before
any negotiations could be opened our Am
bassadors were already ruffled by doubts as
to the manner in which Cardinal Richelieu
would receive them. 1t transpired that he
could not give them the right hand in his
own house because he did not show that
bonor to the Ambassador of the King 81
Spain. But in r~econducting his English
visitors out Of his room his Eminence con-
sented to walk further with them han he
was accustomed to do.
This was gracious, but insufficient. Then
the happy thought occurred to them that il
the Cardinal would but "feign himself sick"
the difficulty might be overcome. Where
upon Richelieu at once went to bed, " the
Ambassadors were admitted to his chamber
n the bramble in the thorny hedge OF
etiquette being thus removed the treaty
itself was at last discussed.
On such a difficult subject we may call to
mind the advice of Lord Chesterfield: Kiss
the slipper, or whatever else the etiquette Of
far as it goes. But who shall be allowed to
kiss IL first?