The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-29
ROYALTY cn'M1ES Quick
Many Costumes Called For by
Courtly Etiquette.
WEARING on THE NERVES


ing Them.
When King Edward VII. was Prince
OF Wales it was said that the thing
he most dreaded in the world was a
journey across Germany. 1t was too
hard work.
He didn't mind changing his clothes
two or three times day, but lightning
changes of uniform for a whole day
tired his nerves and his temper. There
was no escape from it however.
When he travelled in State every
petty principality through which he
passed sent a deputation of Ministers
and army officers to wait on him.
Sometimes the reigning prince himself
turned out to embrace his august cous-
in-princes and kings are all cousins
officially. or course the only regala
in which these attentions could be
properly received was the full Cen
erals uniform of the principality, with
its grand cross and few English and
German orders displayed upon the
breast.
To meet the requirements of such a
journey the Prince had to carry as
many trunks with him as a grand op-
era tenor and his valet had to be an
expert in geography as well as clothes.
do Go, MI ct
All the suits had to be laid out in
accordance with the train schedule,
with trousers to cooked hat, with
sword and gloves to match. Some of
these little German States are only
a few miles across.
An express train can make the Trip
from capital to capital quicker than a
careful man can lace himself up and
strap himself down in a German uni
form. So occasionally the engineer
would have to get a tip to slow down
a little SO that the visitor might reach
the next stop fully dressed for his new
part.
When kings make foreign visits they
usually present themselves in I'D
miral rig If the official reception
takes place afoat. They don the same
uniform forvisist
uniform for visits to foreign warships
in foreign waters, but they may wear
the marine full dress of their own
service if they visit foreign ships in
ports of their realm.
When they are received abroad on
dry land they usually put on an army
uniform of the country they are visi-
ting. All the leading sovereigns hold
honorary colonelcies of historic regi-
ments in each others services.
Only the President Of French Repub-
lie escapes the uniform obligation.
Like American Ambassadors, his cos
tumse of state is plain evening clothes
with tall hat and white gloves. He
adds to it, however, the tricolor scarf
across one shoulder. which is a gen.
eral badge Of official position in France
and the grand cross of the Legion Of
Honor.
For this he is said to have an abso.
lutte abhorrence, because with It it is
impossible to conceal the lame, shriv-
elled left arm with which he has been
afflicted since his birth. Wearing q
uniform he can rest the helpless hand
on his sword hilt and the mutilation
is unnoticeable. But the arm is not
lcng enough for him to put the hand
In his trousers pocket when he wears
civilians dress.
There are occasions, however, when
he wears frock coat. The story Is
told of visit to England in which he
kept the officers who received him
guessing by his lightning changes.
They spotted him by telescope on
the bridge Of the royal yacht, Hohen-
zollern attired as a General In the
German army, so, when they saw an
English Admiral step ashore, they all
but missed bestowing the proper hon
Ors on him. After they boarded the
train for London they were invited to
reception in his private car, and
found him in the uniform of the First
Dragons, his own regiment. Later
they were amazed when he stepped
on the platform In London in black
frock coat and dark stuff trousers
with tall hat and pearl gray gloves.
In Berlin he is interchangeable in
changes Of dress to suit all occasions.
When he receives an army officer he
puts on the uniform of his corps.
II the son of dead man comes
to do homage for royal condolences the
Kaiser wears the uniform that the
dead man was entitled to, whether
civil or military.
The costume feature of his recep-
tons is so important that appoint
ments are always made at such inter-
walls as to give him time to change
and his attendants are furnished by
his secretaries with details of the days
programme, with precise instructions
as to the dress and orders that they
must have ready at each hour.-New