The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-02
Oriental. wonderfullY

geous looking Oriental. wonderfully
arrayed, with suite almost as masni-
ficent and even more dusky than him
self, was ushered into the presiden-
tial loge by the director general of the
Franchise, of course attracting an inn
mcnse amount OF attention. The prime
minister, inquirlng of one OF the ushers
who the distinguished strangers were.
was informed that 1T was the Mahara-
jah of Travancorc. and on the follow
ing morning at breakfast related the
incident. and at the same time eX-
pressed his establishment that he
the Maharajah's arrival In Paris. 1t
was then that his stepson, unable TO
preserve his gravity. gave the secret
away.
bogus Burmese.
However. perhaps the most famous
hoax of this kind WAS that perpctrated
by the late Marquis dc Gallifet on the
Cloud. The Burmese embassy. having
visited Queen Victoria. came TO Paris,
and preparations We're made for its
reception, one OF the most Interested
personages being Empress Eugenie,
who had been much struck by pictures
III the illustrated papers of the cere-
mony at Buckingham Palace, when
they We're received in audience there.
On the appointed day the Emperor and
Empress took their place on the throne,
household. all in fun uniform. and or
ders We're given to introduce the en-
bassy. On the doors being opened. the
ENJOYS and their suite threw them
selves on the ground. and. prostrating
themselves. advanced on all tours. Not
content with this, they went through
the most extravagant contortions. the
ambassador, an aged individ-
ual with aflong, gray beard, particu-
larly distinguishing himself By the
N 2 ny n Ia
over, actually turning somersaults. En-
ured as were those present to the
stringent laws of etiquette, prescrib-
ing an impressive demeanor and gravity.
proved beyond all their powers OF en-
dnrance. The silence was broken by
sounds of !ll-suppressed laughter from
every side, and even the mournful-
TO prevent himself from giving way
to mrth. Only the Empress remained
perfectly serious. frownins with indig-
nation at what she considered to be
the lack OF decorum on the part of her
cntourage and of the courtiers gem
orally. When at length the old am
in a final contortion more
srotesque than any of the rest. landed
himself at the foot. of the throne, the
beard and headgear suddenly flew off.
the familiar features of the
Marquis de Gallifet, then one of the
young aides de-camp of Napoleone and
noted for the holiness and originality
of his pranks and for his success in
leading the cotillions at the private
dances Of the Empress. Then
the fat was In the fire. Every one
present gave way to the most uncon-
trollable laughter Only the Empress
declined to join in the general merri-
ment. She considered that the prac-
teal joke had been at her expense.
She chose to look upon herself as in
suited. and that the entire affair had
been organized to rdicule the pro-
nounced prediction for court cere-
nonial with which she was charged
by those who denounced her as par
venu After a few bitterly angry
words addressed to the Emperor, she
with tears of modification
IN her eyes, and when, some days days later,
and had to be received in state. not
in the Palace of st. Cloud, but at the
Tuileries, she absolutely declined to be
present. or to take any part in the
Moreover. nearly year
elapsed before the MARQUIS de Gallifet
was. able to recover his place in her
good Eraces
Copyright, 1910, by the Brentwood
Company.)