The Washington times., 1917-10-07

traordinary name OF der Pfortner Won
der Hoelle, which means the porter Of
hell" have often wondered since
by what prophetic instinct he was
sent to introduce me to the two years
and q half of world war which I ex'
perienced in Berlin. This unfortunate
officer, a most charming gentleman,
was killed early in the war.
The Berlin season lasts from about
the Goth Of January for about six
cause, IL the Hof-faehig people stay
longer than six weeks in Berlin, they
become liable to pay their local in
come tax In Berlin. where the ratio is
higher than N those parts of Ger
many where they have their country
estates.
The first great court ceremonial is
the "Schleppen-cour," SO called from
the long trains or schleppe worn by
the women. On this night we "pre-
sented" Mr.. and Mrs. Robert K. Cas-
satt, OF Philadelphia; Mrs. Ernest
Wiltsee, Mrs. and Miss Luce, and Mrs.
Norman whitehouse.
On the arrival at the palace with
these and all the members Of the en-
bassy stan and their wives, we were
shown UP a long staircase. at the top
Of which a guard OF honor. dressed in
costume OF the time OF Frederick the
Great, presented arms to all ambas-
sadors and muffied kettle-drums.
Through long lines OF cadets from
the military schools, dressed as pages,
in white. with short breeches and
powdered wigs, we passed through
several rooms where all the people to
pass in review were gathered. Be
hind these, in a room about sixty feet
by atty, on a throne facing the door
were the Emperor and Empress. and
on the broad steps OF this throne were
the princes and their wives, the court
waiting and all the other
members OF the court.
The wives OF the ambassadors enter
ed the room first, followed at inter-
walls OF about twenty feet by the ladies
OF the embassy and the ladies' to be
presented. As they entered the room
and made a change OF direction to-
ward the throne, pages in white
Strengthened out the ladies' trains
with long sticks. Arrived opposite the
throne and about twenty feet from 1t,
each ambassadors wife made a low
curtsy and then stood on the foot of
the throne, to the left of the Emperor
and Empress, and as each lady of the
embassy not before presented, and
each lady to be presented. stopped be-
side the throne and made low curtsy,
the ambassadors had to call out the
name OF each one in a loud voice.
When the last one had passed the en-
bassadress followed her out of the
room, walking sidewise in order not
to turn her back on the royalties
something of a feat when towing o
train about fifteen feet long!
When all the ambassadresses had
so passed, II was the turn of the am
bassadors, who carried out substan-
TALLY the same program. substituting
low bows for curtsies.
The ambassadors were followed by
the ministers wives, these by the
ministers. and these by the dignitar-
les of the German court. All passed
Into the adjoining hall, and there a
buffet supper was served. The whole
affair began at about o'clock and
was over in an hour.
How the German Court Balls Are
Held.
At the court balls, which also be-
gan early in the evening, a different
procedure was followed. There the
guests were required to assemble be
fore $40 in the ballroom. As in the
Schleppencour, on one side OF the
room was the throne with seats for
the Emperor and Empress, and to the
right OF this throne were the chairs
for the ambassadors wives. who were
seated in the order OF their husbands
rank. with the ladies of their en-
oassy. and any ladies they had
brought to the ball standing behind