THE SHAH'S VISIT. Fetes and Functions in His Honour. The Visit to the City. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, July 5.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 397, 28 August 1889, Page 6

THE SHAH'S VISIT. Fetes and Functions in His Honour. The Visit to the City. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, July 5.

The fetes and functions in honour of the Shah this week have been so numerous and so magnificent that one wonders where to begin and where to end so as to describe them within reasonable space. In the first place, then, the reception of the "King of Kings" and "Centre of the Universe" was as impressive as the most hypercritical could desire. ' It was a glorious summer afternoon, and the banks of the -Thames from Gravesend to Westminster, brilliant with bunting and lined with myriads of cheering holiday-makora were a wonderful and even stirring sight. Nasr-ed-din was presonted on landing to the Master of the Horse (the Duke, of Portland) and his bride, whose first appearance in public this was. His Majesty bowed courteously, .but rather carelessly, onlookers thought, to Hen Grace, and seemed about to say something. , Apparently, however, he thought better Of >it, for after gazing with interest for a^oment at the teeming ma«s of humanity on 1 «11 sides ho passed oji with the Princoof Wales to the State carriages. On Tuesday the Shah received the Corps Diplomatique at Buckingham Palace in the morning, and a little later visited the Queen at Windsor. But the event of the day par excellence was the State vibit to the opera. Covent Garden "has been the scene of some brilliant spectacles in its time, but never has it presented a more striking arid stalely appearance than on Tuesday night. The records of the previous' receptions held to Royalty at the Opera, and notably the visits of the Queen- and Prince Alb.ert, Napoleon 111., and the Empress Eugenie, to the old house, and of the Prince and Princess of Wales after- their marriage, and of the Shah himself in 1873, had been examined (says. the "Daily News") and improved upon. When the audience arrived at the house they found the carriage drive cleared awoy altogether. It had been enclosed and decorated, and instead were there stationed a detachment of the Scots Guards, with the band of the regiment. For the first time for a quarter of a century the grizzled warriors of the Yeomen of the Guard lined the entrance -hall and also the grand staircase, which after a certain period was closed to all save Royalty. Huge blocks of ice, j illuminated by lamps, banks of shrubs and i ! beds of growing flowers added to the .picturesqueness of the scene. The whole of the grand ?aloon, which was throughout j the evening reserved for the Royal party, was decorated with tall, flowers and ice, while the smoking terrace over the entrance was for the nonce converted into a supperroom. The saloon wns lined with beefeaters,- and it opened direct into the Royal I lor/c, six private boxes, and the corridor being thrown into one spacious apartment decorated with silken hangings of old gold, I light blue and, white. - In the vest'bule from as early as eight o'clock men in magnificent uniforms stand in waiting, and a stream of ladies in evening dress pass through, accompanied by men in uniforms or Court dress. Early among the arrivals is Maria, Marchioness of Ailesbury, in white, with diamonds in her peculiarly arranged hair, worn in her usual fashion, curled well forward, so as almost entirely to conceal her face from a side view, revealing only her very high forehead. She wore a white dress and many diamonds. The Duchess of Portland attracts every eye as she passes among thescarletandgolduniformsin snaw-whitesatin, with a magnificent tiara of diamonds and an equally magnificent necklace of similar gems. 1 The old point d'Alengon that edged the bodice of her dress is thickly strewn with fine diamonds. With her is Lady Ottoline Bentinck, in white, with flowing hair. The Marchioness of Stafford, in a simply-made gown of black tulle, wears a diamond tiara and single row of diamonds as necklace. Immediately following her comes Lady Helen Duncombe, in white, with diamonds glittering in the masses of her fair hair. So many of the ladies present are in white that it almost seems as though they had concerted a plan to make a eplendid effect with their snowy robes, and their diamonds. As the hour approaches nine the arrivals come more thickly upon each other, bub so excellent are the arrangements that not the smallest noise or confusion mars the interest of the scene. Lady Baincliffe, in pink and many diamond?, is preceded and followed by a score or so of white gowns. Lady Mary Mills, in green velvet and feather trimming of the same tint, makes an effective contrast with the green and scarlet by which the vestibule is pervaded. Mrs Mockay, in scarlet, wears diamonds in her black hair and wonderful pearls in her ears. The Guards' band now strikes up our National Anthem, and Princess Christian's eldest daughter, wholly attired in white, pastes through the vestibule and up the stairs. Soon after the acclamations of the crowd outside' ' prepare those within for another Royal Dersonatje and Princess Henry of Battenberg, all in back save her" diamond tiara, necklace, and earrings. ' She is looking serious, and ib is remarked how like to Princess Christian, she has grown. But soon all interest centres in the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family. The Princess enters first, looking lovely, as ever and amazingly youthful, in a brilliant dress of crinVsoti brocaded in large leaves in cream-colour "or pale yellow. Her little cape of turquoise blue vehet is open 'sufficiently to allow a magnificent necklace qf diamonds to become visible. On, her fair -hair is a splendid tiara, also of diamonds. As she -moves along, she smiles and bows to the ladies and -gentlemen on either; aide of her, and greets the Earl of Fife. - His fiancee, Princess Louiee, is walking -next her mother, and she, too, gives her hand to the earl, an example that is followed by the two younger princesses. All three are in white, the only difference in their dress being that Princess, Louise has a pink sash, while her sisters, have yellow ones. .Very slowly does the Princess ascend the stairs, and watching from below we can see that she summons her eldest daughter to her side when halfway up,' and leans somewhat heavily upon her arm. The Guards' band now produce small sheets of paper which are guessed to contain the music of the Persian Anthem, and after a short interval the guest of the evening arrives, entering very slowly, and received with bows as "profound as English uniforms and English knees and backs will permit. T,he Persian Monarch wears the blue ribbon of the Garter across his tightly , buttoned coat, and a chain composed of diamond stars that entirely traverses his chest and back, crossing the erarter as well. A' magnificent emerald shines from his belt, and his fez is richly studded with jewels. He enters the vestibule with a look of indifferent repose upon his face, and through his spectacles he scans the scene, allowing his eyes to travel with slow deliberation from face fco face. He neither smiles nor looks too grave. Following cloae upon his heels is the little boy who accompanies him everywhere, and who ought to feel sleepy after hia excursion ito Windsor and back. When the immense

blocks of ice on the staircase are reaoned the Shah seems much impressed , and potato them out to the members of his suite; They will probably figure in his Majesty's diat'y, should he record in another volume his iib pressions of his present visit to England. \ Conspicuous among those who attended I him is tho tall figure of. the Duke of Portland, in his magnificent uniform as Master of the Horse. In the auditorium the numbers of white dresses and the long white and yellow ribbons of the bouquets give a lightness and brightness of effect to the entire scone. Nearly every lady in the boxes on the grand tier has a tiara of diamonds, and with overy movement the glitter of jowolsis perceptible Jon the dress and bosom. The Duchess •of Manchester, in one of the stage boxes, is, an exception- to the- general rule of tiaras. She wears only a diamond ornament in her hair. Her daughter, however, wears a tiara. The -Duchess ojf Portland, fouj< boxes ,to the left of Royally, watches with interest tho dusky potentate who is to take her. .in 1 to dinner at Lcrd^ Cadogan's. As the gkzte" travels round tlie house, it encounters" exquisite flowers, *be)*utiful women, and" handsome jewels, the uniform and Court dress of the men adding considerably to tho brilliancy of the effect. Bright eyes .turn their fullest radiance [towards the Roy a} box, whe.ro the Princess of Wales occasionally exchanges remarks with the Shah, whose attention is by no mea.is so absorbed by the music as to interfere with a keen observation of' the brilliant audience that has assembled to do J him honour, to see him and each other, and to be seen. ;

The Visit Do *the City. On Wednesday, at noon, th 6 Shah proceeded in state bo the city, th,e entire line | of route (both going and cotumg), from i Buckingham Palace to the Guildhall, being: lined' with mounted troops Wither the precincts' the city was elaborately decorated in the usunl'style, the Lord Mayor having requested that ppecial efforts should be made to, do the thing well. He himselt (wearing crimson Velvet lined 'frith eYmino) provided an address?, luoph^.and a smart company of guests. The sole interesting episode of note cloes'not seem to have been noted by the London papers. The Newcastle " Echo "-says :—: — " There happened during the speechmaking at the „ Guildhall yesterday ; an incident which, had it terminated as it threatened, might- havo shaken the Persian Empire to ips foundation. When Jhe Shah's health was proposed, he rose in his stately way to make acknowledgment of the, honour done to, him. The watohful flunky in attendance withdrew "hit* Majesty's chair, under the impression that he was about to return thanks for the toast. But the'Shdhj ojter standing a moment and looking round .the audience and making a slight gesture; of thanks, attempted to resume his seat. With great presence of mind the footman managed partially to replace it. But the Shah, all unconscious oV what had happened, and sittings plump down, just managed fcp save himself from falling' by catching the extreme -edge of the cb.air. What would have happened had h^g Imperial Majesty in the face of this splendid company disappeared under the table, the human mind shrinks from contemplating. The Shah, who is evidently a man of keen humour, quite enjoyed the" incident, laughing outright. It appeared that the object of the Shah, in thus abruptly resuming his seat, was to communicate to the Persian Minister, to whom, across the Lady Mayores?, he addressed- same words, the audience looking on curiously. Then the Persian Minister rose, and to everybody's horror announced that the Shah desired to drink the health of the Lord Mayor. According to the well-ordered programme, printed copies of which were distributed at the tables, this was a task allotted to the Prince of Wales, and came .last* on the list after the toast of the Prinpe's own health and that of- Her .Majesty's Minister?. It was an awkward moment; but all embarrassment was avoided by the tact of the Prince of Wales and the readiness of the Lord Mayor. The Prince made a friendly sign to Mr Whitehead, who, promptly rising, responded to the toast as if everything were in order ; and the Shah, stiUsmilingatthe reininiscences-of hisnarrow escape of premature withdrawal from the luncheon table, twirled -hisjnoustache and rearranged his golden eyeglasses as if ,he had done an exceedingly smart thing. .Despite this little hitch — perhaps partly- in consequence of \t t-> everything wont off swimmingly, and the Shah departed' in the highest good humour, greeted by. the applause of a crowd that stretched from Cbeapside to Buckingham Palace "

1 Buckingham Palace ex Fete. The State ball on , Wednesday, alter Lord Cadogan's dinner paiby to Nasr-ed-dina seems to have been an unusually brilliahfc atl'air even for Buckingham Palace. Ladies in the colony will doubtless read with interest the following account of ib and of etiquette required on these hyper-smavt occasions. Mrs Humphreys, of the " Daily News," is the writer. Invitations to State functions are eagerly coveted, and are distributed with eccentricity. Foreign Ambassadors and representatives are bidden to all State festivities, vi 55., to two balls and two' concerts every < season. These invitations include the Ministers in office with their wives anil daughters, and the higher nobility. Then there are less exalted dignitaries who are invited to one ball and one - concert ojjjly, and smaller personages still who' ai,e only bidden to one ball, or even to only one ball ,in_. jevery.r ;J>%vq seasons. The humblest of these, ,howe r ver, must be comparatively high pn tKo . social ladder. To be ci old family/, 'p la"ndo.\yper, wealthy, c|. irreproachable character,- possessed of a seat in Parliament, diligent in , attendance afc Levees and Drawing Rooma-^-aJI of these may nob, qualify for- entrance into the magic circle. I'eb many with fewer qualifications step in. What exactly is requited is undo6ned and practically unknown. How the Blanks' obtained V card, and why the Daahes ' are' systematically ignored, affords an inexhaustible Subject of conversation. Those who are fortunate enough to be on the lists of guests which is submitted to Her Majesty for approval, receive a plain, card, on which the ' Lord Chamberlain intimates that he is "commanded by ihe Queen to invite Mr So and So to a ball " on a eiven date at ten o'clock. At most social entertainments ib is fashionable to be late, or be hurrying to or from some smarter or more select assembly. At the State Ball, on the contrary, it is correct to appear befote the time specified, that you "may . yourself receive your Royal hosts when they deign to shed upon you the light of their august presence. The longer you elect lo wait the greater is piesurced to be your loyalty. ]f at a quarter-past ten you arrive at Buckingham Palace, you find already a brilliant throng assembled. At the Palace door servants receive you who combine the I utmost brilliance of raiment with the utmost de r erence of manner — a combination too rarely seen. No cards are asked for, no inquiries aro made. For tho Queen's invited guests the State rooms are lavishly decorated mid lighted There is no dragoon to guard the portal, and all yuu have to do is to enter and enjoy. This is delightful. Leaving the cellar-like vestibule of the

Pa.ace, we ascend a wide staircase, ricbly decked with flowers, and join a crowd of guests, chatting and flirting in a handsome corridor. There is no spasmodic host to grip your hand and tell you it is a warm night, no nervous hostess to note how hard you work at social duties. On the left hand of the corridor are the closed doors of the supper room; on the right you ean 1 pass through and inspect a long suite ot drawing-rooms hung with pictures and filled with china, both of fabulous value. Few guests linger here long ; for it is in the ball room that life centres. Imagine an immense gilded hall, along the sides of which run four rows of Beats, covered with red satin, and rising tier after tier. At the bottom of the hall is a high gallery for the musicians ; at the top is a dais raised a foot above the floor, on which gold chairs are ready for the Princesses and potentates. Within the walls of that room are collected the rank, the beauty, and the fashion of the' 4 smartest ' capital in Europe. The light o,f electriclampsis Hashed back, soft, yet bright *by'gTjjfct«frih.g j'ewels.'djhd showsjfche sheen of 's'aftrt-'rdbW. - Most?-'-of the" women are J » in ' white. Rich silks are trimmed with feathers, , pear.ls, and gold embroidery. Dresses of soft tuHtf U#Bitofeaff.lt^Withj]tyld sprays of < flowers. H?Hna--© are iib'rshalTby frocks, no foils. The masfcniutfs> seem all majestic anti ( glittering ; the maidens gracoful and spotless. A marked feature is the absence of the black-coated men who give euch a funereal nir to ordinary parties. At the Palaco black is leplaced by scarlet, or by the gold lace of Windsor uniforms. Here and there only appears a black costume, and that is of velvet, with steel buttons. , About eleven o'clock the band strikes j|p the National Anthem, and the Royalties j enter in solemn procession. The Queen is I rarely present. The Princess of Wales fills her place, and is the centre of all eye" as she glides in nuder her tall diamond' crown, and takes her seat in the centre of the dais. Tho Shah is at hpr side resplendent in jewels. The Prince lof Wales throws an air of jollity over all this splendour. His children follow him, with sucti other Royalties as happen to be in London. The ball-room never looks so well as when three Royal Princesses sit alon« upon the dais with three diamond crowns, like the fairy tales of childhood. The Princes and young Princesses do not sit in state, but hover round,, and chat and joko with each other ; while the ladies-in-waiting form a long, dull row behind, without a spark of interest in their faces. On the right hand of tho Royal circle a few seats are reserved for duchesses and the wives of Cabinet Ministers ; those on the left are tho appanage of the Diplomatic Body. In the ball-room two circles are formed for dancing — one in front of the Royalties, and the other lower dow n. In the tormer only those are supposed to dance who are in the Prince's set, or who claim his aoquaintance. Before euch dance the Royal; ties hold a family consultation to select , their partners, and literally lay their hea.dp together as they glance round the favoured circle. When th"c choice has been madei the Lord Chamberlain comes down wjtty a message to the honoured guest ; the partners selected for the Princesses come up and wait upon the floor till the Royal ladies descend and accept their guidance. The Princes steps' down and approach their, partners, who awaittheirpomiogjtearat harid. Royalties, however, dance very much with each other. The square dances are much curtailed ; in these the Princess of Wales never nrolks backwards, but merely pauses until the music sounds another advance. Round dances have a charming effect. When the Royal personages join the^ valse all the other airy v \M«^lnig' figures melt suddenly away"; I * while the Princes and Princesses circle around alone with their partners in the cleared ?paco. In the other circle the waltzing languishes. There are no programmes, and introductions are unnecessary. Every gesture of Royalty is carefully observed, and this leaves bu,t little energy for dancing". Should you know a Royal personage it is necessary to be on the alert lest they should look your way, when the lady must at once bend the knee with a swift ducking gesture. A man merely bow<». The effect of this ducking as a Prince passes on, reminds one of a gust of wind bending a field of flower 5 . All this time refreshments are served to guests in out-of-the way corners. But soon after twelve the doors of the great supper-room are thrown open, and the Princess of Wales rises to head a procession of Royalties which files down the ballroom between two lines of bowing guests. If you huve been overlooked by Royal eyes, now is your opportunity. Watch closely as they pass, and you may yet touch a Royal hand. Loyal souls accompany the Princes and Princesses into supper, and fctand at a respectful distance to see them eat. It is not etiquette to touch food until the greater personages are satisfied. These are very merry, pai ticularly the Prince and Princess of Wales, who seem full of talk and airy jokes, and with their children round them they give a pretty family feeling to the .scene. The aupper room ia an interesting sights in itself, with solid gold plato of immense value arranged on and over the sideboard. When the Royalties have returned to the ball room the guests fall to upon the supper, which is excellent. All is served on "silver dishes. Cutlets of chicken, 1 ; fillets of sole embedded in glittering jelly, sfrawberries nestling in cases of ice cream, prawns in aspic, wings of tiny birds boned and stuffed, iceb in crystal forms, and fruits in pyramids, everything dainty, pretty, and easily, eaten, with good wine to wash it dowYi. After cupper dancing continues, bufc elderly people begin to lomr for bed, and r flink" fewt&^iiftplfrgetved. T£j?& tire <#* 411 'this * brilHSwce, but : it is not s etiquefte* to leave while Royalty remains. At the lass, the rush for carriages ia fearful. How lotjg it seems to- wait ifT-th'e" dreary vestibule, hearing everybody's ''carriage- 'called except one's own ! Ei;^. you; drive away day has broken, and bathes a sleeping city in its calm, clear light. , „

The latent case of absent mind is that of a young lady who, on returning from a walk with her lover, rapped him on the face, and bade good night to the door. *' Do you believe there is any such thing as luck ?" asked a young man of a bachelor. " I do ; I've had a proof of i f ." "In what way ?" "I was refused by five girls when I was a young man." An old widower says : " When you p6p the question, do it with a kind of a laugh, as if you vere joking. If she accepts you, very well ; if she does not, you can say you were only in fun. " " It's a beautiful day for a walk," she said, looking out of ths window. " Indeed it is," he eaid, doing likewise. "Would you like to take a walk ?" she continued. "Above all things." "Then why don't you ?" Jane : "I hate to have a policeman take hold of my arm in crossing the street." " Efchel : " Yes ; it is very impertinent of him." Jane: "Oh, 1 don't mean that; but I almost die of mortification, my arm is so thin." , According to the London Telegraph, on a fine night, with a clear sky, our natural unassisted vision can discern in the heavens some 2000 star 3.