A Fidel Lay cd Court 2S7 



Court, and it was only natural that I was agreeably excite(f 

 and curious. I made of course a very careful toilet, and wort 

 a yellow silk dress with a six-feet long train, which is worr 

 hanging over the left arm. The ceremony took place in tht 

 White Hall in the old palace, where are all the Royal state 

 rooms. When all the many richly and elegantly dressec 

 guests were marshalled in a hall adjoining the White Hall 

 according to their rank, their Majesties appeared in full Roya" 

 state. Our gracious Queen looked most beautiful, and ever) 

 inch a Queen. Two young noblemen, in splendid uniform, 

 carried her long gorgeous train when she passed before hei 

 guests, saying some friendly words here and there. 



In the White Hall, where a concert took place, I at last had 

 my wish to see King and Queen sitting on a kind of throne, 

 raised some steps above the floor. To the right and left o1 

 their Majesties were sitting on fauteuils the other members o) 

 the Royal Family, whilst the guests were seated in rows before 

 them. In the first row were sitting the foreign ambassador? 

 and ministers, and behind them the Princes and Princesses. 

 I was sitting in the third row, right opposite their Majesties, 

 at the side of Princess Putbus, and behind me were the mem- 

 bers of the Chinese embassy, just then present in Berlin giving 

 the whole assembly a particularly interesting character. 



The concert was very fine, and Madame Lucca sang admir- 

 ably. In the pauses refreshments were presented, with which 

 my Oriental neighbours seemed much pleased. My humble 

 person attracted their attention, perhaps on account of my 

 yellow dress, as yellow is the Imperial colour of the Chinese, 

 and they showed me their respect by attempting to feed me 

 with ice cream, and with their own spoon. This ludicrous 

 calamity was noticed by his Majesty and amused him much, 

 ♦ and on going through the ranks he came twice to my seat, 

 saying a few friendly words. 



When the highly interesting ceremony was over I drove to 

 the house of Baron von Schleinitz, the minister of the Royal 

 household, and found there several members of the diplomatic 

 corps. The ladies put their trains aside, and we had a splen- 

 did supper enlivened by a bright conversation, in which the 

 incidents of the evening were discussed. After supper we en- 

 joyed our cigarettes, and returned home at two o'clock a. m., 

 much delighted v.ith all we had seen and heard. 



