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The prince insists that everybody shall talk at the table without any reference to him, as they would if they were at home; and he banishes mere formality just as far as court tradition will permit.– Public domain image of the former Prince of Wales, King Edward VII King of the United Kingdom |
An Affable Prince
I asked Wilder about his parlor entertainments in Europe, and especially about his evenings with the Prince of Wales. “I gave my imitations for him six times,” said the little man. “Last time I saw him was at Mrs. Sloane Stanley’s, and he kindly set me to his right at table. All stand till he sits, and he rises first at the end as a signal to the others. It is not etiquette to eat after he finishes, but he fixes that very neatly by continuing to pick at the food as long as he sees anybody else busy. He is a man of wonderful tact in placing persons at their ease.
“For instance, I took a sip of water on sitting down. That’s water!” said the Prince with a laugh, touching my wineglass. ‘Ah, sir,’ I said, ‘I am a blue-ribbon man. I never drink any wine.’” “No? he said: ‘very well.’ He was polite. He did not quiz me or laugh at or banter me as another might, and say ‘Aw now, just this once, you know.’ Nothing of the sort. He turned the talk to other things.” “About the entertainment?” I asked.
“Oh, my share? Well, I generally have to stand on the table, but the Prince lifted me up on the piano, where, in the intervals of my imitations, there was good music made by an eminent professional. I stood with my face to the Princess and near to her, for she is getting quite deaf. One thing I noticed as odd; the higher up you get the least ceremony there is. The Prince insists that everybody shall talk at the table without any reference to him, as they would if they were at home; and he banishes mere formality just as far as Court tradition will permit.”-Washington Post, 1887
“For instance, I took a sip of water on sitting down. That’s water!” said the Prince with a laugh, touching my wineglass. ‘Ah, sir,’ I said, ‘I am a blue-ribbon man. I never drink any wine.’” “No? he said: ‘very well.’ He was polite. He did not quiz me or laugh at or banter me as another might, and say ‘Aw now, just this once, you know.’ Nothing of the sort. He turned the talk to other things.” “About the entertainment?” I asked.
“Oh, my share? Well, I generally have to stand on the table, but the Prince lifted me up on the piano, where, in the intervals of my imitations, there was good music made by an eminent professional. I stood with my face to the Princess and near to her, for she is getting quite deaf. One thing I noticed as odd; the higher up you get the least ceremony there is. The Prince insists that everybody shall talk at the table without any reference to him, as they would if they were at home; and he banishes mere formality just as far as Court tradition will permit.”-Washington Post, 1887
🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
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