The Argosy — page 75: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 Three Glimpses at Royatty. a of Veale Glasse, Mushrooms au Blank, &c. &c.: and in Queen Vic- toria’s, Galantines de volaille, Balotines d’Agneau, Poulets a la Béchamel, Patisserie a la Parisienne, Crémes a la Palestine, and Gelées a la Macédoine ! But to return to Russia and her Czars, while her last Emperor is feasting. We rejoice that we treated Peter the Great hospitably, and . are resolved to ignore more recent international hostility. We remem- ber that it was declared by the prophetic, during the reign of Alexander the First, that he was “ The King of the North” mentioned at the close of the book of Daniel, who was to “come against” the King of the South “like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships ; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over”—and that numerous timid minds were in terrified expectation of this onslaught in Great Britain. Whereas,a second Alexander, “‘ King of the North,” comes in all amity to visit Queen and people. Before all, we reflect that this is the Alexander who deserves the title of Great, because he has emancipated his subjects from the curse and bondage of serfdom, and in spite of overpowering opposition has made of them free citizens and free peasants. We-will pray that this his stay in the country of Wilberforce and Livingstone, may inaugurate a union of Russia with England for the suppression of the slave-trade throughout the world—and that the presence of the victors of Ashantee in this hall to-day, may be a happy omen. But even reflection cannot last for ever. Conversation and obser- vation, however, keep us awake until we are again rejoiced by the fanfare of trumpets and the brief reappearance of our notable modern Alexander. Tall, handsome, young-looking—he heads the procession with the Lady Mayoress, and passes slowly through the hall, bowing from side to side as we cheer him and wave our handkerchiefs. We see the genial Prince of Wales shake hands cordially with some one as he follows the Duke of Edinburgh, and the ladies bow and smile—the rest pass on. We only wish the Queen had been here to make the pageant perfect. . Through crimson passages, and hot-house flowers, and portraits of judges, to the museum, where we also—the long-expectants—have a royal banquet ready. ‘“‘ The Mayor and Corporation know how to entertain,” we heara learned professor say on our left. How admirably it is arranged! An elegant “menu” of wonderful French dishes, emblazoned with Russian and English arms and encircled bya wreath, acquaints each gourmand with his bill of fare, and waiters serve with incomparable ease. ‘They wait, but we do not. Surely the rivers must have been drained to provide a sufficiency of Mayonnaise of salmon for all these thousands. And there is much more than enough. No wonder aldermen are proverbially stout and florid, if they live as they entertain. - Gomilcbooks eom