Part 9 (1/2)

When they arrived at the palace, a Lord-in-Waiting ” them on points of court etiquette Mr Barnum, especially, was told that he h the medium of the aforesaid Lord He must also keep his face constantly turned toward the Queen, and so, in retiring fro thus been instructed in the ways of royalty, Mr Barnum and the diminutive General were led to the presence of the Queen

They passed through a long corridor to a broad flight of allery, and there the Queen and Prince Albert, the duchess of Kent, the Duke of Wellington, and others were awaiting their arrival They were standing at the further end of the room when the doors were thrown open, and the General walked in, looking like a wax doll gifted with the power of locomotion Surprise and pleasure were depicted on the countenances of the royal circle at beholding this remarkable specimen of humanity so much smaller than they had evidently expected to find him

The General advanced with a firraceful bow, and exclaientlehter followed this salutation The Queen then took hiallery, and asked him many questions, the answers to which kept the party in an uninterrupted strain of merriment The General faallery was ”first-rate,” and told her he should like to see the Prince of Wales The Queen replied that the Prince had retired to rest, but that he should see his, dances, and imitations, and after a conversation with Prince Albert, and all present, which continued for more than an hour, they were permitted to depart

But before this Mr Barnum had broken the instructions in etiquette which had been so carefully ian asking hih the lordly medium, as he had been told That was inconvenient and irksome, however, and presently Barnu was horror-struck, but the Queen did not appear to be displeased, for she instantly followed her guest's example, and spoke thereafter directly to him In a few ether with the greatest ease and freedom

”I felt,” said Mr Barnum afterward, ”entirely at ease in her presence, and could not avoid contrasting her sensible and aentility at home or abroad

”The Queen was modestly attired in plain black, and wore no ornaments Indeed, surrounded as she was by ladies arrayed in the highest style ofwith diaer would have pointed out in that circle as the Queen of England

”The Lord-in-Waiting was perhapshis illustrious exa from the royal presence He was accustomed to the process, and therefore was able to keep somewhat ahead (or rather aback) of me, but even _I_ stepped rather fast for the otherparty

We had a considerable distance to travel in that long gallery before reaching the door, and whenever the General found he was losing ground, he turned around and ran a few steps, then resu out, then turned around and ran, and so continued to alternate hiswith the merriment of the royal spectators It was really one of the richest scenes I ever saw; running, under the circumstances, was an offense sufficiently heinous to excite the indignation of the Queen's favorite poodle dog, and he vented his displeasure by barking so sharply as to startle the General from his propriety He, however, recovered immediately, and with his little cane, coht ensued, which renewed and increased the merriment of the royal party

”This was near the door of exit We had scarcely passed into the ante-room, when one of the Queen's attendants came to us with the expressed hope of her Majesty that the General had sustained no da playfully added, that in case of injury to so renowned a personage, he should fear a declaration of war by the United States!”

The visitors were then escorted about the Palace, and treated to refreshht his of the Royal Family were chronicled to the world Would his reception by the Queen be mentioned in it? Certainly Well, then, would it not be possible to secure so more than mere mention; some words of special commendation; a ”free advertisement” in fact? He would try it! So he inquired where he could find the gentleman who prepared the circular, and was informed that that functionary was in the Palace at that very moment

”He was sent for,” related Mr Barnum, ”by my solicitation, and promptly acceded to my request for such a notice as would attract attention He even generously desired ht, and I was pleased to see afterward, that he had inserted my notice verbatim

”This notice of my visit to the Queen wonderfully increased the attraction of 'Gen Tom Thumb,' and compelled me to obtain a ly ”

On their second visit to the Queen, they were received in what is called the Yelloing Rooallery, and is entered fro with drapery of rich yellow satin da covered with the same material The vases, urns, and ornaments were all of the old, and the heavy cornices beautifully carved and gilt The tables, pianos, etc, were old, inlaid with pearl of various hues, and of the eous drawing-roo-room, and, as they approached, the General bowed respectfully, and re, ”I think this is a prettier rooallery; that chandelier is very fine”

The Queen sly took him by the hand, and said she hoped he was very well

”Yes, ma'am,” he replied, ”I am first-rate”

”General,” continued the Queen, ”this is the Prince of Wales”

”How are you, Prince?” said the General, shaking hi beside the Prince, he re as anybody,” upon which he strutted up and down the roohter from all present

The Queen then introduced the Princess Royal, and the General iant little sofa, which he took with hi froh his various perforant and costly souvenir, which had been expressly made for him by her order, for which, he told her, ”he was veryas he lived” The Queen of the Belgians (daughter of Louis Philippe) was present on this occasion She asked the General where he was going when he left London

”To Paris,” he replied

”Whom do you expect to see there?” she continued

Of course all expected he would answer, ”the King of the French,”

but the little fellow replied