seen in the case of very illustrious person- | side; and even if no one were allowed to

ages, was nothing very much out of the appear at court in any vehicle beneath the common, each one of whom was in him. dignity of a coach and four, with domestics self a thing of beauty and an object of to correspond, there would be plenty of interest to an admiring crowd. But even room for the moralist to indulge in rewhere a chariot is now seen it has usually flections upon the vanity of the whole but one or, at the most, two gentlemen in proceeding. Much has been said of the livery on the footboard, who, so far from hardships undergone by delicate ladies taking a proper pride in their position and through exposure in slight attire to the functions, are apt to display a self-con- chilling blasts of an English spring; of sciousness that seems almost to amount weary waitings in cold and unaired recepto a sense of shame, and that is by no tion-rooms and ugly rushes at barriers; of means in keeping with traditional asso- the imperiousness and stern demeanor of ciations. And, to come down to details, gentleman ushers and subordinates of the it is impossible for any well-regulated lord chamberlain's department; of the mind to observe without some tinge of solemn moment when the struggling crowd regret the lamentable deterioration in the is suddenly marshalled into single file, and size and quality of the bouquets worn on seasoned dowager and trembling débutante these occasions. Most of us are familiar have to pass alone and unsupported into with Leech's caricature of the coachman the presence of their sovereign; and last, who, on being asked for his reason for though not least, of the indescribable feelleaving his last place, was compelled to ing of relief and thankfulness when the state that at the last drawing-room he last curtsey has been made, and, gathering had been put off with a bouquet that had up the voluminous folds of her train, happy been made up in the housekeeper's room if it is still intact and untrodden upon, the instead of being ordered from Covent fair courtier emerges into the corridor Garden. No person of proper feeling with a delightful sense of having successcould have failed to sympathize with the fully passed through a trying ordeal, and worthy man under such painful circum- of being free to converse with her friends stances, or to recognize the insult to his who have also passed, or to criticise and cloth which he so justly resented. But condole with those whose trial is still we fear that many a coachman nowadays to come. There are doubtless certain has to put up with still further indignities; grounds for such reflections; and it would and of the few so called bouquets that be impossible to deny that ladies who atcustom still continues here and there to tend a drawing-room must be prepared to affix to the manly breasts of coachmen undergo a certain amount of discomfort. and footmen, the majority are scarcely But for a good deal of this it may, perhaps, worthy of even the housekeeper's room, on the other hand, be hinted, they have and are, on the whole, more suggestive of only themselves to blame. It is not, as a having been bought in the street. The rule, colder by day than by night, even utilitarian spirit of the age seems to have from February till May; and if ladies were overspread even such a time-honored in to take the same precautions when going stitution as the queen's drawing-room; to a drawing-room as they habitually do and the theory has been tacitly, though when going to a ball, they would possibly generally, accepted that the days when it have less to complain of in the way of was thought desirable to make a show colds and other attendant ailments. As it have gone by, and that it now represents is, a fond mother, who would be horrified nothing more than a tiresome, though at the idea of taking her child to a ball necessary, function, to be got through any night in the season without an elabwith as little trouble as possible. A orate arrangements of wraps, will let her drawing-room nowadays is, in fact, only shiver for an hour or more in the Mall in redeemed from being a dull procession of what is practically a ball dress, with little carriages by the presence of a military or no protection from the raw, damp atelement; though, as long as the House-mosphere of early spring; and is then hold Cavalry, with their brilliant uniforms, surprised and indignant if the result be their picturesquely attired bands, and that her darling is laid up for a fortnight. their manifold popular attractions, con- No doubt, too, the waiting and the crowd tinue to form a part of the show, there inside the palace are very trying both to will always be something bright and im-strength and patience, and it is here, perposing about it. haps, that the greatest danger is expe rienced in regard to draughts or chills. Wraps must, of course, be discarded on

The most splendid and glittering of pageants, however, has always its reverse

entering, and it is unquestionably a seri- | John and Jeames, have after all a delicate
ous matter for a delicate person to have and responsible duty to discharge. The
to pass perhaps a couple of hours in a slightest exhibition of indecision or want
series of large, uninhabited, and conse- of firmness on their part might have the
quently imperfectly aired, rooms, and in a most serious results; and the idea of
costume, moreover, that is only suited for Buckingham Palace with some six or
warmth and candlelight. It might be out seven hundred ladies in a state of panic
of place on our part to volunteer sugges- or insubordination is almost too dreadful
tions to the high authorities to whom is to contemplate. The fact is - and this is
entrusted the regulation of such matters. not sufficiently realized that a drawing-
Her Majesty is well known to take a room is an important State function, and,
special interest in everything relating, not as such, requires to be conducted with
only to the welfare, but also to the per- something approaching to military pre-
sonal comfort, of her subjects; and it may cision and discipline. Every person pres-
safely be assumed that the lord chamber-ent is for the time being an actor in the
lain and his staff have instructions to do ceremony, and cannot complain if ex-
everything in their power for the conven- pected to act strictly under orders.
ience of ladies and gentlemen attending It is perhaps to be regretted, having
her Majesty's court. But so universal, regard to the uncertainty of the British
and apparently so well founded, have been climate, and the important part played by
the complaints on this score that it is dif the weather on such occasions, that imme-
ficult to understand why any grounds for morial custom has decreed that drawing.
them should still remain, as a very little rooms should take place in the daytime.
care and foresight would appear to be No one who has witnessed a drawing-
necessary in order to secure that the room at the viceregal court in Dublin can
rooms to be used should be thoroughly have failed to contrast it favorably in
aired and warmed before those attending many respects with the same ceremony in
the drawing-room are admitted. This is London. The mere fact of its being in
perhaps the only serious accusation that the evening and after dinner deprives the
can justly be brought against the "man- ceremony of a great deal of its normal
agement on these occasions. No doubt coldness and stiffness, and imparts to it
the long waitings in each room are very something of the character of a stately
tedious and wearying, and the crowding social entertainment. Jewels sparkle with
and pressing at the various barriers must additional lustre ; dresses show to greater
always be very annoying and trying to advantage; and complexions that are per-
the temper. But as long as ladies con- haps scarcely equal to the cold glare of
tinue to display their loyalty by flocking daylight look positively charming under
to court, it is difficult to see how a certain the mellow effulgence of wax candles, or
amount of crowding is to be avoided. It even a judicious and properly subdued
might possibly be within the resources of application of the electric light. The bril
science to devise some more complete liant drawing-room recently held at Dub-
system of barriers or "pens," to be worked lin Castle by the Princess of Wales may
somewhat according to the "absolute possibly have suggested, or rather revived,
block"
system of a railway, no person the idea of introducing the same system
being admitted into one space or section in London; and should this ever come
until its previous occupants had all passed about, there can be no doubt that it would
into the next. Such an arrangement might, be hailed with enthusiasm by all directly
however, be held to interfere almost too concerned. The only real argument in
much with the liberty of the subject, and favor of holding drawing-rooms by day is
would certainly be rather suggestive of a that pageants of any kind are so rare in
cattle-market. But, anyhow, ladies who London that it would not be fair to de-
come to court must expect to be put under prive the public of what is even now a
at least a show of discipline, and ought popular show. But, after all, the propor-
not to complain if their natural and charm-tion of the public who come to see it must
ing tendency to get into mischief requires necessarily be comparatively limited; and
that they should be kept well in hand. the comfort and convenience of the actors
Those elegant gentlemen in silk stockings in such a ceremony is perhaps of more
and curiously laced coats, whose calves importance than the amusement of the
only require a little professional cultiva- lookers-on.
tion and whose hair a little powder to
make them very respectable imitations of

There is one other consideration which can hardly fail to suggest itself to the in

From The Leisure Hour. telligent spectator of one of these func"THE FATHER OF GERMAN MUSIC." tions namely, what is the object of it JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH. all? This, however, opens up a delicate subject upon which we have some diffi THERE was a miller, by name Veit Bach, dence in entering; but we fear that the who lived at Wechmar, in Saxe-Gotha, answer can hardly be regarded as alto- about the year 1600. He had considerable gether satisfactory. The primary object taste for music, and his principal enjoy. of attending a drawing-room or levée is, ment consisted in playing the Cythringen of course, to pay a tribute of respect to (probably a zither) to the clattering accomthe sovereign. But the notion of a quid paniment of his turning mill-wheels. It pro quo may associate itself even with a was a happy union of business and pleasState ceremony; and it is probable that, if ure. This taste for music was still more there were no such things as State balls marked in his sons. Most of the family and State concerts, a large proportion of adopted music as a profession, and the those who now "go to court" would be best posts as organists in their native satisfied with some other means of testify- province came at last to be filled by Bachs. ing their devotion to the crown. It is to They furnish a remarkable example of be feared that the experiences of many of hereditary genius- one of the most strikthese excellent and loyal persons must be ing, indeed, on record. Through four very disappointing, and suggestive of noth-consecutive generations the Bachs foling but vanity and vexation of spirit. We lowed the same calling with enthusiasm, believe that a theory once existed, and and no fewer than fifty musicians entitled perhaps still exists to a certain extent, to an honorable place in the history of the that those who attended drawing-rooms art are to be found amongst them. Their and levées might reasonably expect to be musical name and musical nature kept invited in due course to some court enter- company for nearly two hundred years, at tainments. Thirty or forty years ago, the end of which time the spell was broken, when "society" was a very different thing and the artistic pre-eminence of the Bachs from what it is now, and when few per- came to an end. Union is strength, so sons below a certain social or official rank they kept close together, ready to give thought it any part of their business to each other not only good advice, but mago to court, this may have been very gen- terial assistance. Every year they held a erally the case. But it is a very different family meeting at Erfurt, Eisenach, or thing nowadays, and as the number of Arnstadt, and had musical performances quasi-courtiers has increased at least three- together. These annual gatherings give fold, while the number and standard of an idea of the strength of the clan; at one the court entertainments remain the same of them no fewer than a hundred and .as ever, it is obvious that it would be im- twenty Bachs, all musicians, were present. possible to apply this theory to existing The greatest of them, the Bach of Bachs, circumstances. Some system of selection was Johann Sebastian, to whom consider. must therefore necessarily be resorted to, able attention is now being directed, the and the natural result must be to provoke bicentenary of his birth having fallen this a good deal of envy, hatred, malice, and year. To speak of him is the object of all uncharitableness, on the part of those the present article. The leading events who are not so fortunate as to be included in the life of Johann Sebastian Bach are in the lists of invitations. It would cer- soon told. They are neither numerous tainly seem no very dangerous innovation nor striking. He was born at Eisenach to add another State ball or two to the on March 21, 1685, and was the youngest annual hospitalities of Buckingham Pal son of Ambrosius Bach. Unhappily, ace, and some day this may perhaps be when he was ten years old both his father found expedient and practicable. Every and mother died. An elder brother, oryear the complaints grow louder as to the ganist at Ohrdruff, then took charge of decadence of the London season, and him and continued the musical instruction nothing would tend so much to restore which had been begun by the father, addlife to the depressing state of things that ing to the practice of the violin that of the seems to exist at present as some expan-organ and clavichord. The young Sebassion of courtly festivities. We might tian showed himself in haste to make then, perhaps, look for a partial revival, at least, of the by-gone glories of the drawing-room, which would regain in a great measure its original social meaning and importance.

progress, and was ambitious to play much more advanced music than the brother thought proper. There is a tradition that the latter had a manuscript volume of pieces for the clavichord by the most cele

From The Spectator.

years

similarity of taste she proved an ad- isches Opfer." But if Bach was famous mirable companion; helping in his work during life, little regard seems for some and sharing in his pleasures. By his first time after his death to have been shown wife he had seven children, by his second to his memory. His widow had a struggle thirteen there were twenty in all, eleven to exist, and died a pauper at last, ten boys and nine girls. Bach's inventive years after her husband. Then Leipzig, capacity was shown not only in his adop- of which he was such a distinguished ortion of equal temperament, and his innova-nament, rooted up St. John's Churchyard, tions in the art of fingering-for in that where he had been laid to rest, and threw too he introduced great improvements it into a road, and the composer's bones but in the construction of a new instru- were scattered, no one apparently caring ment, the lute-harpsichord (Lauticlavi. what became of them. cymbel). This instrument had surprising JAMES MASON. brilliancy of tone. The difficulty of tuning, however, led to its abandonment, and no wonder, if in that respect it at all resembled the first of the instruments from which it derived its name. Let us speak LORD BEACONSFIELD'S YOUTH. now of Bach in his higher character as a composer. A great creative genius he MR. RALPH DISRAELI has given the certainly was one of the most remarkable, world a great pleasure, in recalling to us indeed, of the monarchs of the world of what we venture to regard as the essence music. His inexhaustible fertility, the of his distinguished brother, by the publi novel and independent character of his cation of some of the dashing and glitterwork, its profound science, and deep earing letters which he sent home from Spain, nestness, all entitle him to lasting fame. the Mediterranean, and Egypt in the Comparisons have often been drawn be- 1830 and 1831. They bring before us the tween Bach and Handel. They were most unique and even startling figure in contemporary musical giants, both born our modern politics with singular force, in the same year. Their styles are as and sometimes we seem to be reading different as their lives; the difference be- allegories anticipative of Mr. Disraeli's tween the two, it has been well said, "is actual career. If Carlyle had read these the same as that which lies between a letters before the publication of great philosopher and a great epic poet- clothes philosophy, and had he known between Plato and Homer." They are Mr. Disraeli's family he might have done equally great in their ways, but the poet so, what illustrations for that book will be understood with less effort than would they not have suggested to him! the philosopher, and listened to with more Naturally enough, the first thing which pleasure. The fame of Bach excited the strikes and delights Disraeli is the vari curiosity of Frederick the Great, and this ety of the Spanish costumes; and one of resulted in an invitation in 1747 to the the first messages to his mother tells her court at Potsdam. It was the last jour- that as it is the custom at Gibraltar not to ney undertaken by the composer. His wear waistcoats in the morning, "her new arrival was announced just as the king studs came into fine play, and maintain was beginning a flute solo at a State con- my reputation of being a great judge of cert. The monarch laid down his instru costume, to the admiration and envy of ment, and turning to the musicians who many subalterns. I have also the fame of were waiting to accompany him, "Gen- being the first who ever passed the Straits tlemen," he exclaimed, "old Bach has with two canes, a morning and an evening come!" There was no flute playing that cane. I change my cane as the gun fires, evening. Bach was taken from room to and hope to carry them both on to Cairo. room of the palace, and had to play on all It is wonderful the effect these magical the Silbermann pianofortes, instruments wands produce. I owe to their use more which the king particularly admired, and attention than to being the supposed of which he had a considerable number. author of what is it? 1 forget." Gratified by the respect and kindness of much more characteristic than his dress his reception, the composer did his best, and his delight in flashing new and bril and excited the greatest wonder by his liant costumes on the eyes of his acquaintimprovisations. A theme which the king ances, is Mr. Disraeli's use of dress as a gave him was worked up on his return to moral instrument. As the author of Leipzig, and it was dedicated to Frederick "Vivian Grey," he felt it necessary to the Great under the title of "Musikal keep up a reputation for a certain pictur

his

But