United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Now who do you think stopped at the booth for a chat with Miss Jinny?
Who made her blush as pink as her Paris gown? Who slipped into her hand
the contribution for the church, and refused to take the cream candy she
laughingly offered him as an equivalent?
None other than Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, Duke of Saxony, Duke of
Cornwall and Rothesay, Earl of Chester and Carrick, Baron Renfrew, and
Lord of the Isles. Out of compliment to the Republic which he visited,
he bore the simple title of Lord Renfrew.
Bitter tears of envy, so it was said, were shed in the other booths.
Belle Cluyme made a remark which is best suppressed. Eliphalet Hopper,
in Mr. Davitt's booths, stared until his eyes watered. A great throng
peered into the covered way, kept clear for his Royal Highness and
suite, and for the prominent gentlemen who accompanied them. And when
the Prince was seen to turn to His Grace, the Duke of Newcastle, and the
subscription was forthcoming, a great cheer shook the building, while
Virginia and the young ladies with her bowed and blushed and smiled.
Colonel Carvel, who was a Director, laid his hand paternally on the
blue coat of the young Prince. Reversing all precedent, he presented
his Royal Highness to his daughter and to the other young ladies. It was
done with the easy grace of a Southern gentleman. Whereupon Lord Renfrew
bowed and smiled too, and stroked his mustache, which was a habit he
had, and so fell naturally into the ways of Democracy.
Miss Puss Russell, who has another name, and whose hair is now white,
will tell you how Virginia carried off the occasion with credit to her
country.
It is safe to say that the Prince forgot “Silver Heels” and “Royal Oak,”
although they had been trotted past the Pagoda only that morning for his
delectation. He had forgotten his Honor the Mayor, who had held fast to
the young man's arm as the four coal-black horses had pranced through
the crowds all the way from Barnum's Hotel to the Fair Grounds. His
Royal Highness forgot himself still further, and had at length withdrawn
his hands from the pockets of his ample pantaloons and thrust his thumbs
into his yellow waistcoat. And who shall blame him if Miss Virginia's
replies to his sallies enchained him?
Not the least impressive of those who stood by, smiling, was the figure
of the tall Colonel, his hat off for once, and pride written on his
face. Oh, that his dear wife might have lived to see this!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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