3-021-037 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

State Ball at the Tuileries [Palace, in Paris]: presentations to the Emperor and Empress before the Ball, 1869. 'The ball...takes place in the Salle des Marechaux, a vast saloon...This hall is the largest in the Tuileries ; but, despite its size, the crowd is frequently so great that dancing becomes an impossibility, though numerous chamberlains in scarlet uniforms, and ushers with their necks encircled by chains of massy silver, are continually doing their utmost to maintain a clear space...The quadrille of honour, the persons taking part in which are always designated by the Emperor, is usually danced in the throne-room, a reserved space being kept by the exertions of a body of honorary chamberlains...We learn from the recently published "Book of Ceremonial" that, "if his Majesty wishes to dance, the first Chamberlain, or in his absence the Chamberlain on duty, must approach and receive from him his sword and hat," and that, "when the Emperor stops dancing, the first Chamberlain presents his sword and hat to him." Consequently, if by some unforeseen catastrophe the first Chamberlain and the Chamberlain on duty both happened to be absent, the Emperor would either have to dance with hat and sword, or not to dance at all'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.