Ceremonial of Garter Dance.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 66, 17 March 1894, Page 12 (Supplement)

Ceremonial of Garter Dance.

One of the Features oe the Wedding of Princess Margaret.

The youngesfc of the Emperor Frederick's daughters is tho Princees Margaret, who recently became the wife of Prince Charles Frederick of Heeae. Their marriage took place in Berlin, with great pomp, and in the presence of many of fche Princes and notables of Europe. On this occasion, the picturesque and historic garter danee c famous in Prussia for generations, took place, as is the custom, in the German Court. The details of this ceremonial are very curious. A field marshal, with his baton of commander in his hand, advances, followed by allthe Ministers. Then comes the bridal party. After some preliminaries adouble line of dancers is formed, something as in the Virginia reel, and the bride opens the ball by dancing first with her husband an.d, then with other members of the royal family. Torches and Venetian lanterns borne by pages and soldiers illume this brilliant scene, while gay uniforms and the toilets of pretty women giro the final touch to the picture. When the bride has finished dancing two noble ladies lead her into a corner and take off one of her garters, which is cub ioto small pieces and distributed among the dancers. At the marriage of Princess Margaret the Duchess of Connaught and Her Grace the Landgrave of H«sse were charged with this delicate duty. The garter dance, finishes as it began, each one taking his place by the flaring light of the torches, while with lively music the procession reforms and marches away. One point worthy of note on this particular occasion was the exclusion of Chancellor Caprivi and other high personages of the empire from the festivities.—' St. Louis Republic. 1