HOW TO BE " DISTINGUISHED."
IF London is the land of practical business, it is also the land of dreams. In its immense mass of society is included every type, old and new, potent and feeble. You may find not only every opinion, but also a clique cut and dry, to impersonate that opin- ion, with a demagogue, a prophet, or a prince on hand to be its idol. In like manner, there is not a projector abroad that can-
not find materials for his " company " in London ;• not an inno- vator in politics or religion that cannot pick up his believers ; not a distressed pretender of royalty that cannot command his levee. It is a market that suits all parties. Every one realizes that which is more precious than prosperity—that which, though short of actual fulfilment, is more than hope, more than antici- pation—the first instalment of consummated hopes—love's first kiss, sweeter than centuries of real wedded bliss.
The Count of Montemolin wants to be King Charles of Spain. From Spain itself he was hunted like a disowned cat. In France he was a prisoner, much described by the police. He comes to London, and lo ! he is King of Spain. • Real Spaniards gather round him, and are " loyal" ; real English gentlemen call upon him ; a real English newspaper reports his levees ' • he has " ad- herents "—real promises of subsidies, not to be distinguished perhaps from such promises as Mr. Goulburn or. Mr. Charles Wood might obtain with real gold to follow. In London it is that he is called "his Majesty." If all Spain were thrown in, the regality would not be more real.
On the other hand, there is a well-known nobody who is very ambitious to be an English gentleman, and to be hand in glove with royalty. He enters the market in search of afirince to be had cheap,—and real princes are to had at a very low figure in the London mart. Mr. Nobody offers Legitimist sympathies ; and at that trifling outlay he has the pick of the most illustrious princes brought to market. Don Carlos Luis is very much at his service. Queen Victoria is not more legitimately royal than Mr. Nobody's illustrious friend ; King Louis Philippe is not so much so. Mr. Nobody calls on Don Carlos, and straightway becomes a " distinguished visiter." He has quite stolen a march on Lord Brougham and Mr. Laurie.
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