The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-09-20
PAGES.


duced into Europe in the middle ages, under
the usages Of chivalry and feudalism The
: name page, which comes from the Greel
word for boy, was given to the youth who
r thus acted IN what was esteemed the honora
I BILE capacity OF servant to a royal and titled
| master. He was eligible at the age of sever
for tn" position, and occupied it until fitted
by wears and training for promotion to the
rank OF esquire and knight. Even the sons
+ of kings did not scorn to fulfill the Office OF
page, and in the retinue of distinguished
man Of birth, wealth and ability, receive the
benefit of thorough discipline in the arts oi
war; diplomacy and craftsmanship. Edward,
the Black Prince, PERFORMED 20 more grace
tnl service III his brave and brilliant career
than when he stood behind the untortun ate
King John Of France, while he sat at table a
captive in the tent of the Princes father and
with deterrent courtesy filled his cup with
wine and handed HIM his napkin.
The noble Bayard, the Cheva!ier sans peta
ct sans rerTorhe, was in hi, youth page in
The house OF the Bishop of Grenob!e. There
ne waited at table, ran OF errands. carried
letters and messages and broaght back an
swers. and otherwise did his masters bidding
From the service Of the Bishop OF GrenobIe
Bayard passed to that of the Duke Of Savoy
where he added to the religions habits already
acquired knowledge and practise Of arms.
Lassels tells story OF Charles, the warlke
Duke of b 7rgundy, which indicates that the
ministry OF the page was sometimes rewarded
with savage cruelty. Ia the famous tigh; OF
Aluret, in which the Duke was worsted he
was compelled to swim lake two miles in
width on the back of his steed, in order to
escape from the encroaching enemy. His
young page. in the same desperate case, bat
without horse to help him across the water.
leaped up behind his master, and so reached
with him the opposite shore in SAFETY. But
| when the Duke had landed, fall OF rage at his
| tnortifying fight and the p ril he had incurred
he felt his ire increase at the thought that his
page had retarded his progress toward a CO.
| vert by adding to the incumblance on his
horse. and turning, with :. swift and angry
stroke. he poinarded the boy the spot.
Poor Prince adds Lassels. "thou mig t.
est have given another offering III thanksgv.
ing to God for thy escape than this.
The institution of ragedom passed away
with the era Of chivalry yet some relic of it
remains to the present day. George the
Third was the latest English sovereign who
ever performed the office. When his parents
the Prinoe and Prizes, Of Wales were ut dim
her. Prince George and hi, brother Edward
used to stand apart and wait on the august
pair. who joked with the boys meanwhile, in
exactly the fashion that lold ana lady of the
olden time would discourse with couple ci
pages in waiting. who ere to be instructed
by the one in the schoo' ia, AS and the otherin
the school Of love. VI en- George the Fourth
sent the Duke of NJ. nm erlanl to represent
him at the coron ito Of Charles the Tenth
he was accompanied by Two handsome, high
born English lords as iis pages. All the c"ro-
nation the pages bore the train Of the Duke.
who wore the full robes Of the Order OF the Gar
ter One Of the pages, the Hon. George Murray
aiterward Duke Of Atholo was dressed in tame,
uniform Of light blue. The other. he Hon
james Diamond, wore highland costume.
Four pages Of honor form part OF the state OF
Queen NIctOrias court. Their incoms is $500
EACH and ut the close OF their pagehood they
receive a commission in the Foot Guards
without purchase.
In France, the official organization Of pages
expired with Louis NV. In the cour Of that
monarch there were l5S pages Of the chamber
and OF the great stables, every one Of whom
could prove noble descent OF at least two cen
tufics. They occupied fifty gay chambers on
the first floor Of the Palace OF Versailles and
their food, light and fire cost the treasury oi
the King the sum of 50, 900 francs annually
They clothed themselves sun.ptuously ont OF
the pocket-money, amounting to $50 livers pei
year furnished to each page. by his parents.
Their state uniform OF gold-embi oidered Grim
son velvet, with plumed hat, cost SO pounds
sterling, and their scarlet cloth undrcss was rs
rich and tancitu as gold and silver lace could
make it. Their duties were to attend CON
tinually upon the members of the roya family; |
to wait upon the King when he went to bad. |
and when he got up again to accompany him |
to the theatre to 60 with him hunting, and |!
load and hand HIM his gun. and record in |
their books the number OF head of game |
bagged; to ride by the carriage when the |
oil 1,
when they chose to go on foot /: in short, 20 !
come and go at the beck of their masters. on
all sorts OF light yet lacquey-lle service.
When crowd of young retalners were thus
brought together under no very strict surveil-
lance they naturally learned some vices along
with the virtues Their master was Their
model, and. good or bad, they strove to im-
tate him. From association with the laies
above them, they gained the q IS of galantry,
which they practised in honor and purity. or
not so, accor ling to the princil les tEey saw in
force with their elders and guides. As in
schools new conner among established pages.
for q time had a'hard life OF it. he was M tde
4 sort Of fag, and forced to wait on the rest
until, ny his pluck and spirit, he compelled
his prosecutors to render him the respect they
gave each other The rough experience de
Feloped the mettlc i'll the boy, and toughened
ais nerve. and in these respects we're uudoubt-
IDLY good for him. The book education OF
he pages receive some attention. and they
1ad preceptors and study in the attic OF
!, ersailes.
When Lonis XVI. came to grief his pages did
lot desert him. They chung to tie master
whom they loved as well as served, until his
vii destiny reached its fatal termination I
They went down in the shipwreck of the
french monarchy, but they went down brave
' and uuhoas.tuliy. After the royal house
lold WIS broken up, the most OF them were :
ilcrltced to The fanatic spirit OF. the revolu
ion. They We're murdered by the mobs, on i
nartyred on the sc,tfold, or they fell in open t
ght for what was - them a sacred c,rIse
me or two OF them appeared AGAIN as pages '
Il the household of the Emperor A t4w c
ecame distinguished i'll the army. ard few /
nd aside the privileges of nobility and joined i
he great multitude who earn their bread. t
'Wo or three took to the stage aud under /
srudonyms gained celebrity In the res ,ored l.
ouSc OF Bonruof there was no lack Of pages: ;
III the original institution i'd not he said t
, eNis', and with Charles y. the last traces of i
o.slsied /