Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-08-12
THE ENGLISH COURT.
An American Girls Experience
Being Presented
TO HER MAJESTY, QUEEN VICTORIA
The Prince and Princess Of WaIes--Ho~ the
Young Lady 0resssd-Ths Royal
Drawing Rooms-The Cos
tunes Worn.
Ee,u York Morning Journal.

New York Morning Journal
'sDO you ever make dresses for court
presentations" asked reporter OF
famous Fifth-avenue modiste.
"What court do you mean? The
English court? We certainly do, but
not SO many as one would think. Most
American girls, or their mammas, are so
afraid that the style will not be strictly
English, you know; so they walt until
they get to England or Paris; but some
of the most beautiful dresses ever seen
in the Queens drawing-room have been
made In this city, and that know to
be fact"
How must the dress. be made: was
then asked. 'Is there any. set style"
ooh, yes. For a debutante her fist
dress must be pure white. The mater
iaI may be either Grape de chene, satin,
silk, velvet, plush, or any rich material.
Then the train must be a court train,
that is flowing from the waist and very
long, with a petticOat front. The bodice
must be cut low in the neck and with
short sleeves, and as many or few or
naments as the desire may be worn,
and flowers to suit the fancy. Married
ladies may 90 the Queens drawing
room in black or colored silks, velvets,
etc, but all the dresses must he cut low
in the corSage, rs that is rule OF the
court.
II should think 1t would be dangerous
for ladies with delicate frames TO go
without wrap" was observed.
$50 it is, young man." replied the
mOdiste, "and some ladies do wear high
necks, but they have to be especially
excused by the Queen"
"Can you tell lie when the Queens
dra wing-TOoms are held"
We'll, in May and June principally.
Those months, and July, are the height
OF the season IN London society. But
as for the manner of presentation, ii
might he best for you to see some one
who has enjoyed that distinction"
The lady kindly intimated that GER
tain young lady uptown could give the
information, and she was accordingly
sought.
Were you presented at court?' in
quired the reporter.
"Ob, yes, indeed, she replied. II at
tended two drawing-roOms, both in
May. At the last one, the Queen was
uLahle 10 be present and the princess
oil Wales received III her place. But
he first, that was the exciting one.
When | went to London, mamma was
determined that | should make good
arr, arancc My dress was made here
All it Was beautiful"
What was it," interrupted the
journalist.
We'll, the train was of white poult
de sole, made very long, with q ruch-
ihg and puffings of tulle, fastened at tue
shoulder with little marrow white satin
ribbons and tiny bouquets of ferns and
Victoria roses, out of compliment to her
majesty, you know. The corsaSe and
petticOat were ofIvory-white SATIN, COW
cred with pearl embroidery on tulle,
and caught here and there with clus.
teTS of the ferns and Victoria roses.
Then | wore tulle veil with white
roses and maider-hair ferns, and pearl
ornaments, and carried the loveliest
big bouquet of Victoria roses you ever
saw. ! felt just rs though | was going
to be married, but not III all timid. Most
of the English girls ut the drawing
room, even OF noble families, were aw-
fully frightened at having to kiss the
Queens hand, and hack out gracefully
without stepping on their trains"
~ should think it would require
sOme practice to know how TO DO that"
observed her Listener.
"Why, of course. Don't you know
yCu have to go to p regular teacher to
learn how u act. First. you wait until
It il time for you to be presented and
then YOU come forward with the lady
who presents you. and bow first TO the
Queen, then 20 the Princess Beatrice,
the Duchess of COnnaught and down
through an awfully long list Of nots'
b!es. | can't remember them. Then
the oceans of people in attendance and
the diplomatic ambassadors! After
YOU have bowed low to all the royal
family you back out and make room
for some one else, but you mustn't turn
your back on royalty or you will
suffer"
"How do you know ifyou can be
presented"
well, it's very easy for an American
girl, if she has money, and she is good
looking and well. bred. Some English
lady Of rank who goes to the drawing
rooms, or who has already been pre-.
sented, will send your name to the lord
chamberlain, and he submits it to the
Qu' Pu, and that's ALL"
"What kind of dresses do the Queen
and the Princess wearw asked the re-
porter.
"The Queen wore rich dark velvet
and long train and her crown. Bat l
'onkt d mostly at the Princess ofWales.
She does dress in such exquisite taste.
She wore a dress of ciel-blue satin
duchess, embroidered in silver gilt dra-
peries OF the finest Brussels lace and
looped with large bouquets of roses and
lilies. The train was of ciel-blue bro
cade embroidered in colOred flowers,
and the cOrsage was made to cores
pond. On her head waa tiara of dia-
monds, q cluster Of feathers and lace
veil, and she wore several orders, the
Victoria and Albert, the SaXe-Coburg,
the crown of India and Others l forget
| now"
"Wbat did the Princess Beatrice
wear"
"She wore white silk ana satin and
some pale pink muslin de sole with
roses 10 correspond, and beautiful dis.
mouds and emeralds in the hair, and
lots of or Hers. There were all sorts OF
dresses and nearly all the ladies wear
wells. Rather funny idea, isn't it"'