The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-11-11
NURSE FOR THE ROYAL BABE.
An Important Function That Now Dis
tresses the Spanish Court.

I An Important Function That Now Dis
tresses the Spanish Court.
The great question of the hour at the
court of Madrid is the choice of a nurse
for the royal infant. Formerly, and
down even to the reign of Ferdinand
VII, high court functionary, accom-
panied by physician and numerous
suite, travelled through the provinces of
Gelice and Santander in quest of the
nurse who was to be chosen for the
royal babe. 1t is the province of San
lander, especially that portion known as
"the mountain" that has furnished the
| greatest contingent of royal nurses. 1t
was once regarded as one of the indus
tries of the place. The royal delegate
visited Santander first, and his arrival
was solemnly announced in all the
towns and villages. The major pre-
sented the candidates to him and the
doctor put them through public exam
nation.
To-day it is the nurses who come to
Madrid. They are presented to the major
domo, who takes down their names and
then passes them to the physician. The
work of choosing is no light affair, for
the number who aspire to the position of
royal nurse is enormous and the applica-
tons and recommendation pour in from
all sides. This is not surprising, as the
position is a very agreeable one. The
occupation of royal nurse is very digni-
fed, to begin with. The wages are also
very high. The nurse is treated as one of
the ladies of the palace, her magnificent
costumes are frequently renewed and as
they become her own property her ward
robe is soon varied and luxurious. The
nurse is never asked to attend to the
toilet of the royal infant; femme de
chambre is especially appointed for that
duty. The infant remains with the
nurse at night, however. Apart from
the promenades which she makes with
the baby, the nurse may go out when she
pleases, but she is always accompanied
by two ladies of the palace. When tho
royal infant Is weaned the nurse re-
ceives a large money gift, all the mem
bers of the royal family give her rich
presents and the sovereign bestows on
her pension from the privy purse. 1t
viii be readily understood then that the
number of applicants for the position is
large.
A few days ago DIR. Sanchez Ocana,
OF the royal faculty of EQedicine, exam
med twenty-five robust young women,
few of whom evidently did not belong
to the peasant class. They had already
nursed the children of some of the high
est of the Madrilene aristocracy. Among
the applicants one attracted the special
attention of everybody. She was decked
out in a splendid costume of red and
black velvet, trimmed with gold lace,
and wore diamond earrings and a dem
telie mantilla. She was Raimonda, who
has recently been nurse to the baby
prince of Bavaria. A repose of nine
months in her charming cottage of
Revilla allows her to resume her former
functions, All the women who have
presented themselves are remarkably
beautiful, but no choice has yet been
made. The most minute investigation
takes place before final acceptance con-
corning the family. the children and
especially the moral character of the
nurse. The choice is regarded as quite
an event in Spain.-Madrid Cor. Paris
Figaro,