, 1886-07-01
NURSE FOR THE ROYAL BABE.
An Iinportant Function That Now ut
tresses this Spanish Court.

An Important Function That Now M
tresses ths 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
iown even to the reign Of Ferdinand
VII, a high court fu%nctionary. accom-
panied by a physician and a numerous
suite, Travelled through the provinces of
,ialice and Santander in lest 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 a public exam
nation.
To-day 1t 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 recommendations 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-
fled, 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 he royal infant; n 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
pieases, but she is always accompanied
by two ladies of the palace. When the
royal infant is weaned tlio 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 a pension from the privy purse. 1t
VIII be readily understood then that the
number of applicants for the position is
large.
A few days G DR.. Sanchez Ocana,
oil the royal faculty OF medicine, exam
med twenty-five robust young women,
a 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
OF everybody. She was decked
out in a splendid costume Of red and.
black velvet, trimmed with gold lace.
and wore diamond earrings and n dem
telle mantlla. She was Raimonda, who.
has recently beer nurse to the baby
prince of Bavaria. A repose of nins
months in her charming cottage OF
Revilla allows her to resume her former
functions. AN the women who have
presented themselves are remarkably
beautiful. bat 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 quits
an event in Spain. Madrid Cor. Paris
Figaro.