The Washington critic., 1889-04-11
THE QUEEN AND DEpORTMENT.

N WIN hHulu fOptHtu ubOI Wntu Il
knocked and rang at the portals of the
mistress Of department. was shown into
drawing room rather luxuriously fur
nished. Presently Mrs. r. entered. She
was pleasant-faced lady, full Of the sub
ject on which had called. She took me
to another room, with polished floor and
pier glasses around the walls.
~ am afraid shall Want lot OF coach
ing before am graceful enough to suit
your idea. The only thingI know about
department Ii that Mr.. Turveydrop once
practiced It with great profit and honor"
"Don't be afraid. You win learn as
quickly as many country girls I have
taught. OF course can't say how many
lessons you will want until see your style.
Some ladies need only two or three.
Others are obliged to have half Dozen"
care all your pupils girls ?" asked Mrs.
R..
"0h, no; l have married ladies here occa-
sionally. The sister of the Earl Of A
took presentation lessons little while ago,
and her husband said they enabled her to
carry herself much more gracefully when
walking out"
"Aren't the girls very nervous when they
first 20 to courts %
Eyes, those whose ignorance forbodes
failure" answered Nine. r.. She had
full faith In her powers Of training, how
ever, for she said: "Seyeral of my pupils
have told me they were more at home with
the Queen than with me. The Queen likes
young girls and debutantes to look her
full in the face. You must look at her
thoroughly, without fiinching."
ais she particular about deportments"
"Kecnly particular. She notices move
ment, and nothing annoys her SO terribly as
careless, negligent carriage. Her own
department has always been irreproach-
able. Don't you admire her as young
queen in her pictures? She notices In
moment II you have prepared for the
drawing-room, and IL she sees you have she
smiles benignly."
Next to the Queen as model OF court
carriage stands the Duchess OF Teck. Mrs.
R. told me all this In soft, motherly
way. Then she suddenly turned practical,
and fixed her eyes keenly and critically, and
smd: "But come, take your hat off, and
we will have alesson. Place this on your
about the size of tea plate. ''There put
that on your head. This ribbon prevents
its falling off. Now walk up to ma" said
madam. "Keep your head up. Don't,
walk, >" she cried. "You mustn't venture to
walk. Your feet must slide over the floor.
Hold your shoulders up. Keep your chin
high. Now, try again"
wouldn't be maiden of the sunny
South. We are told that the cause of their
erect bearing ia long practice with water
pitcher on their heads. A platter OF wood
South deserve all the erect carriage they
can get. Have you ever tried to walk with
your head up with bit of wood balancing
on the top of your skull Itriod again.
"You must not lift your toes" warningly
said madame. snow walk with me.n I
did so, and balanced the piece Of wood
with ease.
"Now, will be the queen pro tenn.
Glide up to me-" She retired to the end Of
the room. "You must regulate your steps,
and count two between each step forward.
Take another step, and then curtsey."
obeyed. 1t was very unsteady one.
TRY again, and 60 down very slowly.
Slower, slower, slower" she said, stretch
ing out her hand, which kissed. "You
mustn't try to grab the queen's hand. You
must sweep your hand around so''--an she
made graceful curve in the air--''and be
careful your nose doesn't touch the queens
hand. Any time can be given to the curt
eey to the queen. Then you must curtsey
TO each member OF the royal family. The
Empress Frederick may be next the queen.
Make deep curtsey to her, and shorter
one to each OF the others, according to their
distance from the queen. The regulation
number Of curtseys is six. This Is what
train my pupils for. Having finished salut-
ing each member OF the royal family you
back out swiftly-still with gliding mo-
tion to allow the other ladies to come up.
This backing out is really a succession of
curtseya with first the right foot aud then
the left foot forward. You kick,y your skirts
away all the time.
~ see all my pupils in their full dress,'
said madame, ''to. give them the finishing
directions. | keep trains here four yards
long for practice. Lessons are almost re-
quired II You 60 TO the state ball. Debu-
iantes are often invited. The only formal
ity to be remembered in the drawing-room
is the mode Of carrying your ticket. This
must be carried in the left hand with your
tight hand glove between the fourth and
little finger. Ladies are also permitted to
carry handkerchiefs, but 1t ia not advisable.
You giveup your ticket as the lord cham
beriain announces your name, and then you
advance up the room to the queen" ."--[ Pail