Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-05-01
DRANlNG-ROOM SECRETS.
An English Lady Who Drills Debutantes
for the Queens Receptions.

ORAWlNG-ROOM SECRETS.
An English Lady Who Drills Debutantes
for the Queens Receptions.
Next to the Queen as model of
court carriage stands the Duchess of
'Tecll. Mrs. R. told me all this in a
soft, motherly way. Then she sudden
ly turned practical, and fixed her eyes
lzeenly and critically and said: :.But
come, take your hat off and we will
have a lesson. Place this on your
head" She handed me a disk of
wood about the size of a template.
'There, put that on your head. This
ribbon prevents it's falling off. Now
walk up to me!!'' said madame. 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 q maiden of the Sun ny
South. We are told that the cause Of
their erect bearing is long practice
with a water-pitcher on their heads.
A platter of wood convinced me that
the maidens of the Sunny South de-
serve all the erect carriage they can
get Have you ever tried to walk with
your head up with a bit of wood ball
-ancing on the top of your skull? 1
tried again. You must not lift your
toes" did so and balanced the piece
of wood with ease.
''Now,y f will be the Queen pro tom.
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. It was a very unsteady
one. Try again, and go down very
slowly. Slower, slower" she said,
stretching out her hand, which 1
kissed. .'You mustn't try to grab the
Queens hand. You must sweep your
hand round so''-and she made grace
Jul curve in the air-''and be careful
your nose doesn't touch the Queens
hand. Any. time can be given to the
curtsey to the Queen. Then you must
curtsev r. each member of the royal
fam y = e Empress Frederick may
be cxt~zhe. Queen. Make a deep
cur-es5;s J: j. her, and shorter. one to
each Of the others according to their
distance from the Queen. The regula-
ton number of curtseys is six. That is
what | train my pupils for. Having
finished saluting each member of the
royal family you back out swiftly-still
with gliding motion, to allow the
other ladies to come up. This back
ing out is really succession of curt
seys with first tfe right foot and then
the left foot forward. You kick your
skirts away al! the time.
Il see all my pupils in their full
dress" said Madame, t'to give them
the finishing directions. keep trains
here four yards long for practice. Les
sons are almost required if you go to
the state ball. Debutantes are often
invited. The only formality to be re-
membered in the drawing-room is the
mode of carrying your ticket This
must DO carried in the left hand, with
your right-hand glove between the
fourth and little finger. Ladies are
also permitted to carry handlerchiefs,
but it is Lot advisable. You give up
your ticket, as the Lord Chamberlain
announces your name, and then you
advance up the room to the Queen"
do you get many American pu-
pils?" asked.
Eyes, I had several last year. They
were very agreeable young ladies, too.
Some English people think that Ameri-
can women are too go-ahead to be as
.decorous as good taste demands. But
/ can not say that. I think Americans,
with all their curiosity and their read
mess to plunge into any conversation,
are animated not go much by desire
to be forward in evidence as by live
Tier intelligence and animation than
the English. / have had some English
heiresses to teach; and oh! they are so
stupid when they come fresh from the
country to make their first appearance
in society. Pail Mail Gazette,
.-