Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-22
THE QUEEN AND DEPORTMENT.
Getting Ready for the Drawing-room.

From the Pail Mall Gazette.
A trim maid opened the door when Knocked
and rang at the portals Of the mistress of de-
pertinent was shown into a drawing-room
rather luxuriously furnished. Presently Mrs.
R entered. She was a pleasant-faced lady,
full Of the subject on which had called. She
took me to another room, with polished floor
and pier glasses around the walls.
81 Am afraid shall want a lot of coaching be-
fore am graceful enough to suit your ideas.
The only thing know about department is that
Mr.. Turveydrop once practiced it with great
profit and honor"
Don't be afraid. You will learn as quickly
as many country girls have taught. OF course,
can't say how many lessons you will want un-
til see your style. Some ladies need only two
or three. Others are obliged to have half q
Dozen"
Are all your pupils girls9" asked Mrs.
R.
'Oh, no. have married ladies here occa-
sionally. The sister of the earl Of A--too
presentation lessons a little while ago, and her
husband said they enabled her to carry herself
much more gracefully when walking out"
60 to court?'
Yes; those whose ignorance forebodes fail,
ure," answered Nine. R. She had full
faith in her own powers of training, however,
for she said: Several 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 at her well In the face.
You must look at her thoroughly without
finching."
us she particular about department."
"Keenly particular. She notices movement,
and nothing annoys her 80 terribly as careless,
negligent carriage. Her own department has
always been irreproachable. Don't you admire
in hprn
notices in moment If you have prepared for
the drawing-room, and if she sees you have she
smiles benignly."
Next to the queen as a model of court car
riage stands the duchess of Teck. Mrs. R
told me all this in a soft, motherly way. Then
she suddenly turned practical, and fixed her
eyes keenly 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
disc of wood about the size of tea-plate.
There, put that on your head. This ribbon
prevents its falling Off Now walk up to me-"
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 bear
Ing is long practice with a water-pitcher on
their heads. platter of wood convinced me
that the maidens Of the sunny 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? I
tried again. you must not lift your toes"
warningly said madame. Now walk with
me-" l 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 go down very slowly. Slower
slower, slower" she said, stretching out her
hand, which kissed. 'You mustn't try to grab
the queens hand. You must sweep your hand
around so'-and 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 curtsey to the queen. Then you
Family. The Empress Frederick may be next
the queen. Make a deep curtsey to her, and a
shorter one to each of the Others according to
their distance from the queen. The regulation
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 backing out is
really succession of curtseys with first the
right foot and then the left foot forward. You
kick your skirts away all the time.
Il see all my pupils in their full dress" said
keep trains here four yards long for practice.
Lessons are almost required if you go to the
state ball. Debutantes are often invited. The
only formality to be remembered in the draw
ing-room is the mode of carrying your ticket
This must be carried in the left hand with your
right-hand glove between the fourth and little
finger. Ladies are also permitted to carry
handkerchiefs, but it is not advisable. You
give up your ticket as the lord chamberlain an
nounces your name, and then you advance up
the room to the queen"
do you get many American pupils?" 1 asked.
"Yes, had several last year. They were
very agreeable young ladies, too. Some En-
glish people think that American women are
too go-ahead to be as decorous as good taste
demands. But l cannot say that. / think
Americans, with all their curiosity and their
readiness to plunge into any conversation, are
animated not so much by desire to be for
ward in evidence as by livelier intelligence
and animation than English. l 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,""