The record-union., 1891-10-24
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright. 1911
LONDON, October l3, 1891.

Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright, 1871
LONDON, October l3, 1891.
During a number of years travel in
England, Ireland and Scotland 1 have
often been situated so that observation
was both proper and possible on the man
ner in which children of the nobility are
reared, and have personally found ex-
ceeding interest in understanding more
and more the details of their everyday
life. We have some incorrect impress
sions regarding the subject. certain
class of literature is responsible for this.
Generally speaking it conveys the idea
that British lOrdlings are pampered
brood, living in fairy land of jewels,
sweets, flowers and frills.
This is not true, so far as I have been
able to observe. Their regime, until they
take their place of nothingness in the
world, is one of considerable rigor. Good
health, good manners, good habits and
good morals are the unceasing seeking OF
those who have them in charge, and the
discipline invoked with this end in view
is really severe and tireless. That they
do not all become pretty fine men and
women can scarcely be the fault of their
training. Whether it is the unbridled
license Of wealth and power following
suddenly q somewhat austere child-life,
whether it is the effect Of their subsequent
slavery to society and fantastic ceremo-
mails, or whether it is the logical sequence
of idle and etiOrtlesS lives that the ethics
and morals of such folk, when grown, are
often questionable to an unfortunate de-
gree, is not under discussion. My pur-
pose is simply TO speak Of the children
of the nobility as children, and to follow
their everyday care, training and expert
ences from birth to an age where they
are interesting no further as children,
and, for that matter, of very little inter-
est as anything else.
1t is fortunate for any child to be born
in the country. 1t is estimated that this
good fortune has betallen ninety per cent.
OF the British nobility. Whatever de-
mand London or continental cities make
upon the British nobleman in point OF
social duties and residence, his town
house is after all only his lOdging-hOuse,
and holds true even if it be a splendid
palace. The necessities Of the season.
are attended to here. His hOme-if these
folk who are ever going and coming with
tremendous belongings and hordes OF SER
wants, may be said TO possess what their
most menial dependant holds ard loves,
a genuine hOme-is always in the coun-
try. The great demesne or manor Is a
little kingdom of itself; always striking
in situation; always more beautiful than
natures unaided effort, and ever a spot
where child-lite, at least, finds physically
the widest, wisest and most healthful de-
Velopment.
At time of tender expectancy hither
milady repairs. For a brief period, at
least, the home idea, atmosphere and life
prevail. The budding life is nurtured in
the splendid largess Of every ennobling
influence of kindly hereditary and stately
IF ISNral &c
not difficult 10 imagine, comes, more than
in all pOSt-natal education, the unyield-
ing instinct Of the British nobility and
aristocracy for landed pOssessiOnS-an IN
stinct more potent than all other infiu-
ences in tightening rather than lOOSening
the hold upon landed estates. If it could
be arranged that all the children of Brit
ish nobleman could be born in London,
ali British landed estates would be short
ly disentailed and divided. Whatever
Defalls noble family here its children
are born and reared in the splendid cas-
ties of the country. You can change the
entire British land and nobility systems
when you can change this, and not one
whit sooner.
Months before a new scion Of British
house makes its ordinarily human red
and speckled appearance, the order for
its appareling has been made. If the
child ever has much Of an advantage over
plebeian little ones, it thus early receives
\ marked and important favOTltism. Its
iayette usually comprises from two TO
four dozen pieces, each, OF bands, shirts,
skirts, dresses or robes, pinning blank
cts, stockings, caps and carrying cloaks.n -
Its skirts, shirts-eXcept it be q ''winter
baby" when they are then all made OF
silk tiannel-and robes are of the finest
Irish linen lawn; its bands and pinning
blankets Of silk flannel; its cap OF real
lace and the most delicate ribbon, and its
carrying cloaks ofsurah silk or faille and
lace. These are usually ordered from
infant outtitters" Of note in London,
Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and
Edinburgh; but occasionally they are pre-
pared by several artistic seamstresses and
smbroiderers who work under the imme-
diate direction of the housekeeper or
milady herself In either case the dainty
fabrics are covered with expensive hand
embroidery, are misty with rare Nalen-
ciennes lace, number from 400 to 500 pieces,
and undoubtedly cost from 5000 TO
5000.
Accouchement in the homes of the no.
DllIty rs accompanied by an eXtraOrdi-
nary attendance of medical and surgical
talent. No one physician, however emi-
nent, is relied upon. Two or three are
always present, and often a half dozen,
while several trained nurses have been
secured from famous hospitals. The fees
expected and paid are often out of all rea-
son, and frequently the doucer will equal
The fee. The occasion IS always wei
coined by the entire retinue of servants.
In many great houses all Of these receive
gifts of money-the officiating nurse, par
ticularly, II she be an old retainer, is mu-
niflcently remem bered, and the 'lower
house" is usually allowed to indulge in a
quiet merry making at milord's un-
grudged expense
Another matter of the gravest import
has had to be arranged. Titled ladies
never nurse their own children. The
woman who is to be the real mother OF
the helpless loTdling for the first twelve
10 eighteen months of its babyhood career,
IS often the subject. of extraordinary and
anxious search. Her character must be
blameless, yet she must be situated so
that for this length of time she can for
forswear her own babe and home. These,
and other suppOsitiously necessary con-
ditions, are not easily satisfied, and, per-
haps, some Of the most entertaining and
cuTiouslY-worded advertisements found
in the columns of the British press are
resultant from these peculiar quests. No
other person in any capacity of house
hold service commands such wages as do
these women when they have been found.
They never receive less than 500 per
month, and often from $3.50 TO $500 is
paid. This nurse is always provided with
Two or more under-nurses. With her pre-
cious charge she is not consigned TO the
regular nursery of the castle, which is al
ways n acapacious apartment well removed
from those of the chief inmates, but is
provided with q roOm or suite of rooms,
which, in ordinary use, are guests cham
bers, not far distant from milady's bou-
doir. This provision is q temporary one,
and the little lord or lady's surroundings
are for the time being of the plainest
character. The customary furniture is