The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-05
PRESENTED
Experiences Of q Debutante Be-
fore Queen Victoria.
The ANXIETY or PREPARATION.


Carriage Recepsion In the Park st
Bsckingham = Feathers, Jewels,
Pomp and Circumstanee.
LoSDoS, March 2.-fSpecial Correspon-
dence. when you read in the next days
paper that ssher majesty, the queen, held q
drawing-room at Buckingham palace yes
terday at three, it doubtless seems small
matter, . mere interlude in the day, to 'sdrop
In" ct the palace, walk up to the presence
chamber. make eleven courtesies with a
kiss for her majesty's hand, and, having
gracefully bowed yourself from her pres
ence, to hurry back to your victoria and
roll on to the next afternoon tea.
Alas! no. The preparations for that one
reception began weeks in advance and con-
tinued up to half-past the eleventh hour.
The young dcbutante, month before the
royal function, is introduced to Madam
Lovelace, the court dressmaker, who, dur
ing the next thirty days, is to be her cont
panion, her guardian and chief She
spends long hours Of the morning in con-
sultation with Lovelace; in the afternoon
she shops with mamma in Bond street,
buying little satin slippers, long, soft
kid gloves. temptingly suggestive of
marshmallows, q gauzy. lacy, pearly fan
and ahandkerchief-such q handkerchief
rs grows only in Bond street: delicate
mist, fairy breath. mere phantom of
the everyday mouchoir. Perhaps she goes
to dancing master to learn the courtesy,
and spends the evening before her cheval
glass making deep reverences to the young
lady on the other side of it, and then she
goes to bed to dream that she is at court at
last; that she is tripping over her train,
treading on the princess foot and in her
fright turning her back upon their royal
highnesses.
But, as the old story books are con-
stantly lmpressing upon US, all things have
an end. And finally the copious prepare
tons are over, the white fower-strewn
gown hangs ready to be donned on the
morrow, white feathers and veil beside it.
and that wonderful train is piled up yon-
der on the shelf. We will leave here Mile.
Third Person dreaming of queens and
princesses, beef-eaters and court trains
and follow to the palace Miss FIRST Person
Singular.
Doubtless 1 was not the only young
debutante who watched the weather signs
and begged all her acquaintance to say
that it would be fair tomorrow. NY
brothers university friends declared that
the rain surely would not have the heart
-or rather lack of ito appear. NV
fathers friends hoped with gfayer gall
lantry that the day would be propitious,
and remember one pompous old gentle
mana friend of my grandfather-who
trusted in words of six syllables that the
day would be bright, that the sun would
smile upon me, as q foggy, drizzly day
ever rained disappointment upon q fair
debutante's hopes and spattered her en-
thusiasm with dismay at uncurling curls
and an influenza cold leering over the
shoulder Of tomorrow. And the sun did
smile; it almost laughed-not at the
pompous old gentleman, let US trust!
Before young woman is presented at
court she herself holds levee Of subjects.
First in order is the court hairdresser. He
appears with curriers' and crimpers, priz-
cites and pins wherewith to erect the Eiffel
tower of pufs and pompadour, pinnacled
by the veil and royal plumcs. Next, the
ladies' maid, who, with suppressed "ohs"
and s'ohs" Of delight, robes her young lady
in the foamy, feathery white gown, fastens
the pearls about her throat and, carrying
the lily bouquet, holds out the six yards
of train as mademosille descends in state
to the room where she is to receive her
next subject, the photographer, who is to
make immortal the fiowery gown, the
dainty slippers, the feathers, bouquet and
veil and the courtly pillows of train,
feather-crested.
The last vassal having been dismissed,
my mother and /, with our trains over
our arms, passed to the victoria. have
a vague recollection Of crowd of gazing,
gaping by-standers, through which the
footman ploughed path for our advance.
And then we settled ourselves in the car
riage: or, perhaps, should say we settled
our trains and disposed ourselves in the
room they left Us.
The excitement grew greater and great
er, like the snow-balls children roll up
hill. as we neared the park. We passed
other drawing-room carriages into which
the mob was looking, catching only a
fieeting glimpse of the faces within, over a
maze of silk, satin. illusion and flowers.
And now We had entered the park and
were slowly pacing to our station in the
rank of gaily -decked carriages; in that
dazzling procession, twinkling with jewels
and flowers. Flowers flowers everywhere!
They dubbed over the carriages; they
danced across the park; they decorated
the coachmen and footmen with bright
colored nosegays. It all formed a brilliant
picture sparkling with life and light and
color; the park in its court dress trimmed
with laburnum blossoms and May, with
flowing wells of waving plumes and regal
trains of green; the long line of carriages
brave with flowers; the stately horses
prancing with the excitement of the day,
the stately ladies inside cleaning with
satins and jewels; the motley throng of
curious on-lookers and the swift-howing
stream Of hansoms, carts and traps carry
ing young men and bright-faced girls who
had come to see the panorama.
One of the most charming acts of that
comedy Of a days pleasure was the car
riage reception held for an hour and a half
in the park before entering the palace
gates. Our friends, in groups of twos and
threes, came up to offer their congratula-
tons and to chat gaily with US. Even at
court one must hear talk ofthe weather. but
one can not have too much of such good
thing as that bright, laughing spring day.
We all praised it, and blessed it and COM
mended the sun for his rare good taste
very rare in England-in wishing to be
present at her majesty's drawing groom.
MY mother, who had been to court q num-
Der of times before-I was the third daugh-
ter presented-amused US with reminis-
cences of former drawing-rooms, which
were caught up and answered by Lord
S. in accounts of the princes ievees. 1t
thrilled me to listen to descriptions of the
royal pageant, knowing that |, myself,