Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-24
MIR. wAKEMAN,s JOURNKYINGs.

" "A LNSSs | At London-Children of the British Nobility The Christening - Titled | Young Lords and Ladfes-The Nur- sers-The Governess-The Daily Re- gfme-Child-Life Ever the Same. LONDON, Oct. 13. | To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 During a number of years' travel in England, Ireland and Scotland have of
 ten been situated so that observation was
 both proper and possible on the manner in
 which children of the nobility are reared,
 and have personally found exceeding in- terest in understanding more and more
 the details of their everyday life. We
 have some incorrect impressions regarding the subject. A certain class of literature is responsible for this. Generally speak ing, it conveys the idea that British lord
 lings are pampered brood, living in a
 fairyland 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 l 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 wo- men can scarcely be the fault of their training. Whether it is the unbridled li- cense of wealth and power following sud denly & somewhat austere child-life,
 whether it is the effect of their subse- quent slavery to society and fantastic cer- emonials, or whether it is the logical se- quence of idle and effortless lives, that the ethics and morals of such folk, when grown, are often questionable to an unfor- tunate degree, is not under discussion. My purpose is simply to speak of the chil- dren of the nobility as children; and to follow their everyday care, training and experiences from birth to an age where they are interesting no further as chil- dren, and, for that matter, of very little interest as anything else.
 It is fortunate for any child to be born in the country. It is estimated that this good fortune has befallen ninety per cent. of the British nobility. Whatever de- mand London or continental cities make upon the British nobleman in point of so- cial duties and residence, his town-house is after all only his lodging house; and this holds true even if it be 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 and loves, 8 genuine home-is always in the country. The great demesne or manor is a little kingdom of itself; always striking in situ- ation; always more beautiful than natures unaided effort; and ever a spot where child-life, at least, finds physically the widest, wisest and most healthful develop ment.
 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 in huence of kindly hereditary and stately possession. Out of these conditions, it is not difficult to imagine, comes, more than in all, post-natal education, the unyielding instinct of the British nobility and aris- tocracy for landed possessions; an instinct more potent than all other influences in tightening rather than loosening the hold upon landed estates! If it could be ar ranged that all the children of British no blemen could be born in London, all Brit ish landed estates would be shortly disen- tailed and divided. Whatever befalls a noble family here, it's children are born and reared in the splendid castles of the country. You can change the entire Brit ish 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 it's sp- parelling has been made. If the child ever has much of an advantage over pie beian little ones, it thus early receives a marked and important favoritism. Its layette usually comprises from two to four dozen pieces each of bands, shirts,
 skirts, dresses or robes. pinning blankets, stockings, caps and carrying cloaks. '' Its skirts, shirts-except it be a "winter
 baby" when they are then all made of silk fannel-and robes are of the finest Irish linen lawn; it's bands and pinning l blankets of silk flannel; its cap of real
 lace and the most delicate ribbon; and its
 carrying cloaks of surah silk or faille and
 lace. These are usually ordered from Gin
 fant outftters" of note in London, Liver
 pool, Belfast Dublin, Glasgow and Edin- | burgh; but occasionally they are prepared | by several artistic seamstresses and. em- | broiderers who work under the immediate | direction of the housekeeper or milady herself. In either case the dainty fabrics | are covered with expensive hand embroi- dery, are misty with rare Valencienes lace, | number from four to eight hundred pieces, l and undoubtedly cost from two to five thousand dollars.
 Accouchment in the homes of the mo- | bility is accompanied by an extraordinary | attendance of medical and surgical talent. | No one physician, however eminent, is re- | lied upon. Two or three are always pres | ent and often half dozen; while several | trained nurses have been secured from fla
 nous hospitals. The fees expected and | paid are often out of all reason, and ire | quently the doucer will equal the fee. | The occasion is always welcomed by the entire retinue of servants. In many great | houses all of these receive gifts of money;
 the officiating nurse, particularly if she be an old retainer, is munlhcently remem- | bered; and the '1ower house" is usually
 allowed to indulge in 8 quiet merry-mak- | ing at milord's ungrudged 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 lordling for the first twelve to
 eighteen months of it's 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 forswear l her own babe and home. These, and oth- CT supposititiously necessary conditions,
 are not easily satisfied; and perhaps some
 of the most entertaining and curiously
 worded advertisements found in the col
 umns of the British press are resultant
 from these peculiar quests. No other
 person in any capacity of household ser | vice commands such wages as do these
 women when they have been found. They
 never receive less than one hundred doi-
 lars per month, and often from two hun
 dred and fifty to three hundred dollars is
 paid. This nurse is always provided with | two or more under-nurses. With her l precious charge she is not consjpned to