The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-06

peciaiiy those of bed chamber women and
maids of honor, are of a pfeniai character.
This is very far from being the case. and
not only are the offices in question we'll
paid. brt they also confer great social
prestige, rank and precedence, and are
held almost exclusively by women Of
noble birth and ancient descent Thus in
England the position of mistress of the
robes"-as the chief Of the feminine por-
ton of the royal household is styled
is generally held by a duchess, while
three of the principal ladies of Queen
Victoria's bed chamber are Duchesses
Dowager. Each of these receives a salary
of $500 Among her majesty's women
of the bed chamber are a couple of peer
esses OF the realm. while the maids of
honor are all of them either daughters or
granddaughter OF peers. The pay of the
bed chamber women is the same as that of
the maids of honor. namely, 81. 500 per an
mum. This is likewise the average amount
of remuneration paid by Continental
sovereigns to those of their maids of honor
and ladies in waiting whose Office is not of
purely honorary nature.
Although the duties of lady in waiting
and maid of honor are neither fatiguing
nor arduous. yet they are. nevertheless,
exceedingly wearisome, and it is fortunate
that the so-calied waits" or terms OF
service are limited from three TO five
months in the year. During that time
they involve the practical abandonment of
ali independence of speech, manner and
even thought, the absolute and complete
abnegaiion of ones own individuality and
the merging thereof in that of the royal or
imperial mistress Ii is necessary to
become their more or less modest
reflection. to laugh when they laugh, to
assume an air of profound melancholy
when they weep. to admire those who hap
pen to strike their fancy. to despise and
condemn those whom they dislike, to be
always in a good temper, always patient,
and above ali, never to display any signs
of fatigue. Yet, with all this. one must
possess sufficient tact TO avoid any appear
ance OF sycophancy, and to pretend Just
enough independence to inspire the royal
parsonage in question with certain
amount OF respect for ones character. Ii
is moreover. necessary tina. the ladies In
waiting should always be prepared 10 say
Just the right thing al the right time and
in the right place.
Queen Victoria's ladies take an early
breakfast ia their own rooms aud then
have 10 await the summons of the queen.
When a. length they are called into the
royal presence, brief good mornings are
uttered. though in a kindly tone, the
queen generally addressing her attendants
oy their Christian names. The morning
is spent in reading aloud the newspapers
to the queen in carefully modulaied
Voice. an occupation whgch sometimes
LISTS two or three hours. A. 2
O'Clock the queen lunches alone with
the members OF her family, while
the gentlemen and ladies OF the household
have luncheon served apart. Between
3 and O'Clock the ladies accompany the
sovereign on her daily drive, and on re-
turn there IS generally more reading. ar
Tangement Of photographs. the nshing
OF dainty bits OF fancy work. OF which the
royal fingers have wearied. etc. when her
majesty retires in order to dress for
O'Clock dinner, Just before going into
bIch the mad u honor on duty ands
the queen her bouquet.
Queen Victoria IS somsw hat Cspriclous
IN her likes and dls keS. To those OF her
ladies' in waiting 10 whom she becomes
attached. she : exceed ugjy considerate
and even molher.y. But occasionally she
viii take a sutIen and altogether unrea-