The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-14
ROYhL PAGES.
sat vi>pI. OF the Days OF Chivsi~y-Hsw
They Were Trained In France.

Sut vtNNIe OF tho phyH VI
They Were Trained IN France.
LONDON. April AT thu I'M pos functions
OF the silver wedding Of the King and Queen
Of Italy In Rome. among the many interesting
features OF the splendid pagoants OF recep-
lions. banauets. gala performance OF yerdf's
''Falstaf." and state visits to the Qnirinal. the
appearance OF the royal pages waa not the
least OF the many bright and welcome sights
In tho ceremonies.
Italy. Spain. Portugal. Russia. and dreat
Britain have retained the services OF pages.
and they remained an institution in France |
under her latest kings and emperors. At the \
court OF Humbert they do not. however. con-
slst of a special body or company with only J
certain duties. but arc selected Tor
any royal function from tho military
academy and drafted to the palace for the )
duration OF the same. Tho boys chosen by the
Governor of the military school are those
who have won the greater number OF good
marks in n given time. and therefore are
entitled to wear on their epaulets the badge
OF honor-which lisa gold number rising with
the number OF school terms during which they !
hnvc incurred no punishments. They are sent
to the palace by the General who Is the head
OF tho academy. aud there they don the Co.'S
tune OF tho pages and perform their duties. !
which are neither heavy nor unpleasant. They
return to their fellows laden with sweets. and.
moreover. the fact OF having been singled out
for the office entities them during the follow
ing term to extra privileges and holidays.
In England there are pages OF state ana
pages OF the Back Stairs" Their functions
are not very accurately defined. and In most ,
cases arc more honorary and nominal than ,
active and practical. However. they are bound
to appear In the suite OF her Majesty In any OF |
the full state ceremonies OF investiture. royal
-, ,rrtnyn. G., ,vtiol buS,n laav, m rn . N ~ lutA \
years. as the Queen invariably now commands
what is called semi-state. 4
The origin Of pages goes back as far as the ,
BIAS empire when the children OF the highest ,
families were brought up at court and evsntu- |
ally became officers Of tho Crown or OF the |
army. Hence tho current expression: "sortir
de page used to convey tho idea that n youth /
had attained his manhood. During the middle ,
ages. and as late as tho Renaissance. the |
knights and "seigneurs" had each q squire !
and u page attached to his person. The
squire could become q knight and the age
had the same ambition. which was not unfrs-j
ouently fulfilled. He was by no means q SER !
want. a valet. or u nenial: no was in point Of
fact an apprentice. and waited on his master
only for what was then styled noble service"
Before the revolution OF '03 the pages In
France were in reality a school OF cadets.
They had to prove. before admittapoe. four
quarters OF nobility. like the girls who sought
admittance ut st. Cyr. their prevets Of good !
birth being signed by the Chancellor Of the
College of Heruldry. Whatever has since been
said to the contrary. the pages had to work:
their studies included French. mathematics. |
fencing. and riding. They had q dancing
master. who was also teacher OF department..
the accomplishment OF perfect manners being
at that time ono Of paramount importance. I
There are to this day still living ono or two Of
the men who a. boys sat on the footsteps OF
the coaches OF Louis XVIII. or rode by the car.
riage doors OF Charles y. Bent and hoary with
age. these survivsls Of IN extinct epoch have
filled high posts In old France. and have u REQ.
ord OF which younger men might we'll be proud.
greater and lesser stable.' pages Of the
King" pages Of the Queen" OF the Comte
d'Artois. and OF Monsieur. Their hierarchy !
was strictly observed. They began with the
lesser stable. rose to the higher. and loft 1t
with the brevet OF sub-lieutenant The am
bition OF every youth was 10 enter the Queens
Dragons. the crack regiment of the time.
The uniform OF the pages was n coat ' o L.
Francaise." VI the peculiar shade OF blue called
bieu de rOi. with gold lace. Lreechss In rcd
cloth. waistcoat Of the same. white hose.
buckle shoes. three-cornered hat. and on the
shoulder u flowing knot OF ribbons. This vas
Wv ~ s'o S"S NA~S 4
when on horseback the pages wore the blue Z
breeches and tho high riding boots. with the
white linen covers over the breeches.
A royal page intrusted with II message by his (.
master. either verbal or writton. had to be in =
troduced Immediately to tho addressee OF that
message. and never kept waiting. No inter-
mediary was suffered. and he was entitled !
to u reception beiltting a"gentilhomme."
When on duty at the Kings table the pages
personally did no waiting. but occasionally
the sovereign would instruct them to carry
some particular dish to one OF the guests ie '
pleased him to specially honor with his atten-
ton. They accompanied the King in detach.
ments when he travelled or changed his resi-
dsnce. During the royal hunts they had charge
Of the spare guns AMI led tho horses brought
for their masters fresh mounts.
Many stories are contained In the me nolrs
OF the period. concerning the sharpness. readi-
ness. and also the mischief ot the pages.
Their mis- 1emeanors aud their pranks. their
practical Jokes. their llirtatons with the
maids OF honor. and even with ladies OF higher
rank. were traditional. which did not prevents
them afterward from lighting like lions and
shedding their blood like water for the lilies !
OF the Bourbons or tho trlcolor OF the empirs.
"Insolent las n page" was n common saying.
and thoir Uold repair tees. their free audacity at
times won the indulgence ana gained them
immunity even from SO severe an observer OF :
etiquette rs Louis Nv. Ono day this King sur.
prised one OF the pages left in charge OF his I
guns aiming at the passing game. and after
vainiy resisting the tom ptation to try his skill.
firing a shot and wingin. mis- bird. Tho King
approached Ii anger. but at tho sight OF the
boys face. flushed with the triumph OF suc-
cess. ho relentod and said gently: Go on.
monsieur. ! presume it amusos you more
than II does me-
AT Versailles. under the Bourbons. the pages
were quartered in tho great stable buildings
which are now the artillery barracks. facing
the castle. Napoleon l.. who was deeply con-
srious that his reign required all the pomp Of
the ancient regime to increase Its prestige. res
stored tho institution OF pages. and several Of
the old nobility were found on tho roll OF thaS