The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-10-27
CANADIAN COURT LIFE.
The Extreme Democracy of the Habits OF
Lady Aberdeen.

The Extreme Democrncy Of the Habits OF
Lady Aberdeen.
It is In the senate chamber that the
drawing-room is held. Before their
excellencies the governor-gensral of
the loyal SUBJECTS Of the greatest little
woman of the greatest little country
and its wide provinces In all this wide
world present themselves in single
line, drop their courtesies or make
their bows, and pass ON to observe
those who come after. The courtesy
is the feature of the evening. 1t il
watched by critical eyes and later dis
cussed. Even the salutations of their
excellencies themselves are not above
discussion or comparison. No one
bowed as the princess Louise did, it is
still loyalty asserted, graduating the
degree of her graciousness to the defer
ence and depth of the subjects court
esy. II was q pleasant and dignified
sight-the household and aides in
full uniform, and Maj. Urquhart, Of
the Cameronian guards. glorious in the
grandeur of his Highland regiment,
psraded the place with rs stirring an
effect rs an entire regiment would
have done. The procession of fair
dames and sturdy Britiah men was up
to the occasion in pose and poise, and
although court dress was conspicuous
by its absence, though there were no
Jewels to speak of, q stateliness born
of the moment prevailed, and the sim
plicity excluded from the scene or the
description that terrible adjective vul-
gar, which our own duchesses dorecs,
In spite Of the perfection of their toi-
let's end the wonder of their royal Jew
els bought with democratic gold, often
find joined to the accurate portrayal OF
their pomps and vanities.
Two little pages. in blue velvet court
costumes. with big white ruffs, bore my
lady's train a. she passed out to the ia
miliar strains of God Save the Queen"
In piquant opposition to these semi
royal functions are the life at Govern
meut house and the views of Lady Alb
erdeen. Rideau hall is scrambling,
rambling gray-stone structure with NO
architectural beauty, and the frugal
air, on entering, astonishes strange
eyes. Two mismatched coal-stoves
decorate the sides of the hall, and
sheets of tin are tackled irregularly
against the cheaply-papered wall and
the banisters to protect them from the
heat. The door IL covered with oil
cloth. Lady Aberdeen's views match
this plain democratic aspect Of thinRs
At the evenings 1T home the guests arr
entertained by the singing and piano
playing of the women employees. Al
the drawing-room two of the four Ia
dies-in-waiting were the private score
tary Of her exoellency and the chill
dren's governess. The dear Thscke
ray, who rejoicod over Miss Wirt's po
sition in the Snob family, would hsv'
been still more deeply touched by thi
recognition of q self-supporting,c charm
ing gentlewoman. More democratic
still are the clubs at Government
house. Laddo club was formed b.
Lady Aberdeen for the family, an,
family includes the servants. The but
ler is the president. The member
meet every Thursday evening, talk
discuss, relate. A gardener told OF hi
travels in Norway at a recent meeting
of the club. The servants are givel
the prefix of Mr.. and Mrs. and Miss
and Mrs. Jones and Miss Smith, house
maids, find themselves elevated to tn
same social plane rs the rest of tn
household. There is a tennis clu
made up of servants that plays eac
week against the club composed 9
aides.
Our philistine friend might sugges
that there was a Gilbertian flavor t
this democratic court life. Certainl
the contrasts are striking, and 'Cap'
Reece, commander of the mante
piece" could hardly have obliterate
rank more completely in
efforts TO
Promote the comfort of his crew"
than does her excellency in this leve
ing to one rank all her household.
. Our idealist would, however, feel tn
truer modern note struck by this larg'
minded woman, and appreciate its sit
nifcance. Certainly, while the pre-
ent governor7general represents tn
queen here, the court of Canada may /
called the most democratic exhibitio
of royalty in the world.-Harper
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