National Baptist world., 1894-08-31
CANADIAN COURT LIFE.
The Extreme Democracy OF the Habits OF
Lady Aberdeen.

The Extreme Democracy OF the HaDlts OF
Lady Aberdeen.
It IS in the senate chamber that the
drawinp-room is held. Before their
excellencies the encouragement OF
Canada and the Countess of Aberdeen
the loyal subjects of the greatest httle
woman of the greatest little country
and it's wide provinces in all TINS Wloe
world present themselves IN single
line. drop their courtesles or make
their bows. and pass on to observe
those who come after. The courtesy
is the feature of the evening. 1t Is
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, 1t is
still Loyalty asserted, graduating the
/ degree of her graciousness to the deter
ence and depth of the subjects court
esy. 1t was a pleasant and dignitied
sight-the household and aides IN
full uniform, and Maj. Urquhart, of
the Cameronian guards, glorious in the
grandeur of his Highland regiment,
paraded the place with as stirring an
effect as an entire regiment would
have done. The procession OF fair
DANES and sturdy British men was up
TO the occasion in pose and polse, and
although court dress was conspicuous
bv it's absence, though there were no
Jewels to speak of, a stateliness born
Of the moment prevailed, and the SIM
plic;tv excluded from the scene or the
description that terrible adjective vul-
gar. which our own duchesses dorees'
in spite of the perfection Of their toll
let's and the wonder of their royal Jew
, els bought with democratic gold, often
find ioined to le accurate portrayal OF
their pomps ana vanitles
Two little pages, in blue velvet court
: costumes. with big white ruffs, bore my
, ladv's train as she passed out to the Ia
. niliar strains of God Save the Queen.
= In niouant opposition to these semi
/ roval functions are the life at Govern
, ment house and the views of Lady Ao-
n ardeen. Rideau hall is a scramDung
: rambling gray-stOne structure with NJ
architectural beauty. and the Iruga
6 air. on entering. astonlsheS StrahGt
= ewes. Two mismatched coal-stove
:. decorate the sides of the hall, an'
= sheets of tin are tackled 1rregularlN
Il against the cheaply-papered wall allS
:. the banisters to protect them from th'
Il heat. The floor is covered with OIL
&c cloth. Lady Aberdeen's views mater
10 this plain democratic aspect Of things
| At the evenings at home the guests ar
y entertained by the singing and piano
r, PLAYING of the women employees. "A
Ii the drawing-rOOm two of the tour La
a dies-in- waiting were the private secre
20 tarv of her excellency and the CHI
N dren's gOverness. The dear Thackt
ea raw. who reioiced over Miss Wirt's p(
Id sition in the SnOb family, would hav
been still more deeply touched by tn
es recognition of self-supporting, charm
I'd ING pentlewOman. More democrat
ut still are the clubs at Governme1
as house. Laddo club was formed [
.e. LADY Aberdeen for the family, ar
ou family includes the servants. The Du
Y. ler is the president. The membe
meet every Thursday evening, tai
discuss. relate. A gardener told of h
travels in NORWAY at recent meetl1
,., of the club. The servants are glV'
the prefix of Mr.. and Mrs. ana MIS-
rs and Mrs. Jones anu MISS olAAo'A' hoN'
q maids. find themselves elevated to t
,re same social plane as the rest of t
he household. There is a tennis ell
In made up of servants that plays ca
av week against the club composed
ar. aides.
of Our philistine friend might sugge
70 that there was a Gilbertian flavor
nd this democratic court life. Certain
,,s the contrasts ere striking, and Ca
Reece. commander of the mant
ras piece could hardly have obllterat
Of rank more completely in
efforts to
re- Promote the comfort of his crew"
CIV than does her excellency in this lev
lon inc to one rank all her household.
ie' Our idealist would, however, feel
zen truer modern note struck by this lar
in minded woman. and appreciate It's
i''0 nifcance Certainly, while the pl
ore ent governor-general represents
queen here, the court of Canada ma
i'o called the most democratic exhibit
'ul of royalty in the world.-Harp'
0a Weekly.