The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-27
CANADIAN COUaT LIFE.

From Harpers Weekly.
II is in the senate chamber that the
drawing-room is held. Before their
| excellencies the encouragement of
| Canada and the Countess of Aberdeen
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 is
watched by critical eyes and later dis
cussed. Even the SITUATIONS 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 defer
ence and depth of the subjects court
esq. 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 poise, and
although court dress was conspicuous
by its absence, though there were no
jewels to speak of, a 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 dorees,
in spite of the perfection of their tot
lets and 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 rufus. bore my
lady's train as 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
ment house and the views of Lady Alb
erdeen Rideau hall is a 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 floor is covered with oil
cloth Lady Aberdeen's views match
this plain democratic aspect of things
At the evenings at home the guests are
entertained by the singing and piano
playing of the women employees. At
the drawing-room two of the four Ia
DISSEMINATING were the private secre-
tary of her excellency and the chill
dren's poverness The dear Thacke-
raw. who rejoiced over Miss Wirt's pO-
sition in the Snob family, would have
been still more deeply touched by this
recognition of a self-supporting charm
ing gentlewoman. More democratic
still are the clubs at Government
house. Laddo club was formed by
Lady Aberdeen for the family, and
family includes the servants. The but
Ter is the president. The members
| meet every Thursday evening, talk,
| discuss, relate. A gardener told of his
/ travels in Norway at recent meeting
| of the club. The servants are given
| the prefix of Mr.. and Mrs. and Miss,
U
! and Mrs. Jones and Miss Smith. house
maids. find themselves elevated TO the
same social plane as the rest OF the
/ household. There is tennis club
! made up of servants that plays each
week against the club composed of
| aides.
Our philistine friend might suggest
/ that there was a Gilbertian flavor TO
/ this democratic court life. Certainly
the contrasts are striking, and Capt
/ Reece. commander of the mantel-
/ piece" could hardly have obiiterated
rank more completely in
Efforts 20
Promote the comfort OF his crew
/ than does her excellency in this level
! ing to one rank all her household.
Our idealist would, however, feel the
truer modern note struck by this large
/ minded woman. and appreciate its sig
! niieance- Certainly, while the pres
ent governor-general represents the
/ queen here, the court Of Canada may be
called the most democratic exhibition