The Washington times., 1895-06-18

pinning blankets are OF silk flannel; the
caps Of the richest and finest OF real lace
and the most delicate ribbons, and the
carrying cloaks are of silk and Valencien-
nes lace.
AcCouchment in the home of royalty
is accompanied by an extra rGordinary at
tendance of medical and surgical talent. No
one physician, however eminent, is re-
lied upon. Two or three are always pres
/ sent, and often a half dozen, as well as many
trained nurses.
Digmtaries of the highest rank await
the event in an ante-chamber; or i'll the
royal chamber itself, and almost as soon
as II has drawn its first breath. the in
FAINT, laid upon a silver tray, is presented
with all due ceTmony.
In honor OF the august occasion the Gar
distributes very magnificent gifts to those
in attendance To the officiating nurse,
particularly if she is an old retainer the
gift is magnificent. The whole retinue OF
I servants are remembered with presents of
money, and the lower house" is allowed
TO indulge in merrymaking n honor OF the
/ new arrival.
Queens and titled ladies never nurse
| their children. The woman who is to be
the real mother of the helpless child for
/ the first twelve or eighteen months of its
1 babybOod career is often the subject of
! anu dHAlOuS search. Her
/ character must be blameless Yet she
must be situated so that for this length Of
time she can forswear her own infant and
I home. No other person in any capacity Of
| household service commands such wages
as does the royal nurse when she has been
| found She receives at least 5000, some
times $500, month. She is always pro-
vided with two or three other nurses and
has her own suite of apartments for her
So nd no ri N
No more gorgeously appareled person is
/ Seen in all the Russian court than the nurse
4 OF Tie young prince or princess.
There are some superstitious obServ-
ances connected with Russian infants
4 from which even Russian royal babies are
not exempt. For instance woe betide the
! little one to whom the incautiouS or igno-
rant visitor addresses an exclamation:
'oh! What lovely child!' "Ah! What
fine, healthy boy!'
God bless hint The Lord be with
him! The Holy Virgin be about him!'
The nurse exclaims Indignantly:
DO you wish the little angel to be be-
witched. sudarina? Is it the first babe
You have seen-the first pretty one? Thou
Christ's babe of minei thou Lords child
uI mine! 30 10 sleep, my geueralr'
The Nurse is apprehensiYe of the effect
your exclamation Cthe thing is to avoid
lnter1ectIuusl may have on the sleep and
health uf her charge; she draw the silken
curtains closer around him, murmuring
prayers for his welfare, while the abashed
visitor excuses herself, assuring the nurse
that she has by 10 means an e vii eve, and
never be witched anybody in her life"
Ia no country in the world are babies
regarded with greater affection than in
Russia The late Emperor Alexander
was passiunately devoted to his chill
dren and young nieces and nephews, and
when il was possible he.always spent some
hours with them every day.
The terms of Observation-Disclosures
diminutives-are endless; although there
is 10 word which answers to "baby'' in
Russian there are often tender little
epithets, which are common terms OF en-
dearment in every household throughout
the Cars domains, whether in the peas
ants home or in the palace of the ruler
uf the land. The little one is doushinka,
dear, little soul, lube esnoe, little dear,
milinkoi, my little dear drushka, little
friend, and gulubshik, little dove.
DIANA CROSSWAYS.