Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-08-08
PRESENTED AT COURT.
An Expensive as Well as a Very
Laborious Function.
An American Woman Who Has Had Ex
perlence Gives an Itemized Account
One Must Wear New and
Costly Costume.

London journal quotes an unnamed
correspondent, who says that pres
entation at Queen Victoria's drawing
room requires an outlay of at least
three hundred and seventy-fve dollars.
~ have been to Buckingham palace"
she says, for three such functions, and
| never did it for less, which is more
than my wedding fnery cost. There
are women who have done it for less,
but it's a pinch, and shouldn't like to
try.
"You see, you can't go in a gown that
has ever been worn before, nor in
costume that is not made of the very
best materials. You can't, because you
will perish of shame when you stand in
line with women who are in the rich
est and freshest that Lyons looms and
French dressmal1ers can turn out. Any
woman has sense enough to recognize
that 1t is better not to go at all than &c
inadequately, to stand there in the
fierce light reflected from the throne
Having this conviction firmly fastened
in your mind, consult some French
dressmaker of note in London. Trot
yourself around to the smartest of the
smart English modistes and look over
samples of brocade, satin, velvet and
silk, ranging In price from three to
six dollars yard. If you are an un-
married woman, anywhere on the sun.
ny side of sixty, you wear white.
Debutantes look at tulle, and silk, and
lace, and wreaths of French flowers,
silver embroidery, pearls and ribbons,
and middle-aged matrons ponder over
velvet, purple, red, black, etc. Young
married persons go in for tho heavier
white brocades or brocades with col
ored coverings.
"Now, the result of long hours oi
solemn consideration among pillows of
splendid facrics sends you contempla
lively off-you wonder in what humor
ones obliging papa or generous hus
band will accept the news that one can
not be made decent for court on less
than three hunnred dollars. One must
appear as well as the other women; the
queen eXacts that ones train must lie
for three yards On the floor, and the
end of expense is not yet. The order
for the gown Is given a full month be-
forehand, and that is we'll, considering
the rush at the dressmalxers'. Only
leading florist can supply the huge
shower bouquet of white flowers that
costs twenty-five dollars.
"One never sees such bouquets In
beautiful cascades of flowers
built on frail foundation of chiffon
and trailing from ones hand to the
floor n I.nn1nr, n1,
huge bouquets to every function dur
ing all seasons, so that bouquet build.
ing has become great art with them
AT the glover's one must have IA
vastly long pair of fve-dollar gloves
lovely things to wrinkle up to ones
shoulder nearly. To French boot
makers sufficient piece of ones gown
must be taken to make ones slippers,
that cost at least seven or eight dollars
LASTLY, one must make an appoint
mcnt with court hairdresser, who
charges about three dollars. Eight
dollars covers the cost of three feathers
and veil. A good public stable is sought
out and arrangements perfected to have
n very big carriage sent on by nine
o'clock the morning of the drawing
room. Because he is expected to send
one of his very perfect carriages, and
because the vehicle, both delivering
one at and taking one from the palace,
must stand in line for hours, the stable
keeper asks not less than ten dollars
for the service.
Reckon all these amounts up and
the result is approximate to my first
statement, is 1T not? There are few
loopholes for economy, for certain things
you must have or you will never kiss
the queens hand. Ones train must fall
from the shoulders so that it's spread on
the floor includes a vast stretch of very
costly goods, five yards long by two
wide. The gown must be cut out be.
low the point of the shoulders.
Another exaction is the placing OF
feathers and veil. Only a court hair
dresser knows how to accomplish it to
the queens taste, and the queen, though
her taste may not be good, demands
that her ideas be followed to the last
letter. Only a physicians certificate
entities one to appear at a drawing
room with covered shoulders. The Ger.
tificate must be procured in advance
and sent to the lord chamberlain, who
asks the queens consent. Often enough
she refuses"