St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-11-28

HOME LIFE AT roYAL COURTS

W. x4NO xONs y
HOME LIFE At EoYAL COURTS
Maids Of Honor Find Much II Their Post
tion to Bore Them.
High life above stairs is shown up in {
light that may dispel many illusions il
conversation l have just had with Z
maid of honor to northern queen
The maid of honor is wealthy in hel
iown right, has time-out-of-mind pedi'
gree. and is daughter of an eminent
statesman. Not satisfied with these
advantages she thought how nice il
would be to enter, not merely the
charmed circle of the court. but the i'm
penetralia Ito ordinary mortals) Of the
royal family. The queen to whom she
owed social allegiance. learning of hel
wish or weakness, deigned to crafty it.
Royalty would take it i'll indeed il
weariness of the place led to retire
ment. The unfortunate maid Of honor's
waits last for nine months, a good
many of which are spent moving about
from one German spring to another.
She is given 6 so year, out of which
she has to keep her maid. This keep
includes the price Of the demi-pension
in the palace and wages. Though the
queen leads, for her station, quiet life,
there are good many state pageants
and public drives in open carriages.
This involves a good deal of expensive
dressing. Etiquette does not ordain
that her majesty should be consulted
about the toilets, but les convenances
do. The maid of honor shoald be hand
somely. but not too handsomely.
dressed. Her belongings should be
subordinate to those of her royal mis-
tress. Her unvarying manner should
trayal of tedium would be thought bad
form. Nervous headaches must be con-
cealed. One does not speak until spoken
to.
The subjects Of conversation are linn
tied, because SO many subjects would
be unsafe il repeated. Thus that kind
of scandal which goes in at one ear and
out at the other is tabooed. But serious
fault may he found if leading questions
are asked. Young members of the royal
family are held in by staid attendants,
though dying to vent the animal spir-
its natural to their age. They some
times. bursting out. shake with laugh
ter at the slightest provocation. Visits
Of other royalties delight them, for
these guests can be jolly as they please,
and start subjects of conversation. A
prince of European repute for his indie
in fighting against the te-
dium of court life is niclsnamed to his
royal nephews and nieces '"Uncle What
Next" The reason is that when one
form of reason is exhausted at a house
where he is guest he is sure to ask:
What next? What next?" The fair
princess. his wife. can play for whole
evening with toy puzzle. and with
companions thinks this the
,afest pastime. But with kindred roy.
,lties she throws off all restraint and
Fait chanter le piano. throwing into the
piano all the feeling that she has had
10 keep to herself, unless in her Sunday
risits to the kennel. There is scarcely
. royal parsonage in Europe who does
not dote on dogs. They can be them
selves with their dogs, and familiar
without fear OF breeding contempt.
The desk of the kings or queens
is like the pool of Sloan be-
lore the angel touched it. All the ills
o which flesh is liable are represented
here. In sad letters, some true and
:ome false, morbid and vain persons de- |
light to reveal their uneasy con-
ciousness to the heads of states and
heir consorts. The mania is worse in |
Protestant than in Catholic countries. |
I is impossible to waste-paper-basket |
III the appeals for help and recognition
# unsuccessful talent. When there is |
! letter showing the sense of a perma-
,ent grievance it is sent to the police, |
md precautions to protect the royal
,ersOns are multiplied.
The pests of the small courts are the |
Importance attached to etiquette and
he thin-skinnedness and jealousy OF
he courtiers. Great pests of all courts.
int chiefly Of the greater, are the hosts
f fussy people, humbugs Of all kinds,
nd projectors who want to secure roy.
] patronage as means to advertise
nent. They are much more likely to
ct it than the deserving. because their
instinct tells them how to make their
pproach. Queens are now pestered all
yer Europe with individuals who i'm.
gine money is to be made in getting
p unions to secure artistic and liter
ry employment for women. The EN-.
'ress Frederick is ready to help femi-
line unions, but for handicrafts reqnir-
ng trained skill and talent, and not to
ct poor scribbling or painting shot
nto the market. The queens of Sweden
nd of Denmark are of the same mind,
ut the queen of Sweden likes to pat
onize authoresses on the side Of re-
gion and good morals. The empress
Russia feels her way. My maid Of
onor tells me that the prince OF
Gales' daughters are credited in north.
IN courts with shrewdness and in
ght into the motives Of fussy philan-
hropists.
The most pleasant court for maids
{ honor is that of st. Petersburg One
ex is as free as the other. The ladies
moke, skate, dance, take sentimental
rives in the long day-like summer
ights. fiirt with grand dukes or with
o matter whom, throw themselves into
I'VE. diplomatic, palace and even po-
tical intrigues. The latter may lead
, Siberia. But the gambling spirit is
trong i'm them; danger gives zest to
nterprise. and forbidden fruit i
Truth.
THE FUNCTION OF HAIR.
Serves to Protect the Tendef Parts Of
AR>A Il