The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-12-15

~ M stltution does not |
w exist In any other
VsS[4 country, says the |
Philadelphia Times !
Il Ia a school for
young ladies Of high birth. whose par
ents desire that they shall become
maids OF honor at the imperial court
The English queen has only six or
eight maids Of honor. and I believe the
royal attendants OF that description
are even fewer In number at courts
where there Is a queen regnant, queen
regent or queen consort OF hrst-ciass
rank. OF course. by queens ! also
mean "emprcsses" AL the relgning
consorts who have the imperial title
arc also queens Empress Elizabeth
OF Austria Is also queen OF Hungary
Empress Alexandria Of Russia Is queen
Of Poland; Empress Augusta Victoria
Of Germany Is also queen Of Prussia
and Queen Victoria Is also empress OF
India.
In Russia there are several ins,itu-
lions which retain an oriental flavor
and the fact that the czarlna Is always
surrounded by an imposing bevy OF
unmarried women Ia a case In point
AZ least fifty young women. all the
daughters Of great mobiles, pay her per-
sonal service. They are in two ranks,
"cipher" and portrait" dlstipotions
which I will presently explain. Can
didates for the position OF maids OF
honor to the empress have their names
registered by a court Official, whose
title might be translated as
"Oversecr Of the maids" This IS
often done a day or two after the birth
Of the aspiring young ladies. AZ the
age OF 10 they enter the official school
Of the maids OF honor and there they
arc taught everything pertaining 10 the
court. rs well as everything that goes
10 make a well-cducaied young gentle
woman. The girls must acquire the
art OF lcglble writing and be able TO
correspond iluontly. not only In Rus
sian. but in English. German. French
and Italian. They must be able to take
ilctation in all those languages rapid
ly. They are also expected TO become
familiar not only with the routine eth
quotte OF their own and foreign courts,
but they must learn rules Of prcce-
dence. delicate distinctions Of rank and
other intricacles Of court life. almost
impossible TO explain TO those who
have not been born tn the atmosphere
of the purple. Future maids OF honor
are also required to be not only clever
nj embroidery but capable. n neces-
sary, Of ordinary domestic stitching
While In attendance there are always
possibilities Of ready needle being
required for the empress or grand
duchess They are expected TO know
how TO order a dinner and how 10 d.
rect cooks In the way OF preparing
dishes favored by imperial personngos.
They must have n capacity OF being
able to read aloud Tor hours II neoes-
sary. without undue fatigue: OF being
able 70 stand for indefinite periods: of
being able 10 receive snubbinga, scold-
lngs, even abuse with patient CON-
posure. and finally they must inculea,e
within them the fact that an empress
or grand duchess Is a parsonage al
most divine In attribute.
All these accomplishments acquired,
or apparently acquired, Il remains with
maid OF honor lastly to be Of ouch
favor In her features, her general APP
pearanoeandheT dr,ss that che eniorces
attraction from the empress or from
one Of the other half-dozen grand duoh-
esses OF Russia, who are permitted "a
have the second pick Of the maids Of
honor. after the czarina has finished
her own appointments, Before, how.
ever, such appointments can be rati.
lied. the car himself inspecis the can.
didatea Indeed, at various period,
the car makes a point Of visiting ths
school and generally looks over" "a,
girls.
The cEarina's maids Of honor enjoy
a barbarlc splendor OF costume tina
far exceeds anything to be seen at any
other European court A white satir
robe stretches from chin 10 tees, N,
buttons up the front being set viii
precious stones. Over this Is throw
a sort OF rcd velvet cloak, ombrolderc,
with gold and having long pendan
sleeves. On their heads rests IN
kakochnlk or national cap Of crlmsol
velvet thlckly studded with Jewels
from the summit OF which hangs vel
Of white tulle that spreads half wa,
over the volumlnous train. This gor
gcous array Ia donnef on all state Oc
oaslons until the wearcr passea from
the "clphcr" 10 the portrait" stage o
promotion. TAgidnloN wear for som
years on their left shoulders the mono
gram OF their mistress worked In pal
blue silk. but after a period Of sorvlc
they substitute for this the portal
Of the empress framed In brllllants an
exchange thelg crimson and gold for
leaa radiant cap oiawcen and silver
While receiving their education the
wear plain wooden frooks with frlno
silk aprons but these dresses are q
contrlyod that the upper part OF IN
bodice and the long sleeves can
removed az will Whenever the CA
visits the schools an the girls appca
dcoollcto.
a nlacksnaie climbs a Tree.