Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-10-31
CZARlNA'S MAIDS OF HONOR
Their Gorgeous Costumes, Marks of Dis
tinction and Training.

An interesting account of the Russian
empress maids of honor is given in u re-
cent number Of Paris Figaro. The girls Sc
lcctcd for the Office become at once their
own mistrcSses. though subject to the laws
Of fixed and unaltorablc court etiquette.
Even at 10, the lowest age at which they
can appear ut court, they may adorn them
selves with diamonds or cover themselves
with jewels like a saints image. They
are entitled, whatever their social position,
To bc present at ceremonies from which
in most eases their families arc excluded.
When girl is selected, she begins by
becoming maid OF honor with tho
cipher, and wears on her left shoulder
the empress monogram embroidered ON a
light blue ribbon. II has been said that
ut the Russian court tho oldest mobiles are
in reality nothing but higher slaves. ruled
rs much as the lowest of peasants by the
autocratic will of tho sovereign. The
wearing Of the cipher may be only n sign
of an earlier scrfdom. The costume which
the maids wear on state occasions is gor-
geous. II consists Of skirt of white satin,
fastened from throat to feet with jewelcd
buttons. Over this Is worn an ovcrskirt
Of red velvet with gold figures and long
train and with wide pagoda sleeves. The
most characteristic part III the costume Is
tho hcaddress, u kind of diadcm called ka-
kochnik, recalling by its shape tho ste
phane of the ancient Samoycdc Junos. The
kakochnik with the pavonik, which arts
tocratic nurscmaids still wear in st. Pc
tcrsburg and Moscow, is the only part of
the great Russian costume borrowed for
the national dress. II is of red velvet like
the tunic and covered with jewels To il
Is attachcd long white veil of tullc, which
sweeps behind in the gilded folds of the
train.
This splcndor lasts only for n time, how
ever. After few years the maid of honor
with the cipher is promoted to maid
of honor with the portrait" and OK
changes the rich crimson ovcrskirt for ono
more quiet, of emerald green, embroidered
in silver To make up for IL the czarina
allows the substitution of her portrait set
in diamonds for the monographs. Some
times also they receive the decoration OF
st. Catherine an order established by Pc
ter the Great for women only, as "a recon-
pcnsc for services done To the court.
As general rule it is from among the
daughters of general officers or high func-
tionarics that the empress picks out her
maids at her own pleasure. There are sew
cral institutions in Russia for the cduca-
ton of these girls, resembling somewhat
the schools OF the Legion of Honor in
France. The classes for the older girls are
called nurseries The pupils are there
taught etiquette and the faultless manners
on which their future depends Their cos
tune is a simple WOODEN dress, with silk
en- apron. The upper part OF the waist and
the lower part OF the sleeves can be detach-
ed, however, and when the ear the abso-
luto master OF these establishments, which
he supports from his own privy purse. APP
pears UNEXPECTEDLY the young shoulders
and arms are at once laid bare 1t must
he Il charming sight Tho late Emperor
Alexander ii is said TO have taken particu-
lar delight in il.