The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-23
HOME LIFE AT ROYAL COURTS.
Generally, 1t Is a Mere Bore.
From London Truth.


High life above stairs is shown up In
light that may dispel many illusions in
conversation 1 have just had with a maid
Of honor to a northern queen. The maid
Of honor Is wealthy in her own right, has
a time-out-of-mindp pedigree, and is daugh-
ter OF an eminent statesman. Not salts
fled with these advantages, she thought
how nice 1t would be TO enter not merely
the charmed circle of the court, but the
impenetralia (to the ordinary mortals) of
the royal family. The queen to whom She
owed social allegiance, learning of her wish
or weakness, dedgned to crafty IT. Royal
ty would take II Ill indeed IL WEAKNESS Of
the place led to retirement. The unfortu-
nate maid of hOnors waits last for nine
months. good many OF which are spent
moving about from one German spring
to another. She is given ESQ a year, out
of which she has to keep her maid. This
keep includes the price of demt-pension
in the palace and wages Though the
queen leads, for her station, a quiet life,
there are good many state pageants and
public drives in open carriages. This in
wolves a good deal of expensive dressing.
Etiquette does not ordain that her majes-
ty should be consulted about the toilets,
but les oonvenances do. The maid Of hon
or should be handsomely, but not too
nduusomelyt dressed. deF DtlOnBinSS
should be subordinate to those of her roy
al mistress. Her unyarying manner should
be one of even cheerfulness. A betrayal
of tedium would be thought bad form.
Nervous headaches must be concealed. One
does not speak until spoken to.
The subjects OF conversation are limit
ed, because so many subjects would be
unsafe if repeated. Thus, that kind of
scandal which goes in at one ear and
out at the other is tabooed. But serious
fault may be found If leading questions
are asked. Young members of the royal
family are held in by staid attendants,
though dying to vent the animal spirits
natural to their age. They sometimes,
bursting out, shake with laughter at the
slightest provocation. Visits Of other
royalties delight them, for these guests
can be as jolly as they please, and start
subjects of conversation. A prince of
European repute for his indefatigabiity
in fighting against the tedium of court
life, is nicknamed to his royal nephews
and nieces Uncle What-NeNt." The rea-
son is that when one form of amusement
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 a whole evening with toy
puzzle, and with non-royal companions
thinks this the safest pastime. But with
kindred royalties, she throws of all re-
ing into the instrument all the feeling
she has had to keep to herself unless
in her Sunday visits to the kennel There
is scarcely a royal parsonage in Europe
who does not dote on dogs. They can be
themselves with their dogs, and familiar
without fear of breeding contempt.
The desk OF the kings or queens sec
rotary is like the pool Of Sloan before
the angel touched it. All the ills to which
flesh is liable are represented there. In
sad letters, some true and some false,
morbid and vain persons delight to re-
veal their uneasy consciousness to heads
of states and their consorts. This mania
is worse in Protestant than in Catholic
countries. 1t is impossible to waste-pa-
per-basket all the appeals for help and
recognition of unsuccessful talent. When
there is a letter showing the sense of a
permanent grievance it is sent to the
police, and precautions to protect the
royal persons are multiplied.
The pests of the small courts are the
Importance attached TO etiquette, and the
thin-shnnedness and jealousy of the eour-
tiers. Great pests of al courts, but cheif-
ly of the greater, are the hosts of fussy
people, humbugs of all kinds, and projec-
tors who want to secure royal patronage
as a means to advertisement. They are
much more likely 10 get 1t than the de-
serving because their instinct tells them
now pestered all over Europe with indi-
viduals who imagine money is to be made
in getting up unions to secure artistic and
literary employment for women. The
Empress Frederick is ready to help fem
mime unions, but for handicrafts requir-
ing trained skill and talent, and not to get
poor scribbling or painting shot into the
market. The queens of Sweden and Of
Denmark are of the same mind but the
Queen OF Sweden likes to patronize au-
.thoresses on the side of religion and good
morals. The Empress OF Russia feels her
way. My maid of honor tells me that the
Prince OF Wales daughters are credited
in northern courts with shrewdness and
insight into the motives Of fussy philan-
ahropists.
The most pleasant court for maids Of
honor Is that OF St. Petersburg. one sex
is as free az the other. The ladies smoke,
skate dance take sentimental drives in
the long day-like summer nights hirt with
grand dukes or with no matter whom.
throw themselves into love, diplomatic
palace, and even political intrigues. The
latter may lead 10 Siberia. But the gamb-
ling spirit is strong IN them; danger gives
zest 70 enterprise, and forbidden fruit Is
sweetest