The sun., 1896-10-04
THE CzARINA,s MAIDS OF HONOR
Their Gorgeous Costumes md Marks OF
Distinction. nnd Their TrninInE.

Their Gorgeous Costumes md Marks OF
Distinction, and Their TrnininE.
An interesting account of the Russian En-
press's maids Of honor is given In a recent num-
Der Of lie Figaro. The girls selected for the
office become at once their own mistresses,
though subject to the laws OF fixed and unal-
terable court etiquette. Even at sixteen, the
lowest age at which they can appear at court,
they may adorn themselves with diamonds or
cover themselves with jewels like a saints i'm
age. They are entitled. whatever their social
position. TO be present at ceremonies. from which
in most cases their families are excluded.
When a girl is selected she begins by becom-
ing q maid Of honor with the cipher" and
wears on her left shoulder the Empress's mono
gram embroidered on q light blue ribbon. 1t
has been said that at the Russian court the old
est mobiles are in reality nothing but higher
slaves, ruled as much as the lowest OF peasants
by the autocratc will of the sovereign. The
wearing Of the cipher may be only sign Of an
earlier serfdom. The costume which the maids
wear on state occasions is gorgeous. 1t consists
OF skirt Of white satin, fastened from throat
to feet with jewelled buttons. Over this is worn
an overskirt OF red velvet with gold figures. and
u long train and with wide pagoda sleeves.
the headdress. a kind Of diadem called nd
koclnk. recalling by its shape the stephdne OF the
ancient Samoyede Junos. The kdk0chnM with
the pdronik which aristocratc nursemaids still
wear in st. etersburg 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 II is attached
a long white veil OF tulle which sweeps behind
In the gilded folds of the train.
This spendor lasts only for time. however
After a rev years the maid of honor with the
cipher" is promoted to n maid Of honor with
the portrait" and exchanges the rich crimson
overskirt for one more quiet, OF emerald green
embroidered In silver. To mako up for it the
Czariua allows the substitution OF her portrait
set in diamonds for the monOgrams. Some
times also they receive the decoration of St.
Catherine. an order established ny Peter the
Great for women only. as a recompense for SER
vices done to the court.
AS a general rule II is from among the
daughters OF general officers high
functonaries that the Empress picks out
are several institutions in Russia for
the education 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 costume is a simple
woollen dress. with slken apron. The upper
part OF the waist and the lower part Of the
sleeves can be detached. however, and when the
Gear. the absolute master OF these establish
ments, which he supports from his own privy
purse, appears Unexpectedly. the young shoul-
ders and arms are at once laid bare. 1t must be
q charming sight. The late Emperor Alexander
H. is said TO have taken particular delight in It,