The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-10-15

LIFE.
By George Du Maurier.
little work, little pIny
To keep us going-and so good dayl
A little warmth, a little light
OF loves bestowing-and good nghtl
A little fun to match the sorrow
VI each days growing-and so good morrow!
A little trust that when die
We reap our sowing! And so-good-bye!
*
We quote from Anna Morton Lanes letter in
the Philadelphia Times very interesting &C
count of the Maids Of Honor about the Russian
Empress. suppose this royal lady has a moro
splendid array of damsels in waiting than any
other Queen Empress. The Queen of Eng
land has but modest number and minimum
of ceremony in comparison. And to us, in our
dear old democratic country. the Russian court
affairs sound like fairy tale:~
Speaking of the Russian schools, there is one
academy at Moscow which is unique in its
way. 1t is school for young ladies Of high
birth, whose parents desire that they shall be-
come maids OF honor at the Imperial Court.
In Russia there arc several institutions which
retain an Oriental favor, and the fact that the
Czarina is always surrounded by an imposing
bevy Of unmarried women is a case in point.
at least 80 young women, all the daughters of
great MOBILES. pay her personal service. They
are in two ranks, "cypher" and portrait"
distinctions which / will presently explain.
Candidates for the position of maids of honor
to the Empress have their names registered by
a court official, whose title might be translated
as "Overseer of the Maids" This is often
done day or two after the birth Of the aspir-
ing young ladies. At the age of 10 they enter
the official school of tho maids of honor and
there they are taught everything pertaining to
the court as we'll as everything that goes to
mako well educated young gentlewoman
The girls must acquire the art of legible writ
ing. and be able to correspond guently not only
in Russian, but in English, German, French
and Italian. They must be able to take dicta-
ton in all those languages rapidly. They are
also expected to become familiar not only with
the routine etiquette of their own and foreign
courts. but they must learn rules of precedence,
delicate distinctions of rank, and other ntrica-
cies OF court life, almost impossible to explain
to those who have not been born i'm the atmo-
sphere Of the purple. Future maids-of honor
are also required to be not only clever at en-
broidery, but capable, il necessary, 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 dim
ner, and how to direct cooks In the way of pre-
pairing dishes favored by imperial personages.
They must have capacity of being able to read
aloud for hours if necessary, without undue
fatigue; of being able to stand for indefinite
periods; of being able to receive snubbngs,
seedlings, even abuse with patient composure,
and finally they must inculcate within them
the fact that an Empress or Grand Duchess is
parsonage almost divine in attribute.
All these accomplishments acquired or ap-
parently acquired, it remains with a maid-of
hon lnctl L,1 c I.
her general appearance, and her dress that she
enforces attraction from the Empress or from
one or the other of the halfdozen Grand Ouch
esses OF Russia. who are permitted to have the
second PICK of the maids-of- honor after the
Czarina has finished her own appointment
Before, however, such appointments can be
ratified, the Car himself inspects the candi-
dates. Indeed, ut various periods the Gar
makes point of visiting the school, and gen.
orally "lo0ks over" the girls.
The Czarina's maids Of honor enjoy bar
baric spiend0r of costume that far exceeds any
thing to be seen at any other European court
white satin robe stretches from chin to toes
the buttons up the front being set with pre-
cious stones. Over this is thrown a sort of red
velvet cloak, embroidered with gold, and hav-
ing long pendant sleeves. On their heads rests
the kakochnik, or National cap, of crimson vel
vet, thickly studded with jewels, from the
summit Of which hangs a vail of white tule |
That spreads half way over the voluminOus
train. This gorgeous array is donned on all
state occasions until the wearer passes from the |
"cypher" to the portrait" stage of promotion.
The Juniors wear for some years on their left
shoulders the monogram of their mistress
worked III pale-blue silk, but after period of |
service they substitute for this the portrait of |
the Empress framed in brilliants, and exchange
their crimson and gold for less radiant cap of
green and silver. While receiving their edu-
cation they wear plain WOODEN frocks, with
frlled silk aprons; but these dresses are so |
contrived that the upper part of the bodice and
the long sleeve can be- removed at will, When
ever the Gar visits the schools all the girls ap-
pear decollctae.