The record-union., 1896-12-01
RUSSIAN MAIDS OF HONOR.
An Academy at Moscow Where They Are
Trained.
Must be Able to Sew, Read Aloud for
Hours and Stand for Indefinite
Periods.

similar institution does not exist in any
other country, says the Philadelphia
Times" 1t is a school for young
ladies Of high birth, whose parents de-
sire that they shall become maids of
honor at the imperial court. The Eng
lish Queen has only six or eight maids of
honor, and 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 first-class rank. OF course,
by Queens" l also mean "EmpreSSes."
All the reigning consorts who have the
imperial title are also Queens. Empress
Elizabeth of Austria is also Queen Of
Hungary; Empress Alexandria of Rus
sia Is Queen Of Poland; Empress Au-
gusta Victoria of Germany is also
Queen of Prussia and Queen Victoria is
also Empress of India
In Russia there are several institu-
tions which retain an oriental flavor and
the fact that the Czarina is always sur
rounded by an imposing bevy Of un-
married women is a case in point At
least fifty young women, all the daugh-
ters of great mobiles, pay her personal
service. They are in two ranks, Cipher
and portrait" distinctions which I will
presently explain. Candidates for the
position of maids of honor to the EN-
press have their names registered by a
court official, whose title might be
translated as "overseer of the maids"
This is often done a day or two after
the birth Of the aspiring young ladies.
AT the age Of ten they enter the official
school of the maids of honor and there
they are taught everything pertaining
to the court, as we'll as everything that
goes to make well-educated young
gentlewonan. The girls must acquire
the art Of legible writing and be able
to correspond fluently not only in Rus
sian but in English, German, French
and italian. They must be able to take
dictation in all those languages rapidly.
They are also expected to become IA
miliar not only with the routine eti-
quette Of their own and foreign courts,
but they must learn rules of prudence,
delicate distinctions Of rank and other
intricacies Of court life, almost impossi-
BILE to explain to those who have not
been born in the atmosphere Of the pur-
pie. Future maids Of honor are also
required to be not only clever at en-
broidery but capable, if necessary, Of
ordinary domestic stitching. While In
attendance there are always possibilities
| Of ready needle being required for the
| Empress or a Grand Duchess. They are
| also expected to know how to order a
dinner and how to direct cooks in the
way Of preparing dishes favored by i'm
perial personages. They must have a
capacity Of being able to read aloud for
! hours if necessary, without undue ia
| tigue; being able to stand for indefinite
periods; of being able to receive snub-
! bings, scoldings, even abuse with pa
tient composure, and finally they must
| inculcate within them the fact that an
| Empress or Grand Duchess is a per-
sonage almost divine in attribute.
| All these accomplishments acquired
or apparently acquired it remains
| with a maid Of honor lastly to be Of
such favor in her features, her general
| appearance and her dress that she en-
forces attraction from the Empress or
| from one of the other half-dozen Grand
! Duchesses of Russia, who are permit
| ted to have the second pick of the
maids of honor, after the Czarina has
| finished her own appointment. Before,
however, such appointment can be rati-
| didates. Indeed, at various periods the
Gar makes a point Of visiting the
school and generally looks over" the
| girls.
The Czarina's maids of honor enjoy
a barbaric splendor Of costume that far
| exceeds anything to be seen at any
| other European court. A white satin
| robe stretches from chin to toes, the
cot
precious stones. Over this is thrown a
sort Of red velvet cloak, embroidered
with gold and having long pendant
| sleeves. On their heads rests the kak-
ochnik or national cap of crimson vel
yet, thickly studded with jewels, from
| the summit Of which hangs a veil of
white tulle that spreads half way over
| the voluminous train. This gorgeous
array is donned on all State occasions
until the wearer passes from the "ci-
pber" to the portrait" stage Of promo
tiGn. The juniors wear for some years
On their left shoulders the monogram
of their mistress worked in pale blue
silk, but after a period OF service they
substitute for this the portrait Of the
Empress framed in brilliants and ex-
change their crimson and gold for a
less radiant cap of green and silver.
While receiving their education they
wear plain woolen frocks with frilled
silk aprons, but these dresses are so
contrived that the upper part Of the
bodices and the long sleeves can be re-
moved at will. Whenever the Czar Wis
| its the schools all the girls appear dec
ollete.
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Tvun Incn1xo0rx, n~Anro