The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-03
WAITING ON A QUEEN.
Women of Noble Blood Who Serve
Her Majesty, Alexandra.

1t is the privilege or queen 10 pe
ministered to by ladies in whose veins
flows some of the noblest blood among
her subjects; and when, as In Queen
Alexandras case. she can call each
aristoeratic servitor personal and de-
voted friend bound to her as much by
ties of affection as of loyalty, she Is in
deed to be enVied.
There is perhaps no greater lady in
all the peerage than the Duchess or
Buccleuch, who is proud to be mistress
of the robes to her majesty. The daugh-
ter, sister, wife. and aunt of dukes, she
has every qualification for ner office
which exalted rank can give her; ana
when we add to this that she IS tall
stately and handsome. queen of society
and a woman of rare charm and many
gifts and that she was an intimate
friend of our late queen, as she IS OF
Queen Alexandra. it is clear that she is
of exceptional qualifications for her high
office.
The mistress of the robes is chief of
all the queens ladies and a brilliant and
imposing figure at all state ceremonials,
while. in addition to the manifold duties
of her position, she enjoys the doubtful
privilege of giving a state dinner on the
evening of the opening of parliament,
and of being attired in black Wnen In
attendance at court.
Next in Importance to the mistress OF
the robes came the four ladies or the
bedchamber whoa rarely of less rank
than that OF countess. Unlike the mis-
tress of the robes. whose appointment
is political, these ladies are appointed
by the queen, and are usually either
personal and dear friends or the wives
or daughters of distinguished men whU
have esta blished a claim to royal graft
tude.
The Countess of Antrim. for instances,
was the daughter of the late Gerald
Grey, an old and dear friend OF Queen
Victoria, and Lady Gosford is a Gaugh-
ter of the Duchess of Manchester, one
of the most intimate friends of the royal
family. All four ladies of the bedcnanl-
Der are women of great social gifts and
charm, and are rather the queens
friends than her servants.
The duties are both light and pleas
ant, involving residence at court rare
" exceeding six weeks. which is made
as agreeable to them as possible.
whether amid the ceremonial of Wind
sor and Buckingham palace or in the
peaceful environment of Ba1moral. All
their expenses, except those of dress,
ladies' are usually chosen from those
who are not too literally provided for.
the salary is a very comfortable addi-
ton to their private means.
The two extra ladies of the he'd
chamber are usually peeresses whose
days of active service are practically
over. and whose reward is sinecure
office with an acceptable salary at
tached. The two extra ladies of Queen
Alexandra are much older than her
majesty, and were among her earliest
friends and attendants when she drst
came to us radiant bride from be-
yond the SEAS ~
OF the four bedchamber women the
most notable. is the Hon. charlotte
Knollys, the daughter of Lord Knollys,
Who for many years has been an init
mate and highly trusted companion of
the queen. Unlike the other ladies,
Miss Knollys is in constant sattendance
on her MAJESTY, acts as her amanuen-
sis, and is Indispensable IN a hundred
WAYS.
OF the maids of honorithere are four, All
beautiful and gifted, and in every way
charming. Two of theIns are the lovely.
whom the queen is greatly attached. They
are always, when possible, in attendance
together, and by the queens wish dress
exactly alike. A very gifted young lady is
William Hart Dyke, whose musical skill
and sunny gayety are highly valued by
the queen, and the Hon. Sylvia Edwardcs,
who was a favorite of Queen Victoria, is
almost equally clever and charming.
To the maids of honor falls the agreea-
Bile duty of acting in turn as the queens
her, and generally entertain her. They
frequently accompany her on drives ana
walks, share her, hobbies. from fancy
work to photogra ply. and, in short, fulfill
BILE, helpful and amusing. The lot of the
maids of honor is indeed an enviable one,
for when they marry r they receive fh the
entitled to the description of Honorable
for the rest of their lives, are practically
assured of a suite of rooms at Hamilton
court and probable place in the royal
household for their husbands.
Indeed, apart from the great honor. the
profit and pleasures of being. one of the
queens ladies" they are always assured
of the royal favor and everything that it
means in the way of unfailing kindness
AID OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES It'd Bits.