The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-11-29
LADIES IN WAITING.
Attending Upon Royalty is MOI
Without its Drawbacks. .....'.'
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become o lady In waiting, writes one |
who has herself attended upon roy !
atty. The first is to make herself |
agreeable at all times, both to her |
employer and to the royal household. |
The second qualification, the pos
session of strong legs. may appear an
easy matter at first sight, but, accord
ing to this confession in the Ladies'
Realm, when carried into practice 1t
is very trying. The woman who has
been accustomed to seat herself
whenever she feels tired of standing
is apt to become nervous and
strained when she knows that she
may not. except under the plea of i'll
ness, seat herself for at least a cou-
pie of hours to come. When royalty
braces her muscles subjects must not
dream Of relaxing theirs.
Some women can stand; there are
others who cannot. Among the for.
mer is Queen Alexandra. At the Civ
ing away of war medals two years
ago she was observed and timed by
an onlooker.
Without showing the faintest signs
vi ldllbut BIG SlOOu, WIFI pa
no change of position, for two hours
and twenty-five minutes. Though
Her Majesty now sits during a por.
tion of the time court is being held
the ladies in waiting remain standing,
and this function lasts at least two
hours.
The writer once asked a lady OF
fhn hnd oh a nrt1h ufh Wa
bust how she had managed the stand
ing during the late Queens drawing
rooms. Queen Victoria in her latter
years always used a small chair,
which supported her, yet was practi-
! cally invisible to those who passed
before her. The lady Of the bed
chambers reply was:
"Old and roomy slippers. l al
ways kept an old pair, two sizes too
large, which did duty year after year,
and were useless for anything else"
While on duty the lady in waiting
| has to be always with her mistress,
unless the latter desires to be alone,
which is very rare. Royalties are apt
| to feel dull when left to the monot-
ony of their own thoughts and get
accustomed to constant companion.
ship.
She must not leave the precincts of
the palace, as at any moment she may
be summoned Yet that summons
may not come for many hours-nay,
many days, If the court happens to
be sojourning in the country.
There is no possibility of mapping
out her day and settling to her own
occupations, and no matter what the
news may be from home, no matter
how alarming or saddening, she must
never appear ruffied or unhappy in
the royal presence. 1t is treason to
disturb the equanimity of queen OF
princess.
J There are a variety of duties which
fall to the lot of the lady in waiting
There are many letters to be an
swered, sometimes of begging char
acter, or sometimes accepting or re
jecting appeals to open hospita
wards, lay foundation stones, to opeI
bazaars and charity fetes.
Sometimes the royal lady desire.
TO offer visit to one of her subjects
or to accept their invitation to honor
them with her presence. In such
cases the lady in waiting has to write
to the intended hostess, stating any
little desires for her comfort and
happiness her royal highness is
known to possess, the names of Ger.
tain friends whom she desires to
meet, which are added to the list OF
guests submitted for the royal appro
val.
Queen Victoria often disliked fires
in her bedroom, and in warm wealth.
er had blocks of ice placed in hel
apartments. All such little personal
fancies must be stated by the lady ir
waiting to the hostess, that life NAV
for the time being, be made as agree
able as possible to so ohonored a guest
Sometimes the lady In waiting ha.
to do some shopping OF too delicate {
nature to be intrusted to one of lesser
standing; sometimes there are pri
vate charities to be inquired into
Then there is frequently the dress
Ing OF the stall which her highnes,
has signified her intention to sell at
and the remaining on after the rova
patroness has left, to see that all tn.
goods are disposed of and the profit,
safely transferred to the prone,
quarter. She must also finish an,
articles of needlework which her mis-
tress has begun and tired Of Sh,
must be able to play. If not sing. ant
be competent to touch up any paint
ing or drawing, possibly half execut,
Doth' abandoned by hen EMPLOYER
Many royal ladies are inveterat
and unwearying sightseors. som,
are confirmed burners of the midnieb
oil. They keep their attendants wit,
them TIL the early hours of the morn
ing, either playing cards. listening +,
music or plying the needle. but n,
fatigue must be exhibited.
Dress forms an important mart .,
the life of the lady In waiting sh
must be provided against ali emar
gencies. Mourning she must alwav
nave ready to don at any moment
She requires couple of court trains
which can be worn over difreran
dresses. Some ladies in waiting iii
thelr private sisters, borrow a cour
train from a friend. The writer ono
possessed a court train that nasse,
through eight different hands in tw
years; 1t attended nearly every draw
ing room during that neriod