Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10
LADIES IN WAITING.
Attending Upon Royalty is Not With
out It's Drawbacks.

From Ladies' Realm.
There are two qualifications without
which no woman need hope to become a
lady In waiting writes one who has herself
attended upon royalty. The first is the
power to make herself agreeable at all
times, both to her employer and to the
royal household.
The second qualification, the possession
of strong legs, may appear an easy matter
at first sight, but, when carried into prac-
tice, it is very trying. The woman who
has been accustomed to seat herself when
ever she feels tired Of standing is apt to
become nervous and strained when she
knows that she may not, except under
the plea of Illness. seat herself for at least
a couple 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 former Is Queen
Alexandra At the giving away of war
and timed by an onlooker. Without show
ing the faintest signs of fatigue she stood,
with practically no change of position, for
two hours and twenty-five minutes.
Though her majesty now sits during por-
ton 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 lady of the bed
had managed the standing during the late
queens drawing rooms. Queen. Victoria
in her latter years always used small
chair which supported her, yet was prac-
tically invisible to those who passed before
her. The lady of the bedchamber's reply
was:
YOld and roomy slippers e I always 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 RoyaIlies are apt to feel dull when
left to, the monotony OF their own. thoughts
and get accustoWed to constant eompan-
ionship.
She must not leave the precincts of the
palace as at any moment she may be sum-
moned. Yet that summons may not come
for many hours-nay, many days, If the
court happens to be sOjourning in the
country.
her day and settling to her own occupa-
lions, and no matter what the news may be
from home. no matter how alarming or
saddening, she mnst never appear ruff1ed
or unhappy in the royal presence. 1t is
treason to disturb the equanimity of queen
or princess.
There are a variety of duties which fall
to the lot Of the lady in waiting. There are
of begging character, or sometimes ac-
cepting or rejecting appeals to open hos
pitar wards. lay foundation stones, to open
bazaars and charity fetes.
Sometimes the royal lady desires to offer
a 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 lie intended hostess, stat-
ing any little desires for her comfort and
happiness which her royal highness is
known to possess, the names of certain
friends whom she desires to meet, which
are added to the HIST of guests submitted
for the royal approval.
Queen Victoria often disliked fires in her
bed room, and in warm weather had blocks
of ice placed in her apartments All sucl,
little personal fancies must be stated by
the lady in waiting to the hostess, that
life may. for the time being, be made as
agreeable as possible to SO honoreda guest
Sometimes the lady In waiting has to dc
some shopping Of too delicate nature to
be intrus;ted to enc of lesser standing
sometimes there are private charities to
be inquired into.
Then there is frequently the dressing OF
the stall which her bighness has signified
her intention to sell at, and the remaining