The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-10-06
LADIES IN WAITING.

\ agreeable at all times both to her em- ployer and to the royal household.
 The second qualification, the posses sion 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 it | is very trying The woman who has l been accustomed to seat herself when l ever she feels tired of standing is apt l to become nervous and strained when i she knows that she may not, except | underline plea of illness, seat herself ! for at least couple of hours to come. When royalty braces her muscles sub jects must not dream of relaxing their
 Some women can stand; there are others who cannot. Among the former is Queen Alexandra. At the giving away of war medals two years ago : she was observed and timed by an on- locker.
 Without showing 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 portion of the time q court is being held the lad les in waiting remain standing, and this function lasts at least two hours.
 The writer once asked lady of the bedChamber who was never robust how she had managed the standing during the late Queens drawing rooms. Queen Victoria in her latter years al- ways used a small chair, which supp ported her, yet was practically in- visible to those who passed before her. The lady of the bedchamber's re- ply was
 "Old and roomy slippers. 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, un- less the latter desires to be alone, which Is very rare. Royalties are apt to feel dull when left to the monotony of their own thoughts and get accus-. toned to constant companonship.
 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
 outher 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 ruffled or unhappy in
 the royal presence. It 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 many letters to be answered,
 sometimes of q begging character, or
 sometimes accepting or rejecting ap-
 peals to open hospital wards, lay
 foundation stones to open bazaars and
 charity fetes.
 Sometimes the royal lady desires to
 offea visit to one of her subjects. ar
 N accept their invitation to honor
 thenl With her presence; in such cases
 the lady in waiting has to write to the
 intended hostess, stating any. little de-
 sires Tor 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 list of guests submitted
 for the royal approval.
 Queen Victoria often disliked fires in
 her bedroom and in warm weather had ' blocks of ice placed in her apartments. All such 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
 10 so honored a guest.
 Sometimes the lady in waiting has to do some shopping of too delicate a nature to be ntrusted to one of lesser standing; sometimes there are private charities to be inquired into. Then there is frequently the dress ing of the stall which her Highness has signified her intention to sell at and the remaining on after the royal patroness has left, to see that all the goods are disposed of and the profits safely transferred to the proper quar- ter. She must also finish any articles of needlework which her mistress has begun and tired of. She must be able to play, any painting or drawing, pos sibly half execute both, abandoned by her employer,
 Many royal ladies are inveterate and unwearying sightseers. Some are con- firmed burners of the midnight oil They keep their attendants with them till the early hours of the morning
 either playing cards, listening to music or plying the needle; but no fatigue must be exhibited
 Dress forms an impirtant part in the lift of the lady in waiting. She must be provided against all emergencies Mourning she must always have ready 70 don at any moment, She requires g couple of court trains. which can be worn over different dresses Some lad. I ies in waiting, like their private sist- CTS, borrow a court train from a friend The writer once possessed a court train that passed through eight diff a ferent hands in two years; 1t attend ed nearly every drawing room during that period,
 The pay is small, but with strict regard to economy it covers personal A expenses, It is a servile position, nor s ally considered Still, after the glamor and gloss of court life has worn off the grion of slavery is succeeded by 3 A hugging of the chains,