The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-23
ID IN WAITING.
Attending Upon Royalty Is Not without
ITS Drawbacks.

Attending Upon hOyaity Is N~t WithOus
Its Drawbacks.
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. according to this confess
sion in the Ladies' Realm, when carried
into practice it 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 pea 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
medals two years ago she was observed and
timed by an onlooker.
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 q portion OF the time q
court Is being held the ladies in waiting
remain standing, and this function lasts
at least two hours.
The writer once asked q lady Of the bed.
chamber who was never obust how shs
had managed the standing during the late
Queens drawing rooms. Queen Victoria
in her latter years always used a small
cha ir. which supported her. yet was practi-
cally invisible to those who passed before
her. tn lady OF the bedchamber's reply
was:
odd and roomy slippers. 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. Royalties are apt to feel dull when
left to the monotony 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 SUM
moned. Yet that summons may not coms
for many hours-nay, many days, IL the
court happens 10 DO sojourning in the
country.
There IL no possibility Of mapping out
her day and settling to her own occupa-
lions, and no matter what the news may be
IIO1u nOIQG, no I0dJCGT now Alarming OF
saddening, she must never appear ruf1ed
or unhappy in the royal presence. II IL
treason TO disturb the equanimity OF queen
or princess.
There are a variety Of duties which fall
10 the lot Of the lady in waiting. There are
many letters 20 be answered, sometimes
OF a begging character, or sometimes &C.
cepting OF rejecting appeals TO open hos
pital wards, lay foundation stones, TO open
bazaars and charity fttes.
SOpnRfiunAR the ROYAL ladu daairaa 20 MAR
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 the intended hostess, stating
any little desires for her comfort and hap
piness which her royal Highness In known to
possess, the names Of certain friends whom
she desires to meet, which are added 70 the
list Of guests submitted for the royal APP
proval.
Queen Victoria often disliked fires in
her bedroom n in warm weather had
blocks Of ice placed in her apartments.
All such little personal fancies must be
stated by the lady in waiting to the hostess
that life may, for the time being, he made
a. agreeable as possible to so honored a
guest.
Sometimes the lady in waiting has TO do
some shopping OF too delicate a nature to
be intrIsted to one of lesser standing; some
times there are private charities to be in
Quired into.
Then there b frequently tho dressin 4
OF the stall which her Highness has signified
her intention TO sell at, and the. remaining
on after the royal patroness hNs left, 20
see tina all the goods are disposed OF and
the profits safely transferred to the proper
quarter. She must also finish any articles
OF n~eedlework which her mistress has be-
gun and tired Of. She must be able TO plays
II not sing, and be competent to touch up
any painting or drawing, possibly half exc
cute both, abandoned by her employer.
Many royal ladies are inveterate and I'm.
wearying cightseers. Some are confirmed
burners OF the midnight oil. TLey keep
their attendants with them till the early
hours on the morning, either playing cards.
listening % music, or plying the needle;
but no fatigue must be exhibite&
Dress forms an important part In the
life Of the lady In waiting. She must be
provided against all emergencies. Mourn
ing she must always have ready 10 don at
court trains. which can be worn over diff
like their private sisters, borrow a court
train from q friend. The writer once pos
sessed a court train that passed through
eight different hands in two years: IL at
tended nearly every drawing room during
that period. =,
The pay i small, but with a strict regard
to economy IL covers personal expenses
It is a servile position. morally considered.
Still, after the glamor and gloss OF court
life has worn Oh the groan OF slavery u
succeeded by a hugging Of the chains.
There ts q morbid taste In the whole mat
ter-A glamor which nthralB at nrsti
satiates later, but which In time comes 20
be thu moat binding ~ which can be forged.