Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-10
COURT LIFE IS A BORE
LADY-IN-WAITING REALLY SLAv-
ISH POSITION.
v oman Often Has to Stand for Hours
and Do Many odd Things to
Please Regal Mistress.

/
! winch no woman need hope to become
! iadE-lu-waIrng. writes one who has her
SeIt attended upon royalty. The first is
the power to make herself agreeable at
All times, both 10 her employer and to
tie royal household
| The second qualification. the possession
| Oh Strong legs, may appear an easy mat
! yer ~ h-St sight but, according To this
! com eSS-oN III the Ladies Realm. when
G;,Fr.ed INTO practice it is very irving
ne woman who has been accustomed to
| seat herself whenever she feels tired of
! standing Is apt TO become Hervaus and
strained when she knows that she may
! hoi, except uhuer the plea OF illness, seat
Aefsel Tor at least coupe or hours to
come. W hen royalty braces her muscles
| subjects must not dream of relaxing
! theirs.
! Some women can stand: here ara
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
! latgue she stood, with practically no
change OF position, for two hours ana
| twenty-five minutes. Though her ma
| Jesty now sits during n portion of tbe
tlhe Il court IS being held the ladies' in
waiting remain standin" and this fnnr.
tivt ~ idStS dl ieaSl TWO hours,
Inc writer once asked lady IF tbo
hed-chamber who was never robust how
She had managed the standing during
the late Queens drawing rooms. Oupnn
lctoria III her latter years ALWAYS
used small chair, which supported her
yet was practically invisible to those
VINO passed before her. The lady Of the
bedchamber's reply was:
'Old and roomy slippers. | ALWAYS
Kept an old pair, two sizes too LARGE
which dld duty year after year. and
! We're useless for anything else"
Nhlle on duty the lady-in-waitiug has
70 be always with her mistress nnIrss
the latter desires to be alone. which j.
very rare. Royalties are apt 10 feel dun
! When lett To the m0notOny If their own
thoughts and get accustomed 10 constant
companionship.
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, II the court happens 10 be So
Journing IN the country.
There is no possibility of MANNING
out her day and settling to her own oc-
equations. and no matter what the news
may he from home no matter how
alarming or saddening. she must never
appear ruified or unhappy in the royal
presence 1t is treason to disturb the
equanimity of queen or princess.
There are variety of duties which
tall to the lot of the lady-in-waiting.
There are many letters to be answered.
sometimes of a begging character. or
sometimes accepting or rejecting appeals
10 open hospital wards. lay foundation
stones, to open bazaars and charity
fetes.
Sometimes the regal lady desires to
offer a visit TO ore of her subjects. or to
accept tn .ir invitation to honor them
with her presence; in such cases the
lady-in-waiting has to write to the in
tended hostess, stating any little desires
Tor her cemfo.t and happiness which her
royal highness is known TO possess. the
names Of certain friends whom she de-
sires to meet, which are added to the
list of guests submitted for the royal
approval.
Queen Victoria often disliked fires in
her bedroom and ia warm weather had
blocks of ice placed in her apartments.
All such little personal fancies must be
stated by the lady-in-wating to the host
ess, that life may, for the time being be
made as agreeable as possible to so hon
ored guest.
Sometimes the lady-in-waiting has to
do some shopping of too delicate ma
ture to be intruSted to one of lesser
charities to be inquired into.
Then there is frequently the dressing
of the stall which her highness has sig
nfed 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 trans
ferred to the proper quarter. She must
also finish any articles of needlework
which her mistress has begun and tired
of. She must be able to play. if not
sing. and be competent to touch up any
painting and drawing, possibly half exc
cute both, abandoned by her employer.
Many royal ladies are inveterate and
nwearying sightseers. Some are con
hrmed burners of the midnight oil. They
keep their attendants with them till the
early hours of the morning, either play
ing cards. listening to music or plying
the needle; but no fatigue must be eX-
hibited.
Dress forms an important part in the
life of the lady-in-waiting. She must be
provided gainst all emergencies. Mourn
ing she must always have ready to don
at any moment. She requires couple
of court trains, which can be worn over
different dresses. Some ladies-n-wait-
ing, like their private sisters borrow a
court train from a friend. The writer
once possessed a court train that passed
through eight different hands IN two
years; 1t attended nearly every drawing
room during that period.
The pay is small, but with strict re-
gard to economy it covers personal ex-
penses. 1t is a servile position. morally
considered. Still. after the glamor and
gloss of court life has worn off the groan
Of slavery is succeeded by hugging of
the chains.
There is a morbid taste in the whole
matter-a glamor which enthraIs at
first. Sat.ates later. but which in time
comes to be the most binding tie which
can be forged.