The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-05-15
QUEEN ALExANDRA's MAIDS
There Are Four of Them, All Young,
Pretty and Accomplished

Pretty and Accomplished
Thcposition 81 maid Of honor to the
Queen Of England il one 81 the most
coveted distinctions al the court Of
King Edward Although far from be-
ing sinecurc, the position has been
made 70 much easier By the kindness
and tact of Queen Alexandra, and the
advantages of being in the court circle
are 50 many that an appointment of
this kind Is looked upon as bit of
rare good fortune.
Queen Alcxandra's household consists
Of only fifteen ladies and six men-in
striking contrast with that OF the
king, which includes more than a humid
red individuals.
Queen Victoria had eight maids Of
honor, Of whom two were always in
waiting: but Queen Alexandra's known
desire for q less stately life has prompt
cd her to reduce the number to four,
Queen Alexandra delights to surround
herself with quite young, bright and
clever people and all four maids are
still in their early youth
The tradition il that these young
woman invariably marry we'll
Their position at court brings them
into contact with highly eligible parties,
and an old custom dating back for
centuries prompts their royal mistress
20 provide a dpwry Of $4,000 on their
wedding day. The marriage Of one of
the maids Of honor is great event
in the London season
When the queen holds q drawing
room for the presentation Of debutantes
and those who have entree at court
her maids walk in the royal procession
to the throne room, and stand inn
mediately around her majesty during
the whole ceremony
This applies also TO the State con-
certs, which are most formal and ell
aborate functions beginning at ten
o'clock at night and lasting two hours.
They must also I've in readipess at any
time to play duets with the queen, a
dreadful ordeal to even great artists,
as she is brilliant player.
Then there are charity visits, school
to be inspected and multitude Of
royal duties. in all Of which the queen
/ is accompanied BY her ladies' At all
these functions the queens maids are
almost painfully alert to anticipate the
slightest wish OF their mistress. At
the concerts they do not stand, but
st Immediately behind the queen and
royal princcsses.
At State balls they occupy the same
position. They relieve her majesty OF
her bouquet or her fan if necessary,
and adjust her great ermine cloak or
sable wraps when draughty corridors
are traversed or on the staircases. They
are in attendance at all State and pub
JIG ceremonies, and when driving, as to
the opening OF charitybazam, to the
railway station and other places, one
Of the girls has seat in a carriage
queen
The duties OF these fur young ladies'
in waiting begin Immediately after her
majesty's breakfast. One or more of
them assist Miss KnoIlys in answering
the mass Of correspondence, which re-
ures the ability Of hpguist. Then
they must be IN readiness 10 sing or
play ii reuired, or 10 take expeditions
on horseback, an exercise Of which her
majesty Is fond, and they must neces
sarily have good seat and be adept
whips.
They must be skilled IN some Of her
maiestv's special fads. such as wood .
carving, fine art needlework, spinning
and poker work They must be tactfal
at all times, amiahle and in fact almost
absolute paragons.
Their meals are taken with the lords
and ladies Of the household, unless they
y l,.r al -. 80. re.. X.
at luncheon or dinner Nine O'Clock is
the hour for dinner. and one OF the
maids OF honor, Just before il, must
place on the table at the right hand Of
the queen huge bouquet. After dinner
the maids join the royal circle. They
enter into the amuzements and may
be asked to show their Accomplishments.
At other courts, It Is said, the re-
gime Is still the reverse of pleasant.
In Austria an imperial or royal visit
to the opera, theatre or some such
function, Is regarded as particular
penance and severe trial OF the
! patience and endurance Of the ladies
r waiting They are compelled to
stand through the long performance,
and to bear all the discomfort with a
smiling eountcnance, is do the aerobats
and dancers who appear on the stage.
The late Empress Of Austria had a
decided fondncss for Wagner and it
can be well imagined what was IN store
whea either "SieGfriedp or Tristan
was sung IN Spain, too, the etiquette
lof the court y very severe. From
Town and Country
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