The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-04-02
GERMAN COURT LIFE
DULL ROUND OF THE AVERAGE
PETTY CAPITAL.
Often Poverty stricken;. Pompous
However, and Ruled by High Dig
nitarics--Woes Of the Princesses
and Their Marriages.


Germany Is ruled by one emperor
four kings. six grand dukes, seven
princes and one simple count
These soyereigns occupy very differ.
ent degrees OF Importance even in
the eyes OF their own Immediate
subjects but In one degree or am
other they all enjoy the dignities
and privileges OF kingship and All
have to face some OF the responsible
ties OF state.
Every one OF them has capital
and court OF his own. Some OF
the capitals are not very big cities,
but they are all very proud
AS the revenues OF many of these
petty States are almost as micro
scopic as themselves. the brilliancy
of theirs court life depends a good
deal on the fortune OF the prince
regnant. A few OF them have little
more than their civil list, and there
is world OF pathos in the parlrg
and scraping that has to be done
to bring ~ the little princelings,
who are all serene highnesses or
some high sounding thing, in con.
formity with their rank
The education OF the girls Is. In
particular, matter OF Importance.
The money spent on II Is regarded
as sort OF family investment, for
the poorest Oh them is OF regal rank
and many marry any royalty In Ger
many or out OF it from the Kali
ser's son down. A pretty, bright or
fortunate one among them may at
any time make the fortune OF her
family by a great alliance.
The sons are of far less CONNER
cial value, but easier TO provide for.
Those who are capable of picking
up the elements OF an education can
always count on commissions In tne
German army
But whatever the cheeseparing,
however bitter the pritations In the
family circle, nothing Of 1t must be
seen in public. However simple the
tastes of the prince. he must never
relax from the pose OF rulershlp
when the eyes of his subjects are
upon him.
He may have no money to enjoy
limself and no political power worth
speaking of but he had all his
alnily are begirt with an armor of
nedlaeyal etiquette, through which |
hey cannot break to reach those be-
ow Them and through which not |
wen non regnant nobility can pierce |
o reach them
Some Of the courts have grand dig |
lltaries chamberlains, oquerries. |
master of the horse. grand hunts
nan. There are all sorts OF titled
persons who are delighted to accept |
'ach positions aud serve without pay
o. the sake OF the honor the social |
distinction. which they carry.
Then there are the ladies' OF the |
curt. One or two ladies In waiting |
re attached to the person OF the
uler's consort, perhaps four or tive
1aids of honor as we'll
The princesses as, they reach ma
Iritt and come out into .hr socia,
ORD have maids of honol too II
hen The nobility of the Httlo State
self does Lot furnish enough ladies
hold these posts ladies of consid.
Fabierank In Prussia or the other
trge .itaies can ALWAYS be found
no arc chsrmed to serye for the
IKE Of the prestige derived from
ny sort OF court apo ltmcnt
The true ruler Of the whole court
usually neither the prince nor the
rince's Wife, nor yet the Grand
arshal. 1t is the Grand Mistress
the court, who is usually a majez-
c person of mature years and inn
)sing mien, who fairly inealnates
lquette and radiates precedent aud
'remony.
Thosewho regard princes as SO
ghly placed that they can act with
eedom forget the grant mistress
the court About the only way
which the average royalty can ec-
pe from the leading stringJ is by
king trip TO Paris in multi AS
r the women of the reigning house.
ere is no escape.
Etiquette forbids them to 20 out
one. 1t even forbids them to SIT
one In their boudoirs, unless they
n manage It by stealth when a
incess escapes from her governe So,
e finds maid OF honor dogeing
7 footsteps every hour In the day. Z
When she marries she exchanges =
{ maid OF honor for a lady "a
'iting. The only way to freeze
her feminine jailers IL To take
fuge in the company OF her hus- 4
nd. =
Carmen Sylvia" In her memoirs z
res hint of what life Is in a {
all German court. Speaking OF
girlhood before she became
cen OF Romania, she SAYS:
The life In the palace a. Wies- =
den totally lacked gayety. The
enings above all were monrpfuI n
en- my father got back from hunt. y
tired out and slept upon the sofa
lie hts wife and daughters sat IN
I'd silence in orded not to aware w,
n.
Every one was waiting on every
else In the court and no excep-
was made for children We