The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-10
ALExANDRAHS MAIDS or HONOR.
Fsur % IAs1n. AN Young ami Pretty-Tnolr
Duties &C Court.

From 9it-Bits.
Queen Alexandria household consists or
only aHtesn ladies n six men. IN striking
contrast with that OF thS King. whidAA%
cludGs more than q hundred individuals.
Queen Victoria had eight maids Of honor.
Of whom two were always in waiting. but
Queen A~Is1andra's known desire Tor a less
stately lIFe has prompted her TO reduce the
humber to four.
Queen Alexandra delights TO surround her"
self with quite young. bright and clever
people. and all four maids are still In their
Barly youth.
The tradition 10 that these young women
Invariably marry well.
Their position at court brings them into
contact with highly eligible partners. and an
old custom dating back for centuries prOmpts
their royal mistress q provide n dOwry Of
e. 600 on their wedding day. The marriage
OF one OF the maids OF honor 10 q great eVsns
In the London season.
when the Queen holds q drawing rOOm Tor
the presentation Of d6butantss and those who
have sntrSe ut court her maids walk In the
royal procession TO the throne room and stand
immediately around her Majesty during the
whole ceremony.
This applies also to the state concerts.
which are most formal and elaborate func-
tiOna, beginning at 10 o'clock at night and
lasting two hours. They must also be In
readiness at any time to play duets with the
Queen. a dreadful ordeal to even great artists.
as she 10 q brilliant player.
Thsn there are charity visits, schools TO be
inspected. and a multitude OF royal duties.
In all OF which the Queen is accompanied BY
her ladies. Al all these functions the Queens
maids are almost painfully alert to anticipate
the slightest wish Of their mistress. Al the
COnceTtsthey do not stand. bun sit Immediately
behind the Queen and Royal Processes.
A. L. I. 49,
They relieve her Majesty Of her bouquet or her
fan II necesssry ~. and adjust her great ermIne
cloak or sable wraps when drauRhty corri-
doris are tnAversed or on the staircases. They
are in attendance a. all state and public cere-
monies. and when driving. as to the opening
Of a charity bazaar. to the railway station and
other places. one Of the girls has a seat in a
carriage Immediately preceding that OF the
Queen.
The duties Of these four young ladies' IN
waiting begin Immediately after her Mat
esty's breakfast. One or more Of them assist
Miss knOllys in answering the mass of CORE
spOndenOe. which requires the ability OF a
linguist. Then they must he In readiness TO
sing or TO play IL required, or to take expedi-
tons on horseback, an exercise OF which her
Majesty is fond. and they must necessarily
have a good seat and be adept whips.
They must be skilled In some of her MaiSsty'a
special Hads. such as wood carving. fine art
n~eedlewOrk. SPINNING ana poker work. They
must he tactful at all times, amiRble. and in
fact. almost absolute paraROBs.
Their meals are taken with the lords and
ladies' OF the household. unless they are re-
quest ed to join the royal family at luncheon
or dinner. Nine o'clock is the hour for din
nsT, and one OF the maids OF honor lust before
n must pla CO on the table aC the right hand
Of the Qusen a huge bouquet. After dinner
the maids join the royal circle. They enter
into the amusements and may be asked to
show their accomplishments.
At other courts. IL is said. the rSgime ia stIII
The reverse OF pleasant. In Austria an Inn
DeriaI or royal visit to the opera. theatre or
some 0ICn function is regarded rs q particular
penance and a severe trial OF the patience and
endurance Of the ladies' in waiting. They
are compelled to stand through the long per-
Torrance and to bear all the discomfort with
a smiling count enance. as do the acrobats aud
dancers who appear on the stage.
The late Empress OF Austria had a decided
fOndness for Wagner. and II can be well inn
aRined what was in store when either -Sieg-
fried" or Tristan" was sung. In Spain, too.
the etiquette Of the court Is very severe.