The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-02-01
MAIDS
HONOR
TO THE
QUEEN

| queen Alexandra or England is nc
exception to the rule, and to be ap
pointed to such position is one OF
the most coveted distinctions of the
British maiden of good family. AL
though the duties of the position are
not nominal by any means, and the
young ladies must be in constant at
tendance on the Queen, the advant
ages of being in the court circle arc
considered so great that such an ap
pointment is looked upon as piece
of rare good fortune.
Queen Alexandra has but foui
maids of honor. The late Queen Vic
toria had eight. but the present SOW
ereign's tastes are much simpler than
those of her predecessor and she
greatly dislikes pomp and display. and
has reduced her household to as small
proportions as is possible for wo'
man in her position.
The maid Of honor is on duty early
and late. Immediately after her maj
| esty has breakfasted one or more Of
them assist the secretary in answer
ing the mass of correspondence. which
requires the ability of a linguist. Then
they must be In readiness to sing or
play. if required. or to take expedi-
tiOns on horseback, an exercise OF
which her Majesty is fond, and they
must necessarily have good seat
and be adept whips.
They must be skilled in some OF
her Majesty's special fads, such as
woodcarving. fine-art needlework,
spinning and poker work. They must
be tactful at all times, amiable and
in fact almost absolute paragons.
When the Queen holds drawing
room for the presentation of debut
antes and those who have entree at
court, her maids walk in the royal
procession to the throne room, and
stand Immediately around her Maj
.esty during the whole ceremony.
This applies also to the state con-
certs, which are most formal and
elaborate functions. beginning at ten
o'clock at night and lasting two
hours. They must also be in readi-
ness at any time to play duets with
the Queen, a dreadful ordeal to a
poor performer, as she is brilliant
player.
Then there are charity visits.
schools to be inspected and a multi
tude 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 sit Immediate
ly behind the Queen and royal prin-
cesseS.
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 public ceremonies. and when
driving, as to the opening of charity
bazaar, to the railway station and othsr
places, one of the girls has a seat in
a carriage Immediately preceding that
Of the Queen.
Maids of honor, so 1t is said. al
ways marry we'll, and an old custom
dating back for centuries prompts
their royal mistress to provide =
dowry of $4,000 on their wedding day.
The marriage of one of the maids OF
honor is a great society event in the
London season.
The maids of honor do not take
their meals with the royal family un.
less they are especially requested to
do 50, but dine with the ladies and
gentlemen of the household, but after
dinner they join the Queen, enter
into her amusements for the evening.
and may be asked to entertain hes
by playing, singing, reading aloud or
playing cards.
But the English maid of honor has
an easy time of it III comparison with
her sisters in other courts. In Spain
the etiquette of the court is. and al
ways has been, very severe. and in
Austria, it is said, the poor young
ladies had anything but a pleasant.
life, and a visit by the late Empress
to the opera, theater or some such
function was regarded as particu-
lar penance and a severe trial Of the
patience and endurance of the ladies'
in waiting. They were compelled to
stand through the long performance,
and to bear all the discomfort with a
smiling countenance. as do the aero.
bats and dancers who appear on the
stage.
The late Empress Elizabeth had a
decided fonlness for Wagner. and 1t
can be. well imagined what was in
store when the long German operas