The Washington herald., 1908-05-17

wrote ati interesting IL not Instructive
article recently on King Edwards clothes
and what became OF them after they had
finished service. In the article the state
ment was made that the King never wore
pair Of gloves more than once.
out Of this arose a discussion as to the
necessity OF considering gloves damaged
by one days service. &C, which went on
until Lord Knollys. who is tho Kings In
Beparabls companion. friend. and servitor.
described IN g moment OF eandor the
story as ridiculous. Yet it was admitted
that there are some things that the King
uses only once. such as white evening
ties. certain neckties. and white evening
gloves. which would be true also of many
other masculine leaders of fashion.
The list of King Edwards quickly dis
carded garments would include also GER
tain state robes which have appeared in
public only once. such as those OF 0he
coronation and the costume of the Grand
Master OF the Knights OF Malta. This
last was worn at the DevOnshire House
bal when ne was Prince of Wales at
the time Of the Diamond Jubilee OF
Qusen Victoria.
Then, Of course, there are certain regi-
mental uniforms which have been worn
just once in honor Of some occasion. All
these are put away iE presses and are
regularly overhauled and kept in good
condition. Perhaps some day they will
find their way to a museum to be shown
as relies Of Edward the Peacemaker.
II his ordinary dress the King IS very
particular as to cut and quality, but he
wears his various suits as many times as
any rich man Of the world would. Then
they share the fate Of all discarded gar
ments and become the property of some
one else for various fates.
In regard TO Queen Alexandra's ward
robe, she, too. has certain garments
which are of historic interest and are put
away to be looked at sometimes. but nev-
er used again. Among these are her
wedding gown and long tan gloves, the
robes Of the coronation day, and the miI-
tary uniform OF her Danish regiment.
There are university gowns and hoods
which have not been worn since the de-
grees they represent were conferred upon
her.
The beautiful dresses which the Queen
wears at the evening courts are seen but
once. Sometimes a part of q gown is
used again in another fashion. This ap-
plies particularly to the priceless collec-
ton Of old lace Of which she is so proud.
and which is used over and over again in
trimming her gowns
II Queen Alexandra does not wish to
use any Of the trimmings Of a dress
again, the garment is taken to pieces and
the materials distributed There is an
inviolable rule in the palace that the re-
cipient OF any royal fnery is never In
any circumstance 10 wear a gown III the
form in which It was worn by the Queen.
The Princess Of Wales has a large and
varied collection of uniforms. university
gowns, and Oriental robes of great value
and beauty. During her visits to the
British colonies and to India she received
many honorary degrees. These garments
are all guarded for posterity after the
royal fashion.
In her ordinary wearing apparel the
princess does not hesitate to be seen in
the same gown many times, especially IL
It happens particularly 10 SUIT her some
what severe style of good looks. After
she has finished with them they are given
to the various ladies Of her household
10 dispose of.
The Empress Of Germany has the same
rule regarding gowns worn on state occa-
sions as Queen Alexandra. These are
never seen again in the same form.
Dresses chosen for less important
events. a reception. a dinner. an embas-
sy crush or the theater, may be worn
two OF three times. When the gowns
are done with they are ripped up by
some Of the fifteen court seamstresses
and the material given away. The pretty
young Princess Victoria Luise still
dresses like a schoolgirl and her simple
fTocks are worn again and again.
There is probably no monarch who has
more clothes than the German Emperor
He has hundreds Of different uniforms. Of
which perhaps a dozen may have been
worn more than once.
He has a tremendous variety Of work
mans habiliments. such as those worn
by coal miners or workers IN tunnels,
which he has put on at some time 10
prove his eomradeship with the horny
handed sons OF toll in the fatherland
Then he has dozens Of costumes which
he has worn TO fancy dress balls. The
one that he values most among these is
the costume that he wors st a ball when
he appeared as his famous ancestor,
Frederick the Great.
The Emperor Of Russia as the chief of
the imperial army is able at a moments
notice to take his place at the head of
any Russian regiment IN the proper uni
form. Some Of the troops in the remoter
parts of his vast dominion are so seldom
seen in the capital that the corresponding
uniform has been brought out only once.
The Empress OF Russia, who is homo
rary colonel Of several regiments, has had
tunics with the proper badges made for
her use In her ordinary dress she is
very simple and only consents to don
magnifcence on state occasions
The Queen OF Italy is so plainly dress
ed that her great extravaganza in even
ing shoes is amusing. She never wears
a pair more than once. In this she is
like the ex-Empress Eugene. except that
-~sS--S SeAFN al -t0t SS0 sitPbSts
and shoes TO the girls orphanage in
Paris, while the Queen Of Italy disposes
of hers less charitably.
The young King OF Spain has develop
ed great interest in sartoriaI art since
his visits to England, and both he and
the Queen seldom wear their garments
many times. The Spanish court is rap
idly following their example, so that
beautiful gowns and MANY of them ara
the order of the day just now in Spain
After all, poor old Queen Elizabeth, who
created a sensation with her 10 gowns
ana 30 wigs in the modest times in. which
she lived, would find herself behind her
sister royalties OF to-day, and her 10
gowns would not go far toward making
her considered a well-dressed queen.
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