The Washington herald., 1910-10-29
SERVED IN THE
ROYAL NURSERY

There appears 10 be little doubt that
Mrs Ann Roberts the aged Pittsburg
woman. can substantiate her claim that
she is the fosteT-mother OF King George
OF England. and there is also reason to
believe that his majesty has been taking
steps to secure her future happiness and
comfort.
The King has received a letter from
Mrs, Roberts. setting forth her remark
able history. and asking for some recog- |
milton in return for what she did for him
when he was a child King George is
satisfied with her credentials. and is ar
ranging for the aged woman's return 10
her native Wales, there to end her days
in peace,
Mrs. Roberts declares that she lost one
of her own babies through her attendance
on the infant prince. and that her child
died in the night while she was occupied
with her duties In the royal household,
without her knowing even that It had
been ill., Mrs. Roberts is in her seventy
ninth year. and was an attendant IN King
Edwards Ohen Prince Of Wales family
for ten months. The aged woman tells
Of a dream she had IN which her forth
coming appointment was foretold Two
days later the royal courlers appeared at
her home in Bethesda 20 obtain her serv-
ices on behalf Of the expected princely
child
THE news OF the death OF my own
child" says Mrs Roberts, brought me
20 my knees in the royal nursery. The
splendor OF my surroundings appeared 90
me az so much dross, but when ] looked
ar the little prince in his cradle I grew
almost 20 believe that ne had been sent
me TO make up for my loss When my
services were no longer required. King
Edward. then Prince OF Wales, sent for
me 70 tell me that ! had not only won
his own esteem and that OF his beautiful
wife the Princess OF Wales. but that I
also was respected by the entire royal
household
Mrs Roberts used the money earned
as royal nurse TO learn nursing. In due
time she won her diploma and nursed
among the nobility OF Great Britain for
thirty-hve years She nursed the FIRST
born Of the Princess Christian at Cum
berland Lodge. and served at Windsor
Castle. Marlborough House, Balmoral
Castle. Buckingham Palace. Osborne
Sandringham. and with numerous great
houses. When old age overlook her she
found little work 10 do and emigrated to
the United States 70 live with a relative,
but penury overlook her hnally. Hence
her appeal 70 the King
What the fun extent OF the changes
In the service of the present British
royal household viii be. Of course large
Iy Is surmise. but il is anticipated that
they will be large. and that some sine
cures viii be abolished.
In reorganizing the servants estab-
ushmeut. King George by no means has
as easy A task as had his father ar the
beginning Of the late reign When Ed
ward assembled the throne he made n
clean sweep practically OF all who had
been en- the royal service in hts mothers
reign. bestowed on each a substantial
pension and brought his old stan Of
servants en- bloc from Marlborough
House. who. OF course. were thoroughly
versed In the manner in which King
Edward wished them 20 perform their
duties. They readily fell into the routine at
Buckingham Palace But King George,
even II he had wished 20 do go, could
not have followed his fathers example
[ ia this respect, for the simple reason
that he as Prince of Wales. kept a
much smaller rednue at Marlborough
House than did his father as Prince Ct
/ Wales before him
/ The fact is, King George always has
thought that Buckingham Palace was
/ overstaffed. He Opines that the dignity
! Of sovereignty can be efficiently main
tanned without having two men perform
one mans work. The servants so far
! chiefly affected by the new regulations
! are those rather grand officials known
! as the "grooms OF the chamber and the
/ pages Of the back stairs" From these
/ Il always was the custom 20 select a
| certain number for what is termed
| close wait attendance on the SOW
| ereign. They have had an extremely
/ easy time OF 81. They are on duty in
( the corridor. into which the personal
| apartments OF the King open. and their
I tors into the royal presence or summon
I ing any member Of the household TO the
/ apartments whom his majesty may de-
/ sire 10 see.
/ Sir Ernest Cassel. who has been so
! prominently before the public recently,
owing 20 his engineering Of the new
Turkish loan IN the face OF Frances dis
pleasure, IS one Of those fortunate be-
/ ings who have been horn under a lucky
star Not only was he close friend OF
/ the late King Edward, but he attained
/ the very rare social distinction OF being
/ elected 10 the membership Of the Jockey
I Club, the most exclusive organization OF
/ the kind In the world-the only other
1 self-made man sharing this great honor
being the late Sir John Blundell Maple.
| Sir Ernest has one Of the finest racing
stables and breeding studs in existence
at Newmarket. His town house IS one