The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-07
The Curious Superstitions of Royalty.

conventional but" she added, II don't
say that your client was ne Queen of
SPAIN
For some time past there has been no
little futter among the bellies OF society
in regard to who would be finally chosen
as maids of honor TO Queen Mary. And
now that the announcement has been
made that Queen Mary has appointed
the Hon Sybil Brodrick, the Hon. Vene-
tia Barring, Miss Mabel Gye, and Miss
Katherine Villiers her maids Of honor,
scores of daughters of titled houses are
doing their best to hide their disappoint-
ment for the posts are much coveted.
1t is interesting to note that when, in
1903, the Hon. Margaret Dawnay. maid
of honor to Queen Alexandra, was mar
ried. there were over 100 girls attached
TO distinguished families hopefully wait
ing to be chosen for the vacancy.
Not that the position is a sinecure, or
has any great monetary advantages. As
a matter of fact, it carries with it an
allowance of only 5000 a year, in return
for which a maid of honor has to be in
close attendance upon her majesty every
day during two or three months, from
or 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and
again in the evening. Queen Victoria,
who had eight maids (the number was
reduced to four by Queen AleXandra)
usually had two in attendance, whether
at Windsor, Balmoral, or Osborne. And
these were in constant demand for
walks, rides, drives, music, talk, and
secretarial work.
After the death of the prince consort
the court assumed a somewhat gloomy
aspect Entertainments were few and
far between, her majesty living in close
retirement, the consequence being that
the duties of her maids Of honor were of
a somewhat exacting character. After
Queen Victorias DEATH Queen Alexandra
found so much to occupy her time that
she was able to dispense with the serv-
ices of four.
All court officials know that a maid of
honor has little time to spare when wait
ing at court Apart from the duties al
ready mentioned, she has to take an inn
portant part in helping to entertain the
guests of her royal mistress, and takes
her place in her majesty's suite on all
state and semi-state occasions. She &C
companies the Queen to any charity func-
ton she may attend, ard when her mai
esty pays a private visit, the maid of
honor usually is in attendance, also when
Then again, when a state visit is paid
by foreign sovereign, the maid may be
deputed to attend to the royal ladies
staying at the palace. In a word, she
must be prepared to adapt herself to all
the peculiar circumstances surrounding
royalty. Good birth and breeding, OF
course, are essential, and the candidates,
for the post must be the granddaughters
of peers, If not nearer in blood. It is not
usual for the office to be held by any
one below that rank.
The title of honorable" always is
prefixed to the names of her majesty's
maids of honor, when they are not en-
titled to IL by birth, and is retained
after the post has been relinquished.
At one time IL was the custom for the
Queen to bestow a dowry of $4,000 on
the occasion OF the marriage of a maid
OF honor, but this practice was abol-
ished by Queen Alexandra, who ar
ranged that $500 a year should be
added to the allowance, so that each
now receives $4,000 annually and no
dowry, instead OF 1880 a year, and
dowry after a certain number OF years
service, as hitherto.
One OF the most highly priced priv
ileges OF the post OF maid OF honor, by
the way. when In waiting, Is that OF
being allowed to wear charming min
iature OF the Queen. set In diamonds.
on the left shoulder. This ornament,
which. needless 20 say. is greatly
treasured. Is kept in a white satin case,
on which Is a label bearing the name OF
the owner. written in the Queens own
handwriting. FIANBUR-
Copyright 1911. By Mcclure Newspapg' syndiateI