The Washington herald., 1912-06-18


tc be rife as to who will succeed the
late Duchess Of Buccleuch as mistress
Of the robes to Queen Alexandra. This
high and responsible post always is filled
by a duchess, that in the present British
Queens household being occupied by the
Duchess Of Devonshire.
The mistress Of the robes IN reality
is at the head Of the Queens ladies-in-
waiting. and II goes without saying is
a much coveted place among society
leaders. In olden days she was respon-
sible for the conduct OF the maids Of
honor, but at this day the tie between
them is altogether formal. Neither does
the mistress Of the robes now act as a
tiTing-woman to her royal mistress as
ir bygone days, when she actually took
part in the toilet of the Queen, the
different garments being handed from
enc to the other Of the ladies Of the
Eedchamber before they reached the
mistress Of the robes, who placed them
On the royal person
The duties of a mistress OF the robes
at coronation time are rather arduous,
however. She superintends the details
OF all coronation robes OF the Queen,
and takes a prominent part in connec-
ton with the long and elaborate service.
The most valuable perquisite connected
With the crowning naturally Is the splen-
did velvet robes which form the most
These, once the ceremony is concluded.
become the absolute property Of the mis-
tress Of the robes.
The late Duchess Of Buccleuch had
been connected with the Court from her
infancy. She was mistress Of the robes
to Queen Victoria during two long con-
servatiye administrations.
It is not known generally that the posi-
ton OF mistress Of the robes to a reign
ing Queen is a ministerial appointment
and changes with each administration;
but, in the case of a mistress of the
robes to a Queen Consort, the position
is not affected by political changes. Con-
sequently, the late Duchess Of Buc-
cleuch continued to hold the post OF mis-
tress of the robes to Queen Alexandra
when the present administration came
into power, and unless other circum-
stances arose, which necessitated a
change, the Duchess Of DevOnshire would
retain her place as mistress Of the robes
to Queen Mary, whatever party held the
reigns Of government.
The late Duchess Of Buccleuch, at the
age of twenty-three, was married 10 the
heir Of the dukedoms Of Buccleuch and
Queensberry. Her husbands mother,
then the mistress of the robes to Queen
Victoria, desired that her sons wife
should continue the BuccIeuch connec-
quence was that, in 1856, two years after
she had became Duchess Of Buccleuch,
a vacancy occurred in the household of
Queen Victoria, and the youthful duch-
ess once again restored the name Of Buc-
cieuch at Court as mistress Of the robes. |
a position which she held more than
twenty-five years, or until the day Of her
death.
The late dowager duchess Of that name !
was appointed as mistress Of the robes !
in lS4l, under rather remarkable circUm- |
stances. The Melbourne Cabinet had re- |
signed, and Sir Robert Peel was commits |
stoned by the Queen (then a slip Of a girl, |
aged twenty to form a new ministry. |
At that time all the ladies Of the bed
chamber changed with the administration, |
but Queen Victoria announced that she /
desired to keep Lady Normandy and Ger
tain others for whom she had conceived |
a warm affection since her accession to |
the throne in 1881. But Sir Robert Peel |
declined to agree to this. He insisted |
upon being permitted 10 nominate the /
bedchamber ladies, and because this per-
mission was not granted him, he prompt
ly resigned. He was excluded from office |
two years, but in the end he had his way. |
and the then Duchess Of Buccleuch was
appointed mistress Of the robes, a posi-
ton which she held five years, to make
place at her death for her daughter-in-
law. who died last winter. after twenty
five years Of continuous service.
Emperor Franz Josef has accepted the
petition presented by his nephew, Arch
duke Ferdinand Karl Ludwig, asking for
permission to resign all his rights as a
member Of the imperial family Of Aus
tria. A pretty romance is behind this
renunciation.
Ten years ago Archduks Ferdinand in
a Vienna ballroom met Fraulein Rosa
Czuber, and, attracted by her great beau
ty, intelligence, and accomplishments,
sought and obtained the entree to her
fathers house.
In 1903 he attempted to obtain the En-
perOr's consent to marry the girl, but
was not successful A year later a
Hapsburg family council was held at the
Hofburg to arrange ar alliance between
Archduke Ferdinand and a lady Of royal
rank, but the youthful prince insisted
that he would marry either Fraulein
bis retirement from the Austrian court
In disgrace, and as his health began to
fan him, he resigned his captaincy in
the army.
The archduke and the fraulein are re-
siding in Switzerland, and as soon as his
shall have been oficially grant
ed, the pair are to be married there
The archduke will adopt the name Of
Burg. The aged Emperor has agreed to
grant him an annuity Of 5000 kronen.
That his renunciation Of all his rights
s no small matter is evidenced by the
lact that there are only three lives be-
.ween himself and the succession to the
iual throne.
This act Of the imperial archduze-not
he first OF the Hapsburgs TO have done
! similar. thing-recalls that some men
If genius undoubtedly believe with
rhackeray that it is better to love fool
shly than not al all. That they have |
lracticed this philosophy is proved by /
heir memoirs and Biographies.
practical Scottish girl, Charlotte
carpenter, won Sir Walter Scots love.
ihe not only hated litsratural but OBJ I