The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-11-25

| linen caps In just such a fashion was
the Plantagenet wimple fastened to the
chin band.
Although the veil to some extent has
lost its significance in some countries
as a symbol Of mourning, It is still used
on the European Continent in this con-
nection with circumstance and ceremony.
Not only does a widow envelop herself
for lengthy period In veil OF amaz-
ing length and opaqueness. but every
relative Of the deceased assumes a sim
liar dreary symbol OF regret, its size
and thickness varying with dIscrimina-
ton, according TO the exact degree OF
relationship. An American visiting
France or Italy for the first time is as
tonished at the number of apparent
widows he is apt to encounter in a days
walk; II is not until his curiosity leads
him to make inquiries that he learns that
the true reason for the prevalence Of the
deep mourning veil, reaching from head
to foot
In the East the "yashmak' signifies al
that Is subservient and dependent in the
lives of the women. For a woman to ap-
pear unveiled before a man is to put her
self forever beyond the pale. On the day
that the woman OF the East shall ap-
pear unveiled with IMMUNITY in q public
place, on that day she will have set her
foot on the first rungs of the ladder of
independence.
But East or West. the veil holds its
own, from the "yashmak' TO the motor
veil. from the christening veil to the
wimple. Whatever antiquity may have
TO say as TO its origin: women know that
II owes its adoption in the first instance
to the fact that II is universally and in
curably becoming.
King George, OF England, has ordered
a reduction in the number OF the King s
messengers, a very interesting branch
OF the British diplomatic service. There
are two classes OF these employees: Home
messengers; that is, men who carry i'm
portant dispatches or documents from
the King TO his ministers-or vice versa
when they sojourn in different sections
of the country. and those who are in
trusted with the important duty of car
rying letters from the British foreign Of
fee to ENJOYS in other lands. There are
eight OF the latter. the senior of whom
receives an annual salary of 5000, while
the others get only $3.50.
II takes powerful influence to be ap-
pointed a Kings messenger in England.
Besides the men picked for the place
Gence and of course perfect llnguists.
Their badge of Office consisting of a sill
yer greyhound. the messengers popularity
are known as Silver Greyhounds." Their
badge is surmounted by an imperial
crown attached to a red ribbon. This
badge must always be carried by the
messenger. but the military uniform,
which is part OF his equipment. is sell
dom used except in war times, and
then only in circumstances when 1t be-
comes part OF his passport from one
country TO another.
Story writer's often have woven thrill
ing narratives around the duties OF a
Silver Greyhound" and many excit-
ing tales. have been told of unscrupu-
lous pIotters who have endeavored to OBJ
tain the contents OF their dispatch cases.
At times such stories have been founded
on fact; for II may be recalled how the
dispatches in connection with the Drey-
fus affair. sent by the German Am
bassador at Paris to Berlin by German
Imperial messenger. were surreptitiously
opened and the contents photographed
during the trip from Paris to the Ger
man frontier.
1t will thus be realized that the career
OF the bearer OF the Kings dispatches is
not. even in these prosaic days. alto
gether without an element Of excitement.
The late King Edward. being fond OF
travelling. kept his messengers pretty
busy. but the present British ruler likes
to say at home in his own country.
wherefore the foreign messengers have
little to do. There are no dispatches to
Homburg or Biarritz, or the Riviera, or
Marienbsd, &c. Hence King Georges
decision to reduce the force.
FLASEUR