The Washington herald., 1914-06-22
THE QUEENS MAID OF HONOR.
How the Much-cOveted Posts Are
Filled at the British Court.

Dating back to the end of the sixteenth
century. when James l appointed four
"damsels Of clear birth and good breed
ing TO attend on his consort. under the
direction OF a "dowager of discretion"-s
parsonage often called the mother OF
maids" a post long since abolished-the
position OF maid Of honor is a much
coveted one. Indeed. Honorable Sybn
CadoEan. who has Just been appointed
a maid OF honor BY queen Mary, was one
Of over 100 girls who were hopefully wait
ing to be chosen TO fill the vacancy.
The privileges and advantages attached
to the position are many. but a maid OF
honor must Of necessity be an exceedingly
accomplished young woman. In the first
place, she must he a granddaughter Of a
peer. IL not nearer in blood. for unless
some special provision is made the ONCE
cannot be held by anyone below that
rank Second. she must be a good lin
guist. not only because Of the foreigners
she will meet at court. but because she
will be called upon 10 deal with some OF
her majesty's private correspondence.
Her conversational powers must be con-
siderably above the average brightness
and vivacity, too, heing a distinct recon-
mendation. A talent for music and sing
ing and an ability to read aloud with
clearness and expression are also quail
ties which are taken into account in ap-
pointing a maid Of honor.
Above all, however, a candidate must
be a model o. discretion and tact. who
avoids gossip as she would the plague.
To a maid Of honor court secrets are a
closed book. II is rule that she must
not keep diary. which recalls the witty
reply Of one maid. who, when female
acquaintance remarked that If she were
A maid Of honor she would keep a secret
diary. promptly said:
Then you would no longer be a maid
Of honor"
One Of the curious privileges of the
post OF maid Of honor when in waiting
is that Of being allowed to wear a charm
ing miniature of the queen set in dia-
monds on the left shoulder This orna-
ment. which bears the date of the coro-
nation at the back. is surmOUnted by a
fat bow OF red and white ribbon. and
when the owner is in waiting is worn
on the left side Of the corsage like a
decoration But al other times it can be
worn as a brooch or a pendant.
4 maid OF honor is not expected 10
give up her badge when she marriez or
II she resigns her post. but may retain
it TO the end of her life. and would wear
IL on any future occasion when she hap
peued 10 find herself in the presence OF
their majesties.
The courtesy title of ''honorah hle" is
also hers whether single or married.
until the end Of existence. This title is
only bestowed upon a maid Of honor a
few days before she takes up her new
appointment. She receives a formal
letter from the Lord Chamberlain init
mating that the sovereign deems il ad-
yisable that this style and title should
he afforded her and that she will hence
forth be known under this designation
Every one may not know that a maid
Of honor is expected to have A home OF
her own in London when the court is at
Buckingham Palace. royal carriage is
however. sout every morning to convey
her to the scene of her duties.
The usual rule is for a maid OF honor
10 he in close attendance upon the queen
from 10 or II O'Clock in the morning until
or 5 o'clock in the afternoon and again
in the evening every day for two months
in the year the position carrying with
it an allowance Of e400 a year. The
late Queen Victoria had eight maids. but
the number was reduced to four by Queen
Alexandra. and IS maintained by Queen
Mary.-From Tit-Bits.