SINGING BEFORE THE QUEEN.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 3217, 20 November 1900, Page 7

SINGING BEFORE THE QUEEN.

Hinging before the fcjueen is at once a very delightful and very trying experience (writes a lady who had the honour of being summoned to eing before Her Majesty at Balmoral a little time ago). The manner in whioh my appearance in the Sovereign's presence was brought to pass was altogether unusual, I am told by professional artists who have been received at Balmoral, lt oame abcut in this way : I was visiting at a country seat near the Royal abode, and one wet day, which kept everybody indoors, a very great lady, who was in close relations with the Queen, drove over in her carriage. The noble owner of tbe mansion asked me to sing some Scottish songs for the Duohess, who was much pleased. ' How they would interest Her Majasty !' she eaid. • Wouldn't you like to sing for the Queen ?' Of course, I assured her hothing would give me greater pleasure, and said tbat I would go to any part of tho kingdom to sing before Her Majasty. Six weeks later I received a cordial letter from the Duoliess, who was one of the Queen's bridesmaids and one of her closest friends, saying Her Majesty would be pleased to receive me. An officia) invitation followed. At ten o'clock on the night of the day named, I drove with my mother to the castle. Two ladiea-in-waiting received us in a palatial bedroom. A wood fire crackled, and a table was laden with refreshments — fruits, champagne and every delicaoy imaginable. I was oritically inspeoted by the ladies-in- waiting. Thanks to frequent consultations with Lady and other members of the nobility with whom I was acquainted, my toilet conformed to the requirements. If there had been the slightest deviation the ladies would have rectified it before my entrance to the drawing-room. The corsage must be decollete. Had mine been too low, the ladies would have covered it ; too high, they would have lowered it. That is their business. Ber Majesty objects to suede gloves. Only glace kid is tolerated. She dislikes artificial flowers in the hair or on the gown. Happily, my coiffure and train were loaded with white plumes, which Bhe greatly admires. At 10.30, preceded by an usher in scarlet coat, knee-breeches, and powdered wig, and followed by the ladies-in-waiting, I descended through a labyrinth of lofty corridors, every door sentinelled by guards in livery, to an anteroom. Presently the Marquis of Lome oame in, and told the ladies-in-waiting that Her Majesty was seated. Then I was led into the Royal presence. The great drawing-room was aglow with thousands of wax tapers. Along the walls stood the guests to the number of forty-two. No guest is allowed to sit in Her Majesty's presence. In the centre of the room sat the Queen. Beside her was Princess Beatrice, who was aIBO seated — the only one accorded that privilege. The Queen wore a black satin robe, the front elaborately embroidered in jet. The great train was of striped velvet. On her head was a tiny white cap, the strings of whioh almost reached the end of her train. From her shoulders hung long sleeves of rare old white lace, through which gleamed her exquisite arms and hands. The effect was beautiful. She wore many jewels, diamonds and pearls. I noticed particularly her earrings — huge diamonds in long oldfashioned setting; They were so heavy that they dragged down the lobo of the ear. When I had made the low obeisance, which had beeu diligently practised, and regained my feet withont the upset I feared, I stood by the piano, while Princess Beatrice read to Her Majesty the list of forty songs I had prepared for her selection. Her first choioe was ' The Flowers o' the Forest,' a melody always played over the jrravea of the servants and retainers of the Queen. Her Majesty beamed with pleasure when I had finished. Then she asked for * Leezie Lindsy,' a very old ballad. When I had sung three eongs, a waiter in scarlet — all the attendants seemed like giants— came in with a silver tray, and tea wa9 served. The Queen thoughtfully asked if I would prefer champagne, as tea was not good for the voica. I thanked her, and said I did not care for refreshments until I had finished singing. After tea she called for ' Comiu' Thro* the Rye,' then for « The Keel Row,' which she encored warmly, and I repeated it. Then Her Majesty rose and walked directly to me, and, crossing her beautiful hands on the piano, she asked who had trained me, and said she had never heard Scottish songs sung so well. ' Why have the people allowed them to die ont ?' she asked. I told her I thought it was due to the faot that children were sent nowadays to France and Germany, where they acquire taste for French and German songs, and were ignorant of the beauty of their native music 'Is there anything I can do,' said Her Majesty, * to help this revival ?' ' You. have given great help tbis evening, jour Majesty,' I replied, ' by inviting me to sing them in your presence !* When I had sung about seven songs, an attendant handed Her Majesty a morocco box. There was a little flutter around her chair. Without consulting my attendants, on the impulse of a moment, I bowed myself out of Her Majesty's presence, which was a great faux pas. I was followed to the anteroom by the Queen's secretary. • You made a great mistake to leave the drawing-room,' he said. ' Her Majesty haß a present for you.' Embarrassed and apologising, I turned to retrace my steps to the drawing-room. ' No,' he said, ' having once left Her Majesty's presence, one is not permitted to return unless she requests it.' He brought me the Queen's famous birthday book, with Her Majesty's request that I write in it my name and the date of my birth. Soon dinner was announced. Again the procession formed, as it had in descending to the drawing-room. Through corridors and corridors, everywhere attended by soarlet rotainers brandishing wands like magicians in fairyland, we passed in silence, until a grand dining-room was reaohed. My mother was invited to dine with me, but she was so overoome by the ceremonial and the splendour that she preferred to sip her obampagne and goodies in the bedroom, where she stayed throughout the reoital. There were eevea servants to wait upon me, and not a soul sat at the table bat my*

Belf I It waa overpowering, but no detail of Her Majesty's linen, glass, or china, esoaped me; every piece was marked 'V.A.' At length, with a flourish of the wands, an official announced the Duohess, who had been the oause of my appearance at Balmoral. Bhe oame without a word— and the seven servants and the ladies-in-waiting promptly vanished 1 They recognised in the Duchess a messenger from the Queen. It was not etiquette for them to listen. The Duohefs broke the ioe. She was warm in her praises. 'So many artistß are so nervous in Her Majesty's presence that they fail to do themselves Justice j but you were oalm and selfpossessed,' she said. The Duohess brought the Queen's present. She had made the selection, the Duchess said, from twenty, four designs. It waa a lovely bracelet, with fourteen brilliants and four large pearla. It was insoribed with the Queen's initials and the date. When Her Graoe withdrew, my mother and myself left tbe Castle, and made for the nearest town, which we reaohed at half past two in the morning, and were glad to oreep into the bed of the village inn, where we felt more at home.