A QUEEN'S MAID DISMISSED.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 104, 6 May 1907, Page 6

A QUEEN'S MAID DISMISSED.

How Margherita, Queen-Motlier of Italy, saw a lady wearing some of her cast-oIT clothes in the street, and w hat became of it, is tho subject of an amusing story (says the Daily Mirror). The Queen-Mother, though in many matters a woman of simple anil decidedly democratic tastes, has always dressed as befits a Queen, and her wardrobe is extensive and costly. Some six years ago Qvieen Margherita had a favourite maid, Teresa, whom she trusted implicitly. But one day while out shopping the tho Queen saw a avoiuu enter the shop wearing a dress that appeared singularly familiar to her. She continued her scrutiny of it, despite the obvious embarrassment of the stranger, until iier eyes saw a tiny spot on the hem of the skirt. That removed the last vestige of doubt in her miml. The dress was one which she ha * herself worn, and which she had discarded only a few days bf'oro on account of that very spot. Then she returned to the Palace and started an investigation. As a result Teresa was dismissed, for Tersea, it appeared, had been in the habit of selling her "perquisites," as she called them, to whomsoever would pay most for them. Teresa had several successors, who lasted only a brief while until Adele Badcarini was given the position. In her the Queen-Mother congratulated herself that she at last found the perfect maid. She did not again see another woman wearing a dress which she recognised as having oncebeen her own.

But some weeks ago Queen Marglierita was driving in the Via Tritoni, when, during a block in the traffic, her carriage came to a halt near to one in which was seated an American lady wearing a hat which only a few days before had adorned Margherita's own royal head.

Then followed another investigation, and Adele, tho perfcct jewel of a maid, was proved to be the culprit.. The enquiry showed that for several years she had been in the habit of selling everything in the shape of apparel which her royal mistress had discarded. But, more crafty than Teresa, she had adopted a method which enabled her to get considerably better prices for the articles, and at the same time to keep the matter from coming to the Queen Mother's attention.

She sold her '' perquisites'' only to foreigners, and, for preference, to American women, whom she found would pay bigger prices for such souvenirs of Royalty than women of any other nationality.

She hired a room just behind the Grand Hotel, where she received her "clients." One condition she imposed upon the purchasers was that nothing tliay bought should be worn in Italy. It was because a lady from Buffalo disregarded the pledge that Adele was found out. The business had netted her something over £1000 a year and the loss of it made her furious.

As soon as she was dismissed from the Palace she hurried to the hotel where the American lady was stopping and "interviewed her." The lady from Buffalo was found by her own maid on a sofa in a half-faint-ing condition, while Adele, the ragged remnants of the hat which had caused all the trouble in her hand, was raging up and down the room like a tigress.