Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-06
HOW QUEEN VICTORIA ENTERrAINs

| need not tell you how simple, plain, and
parfectly English womanly are the habits and
tastes OF the Queen. The Prince of Wales,
socially, is nothing more than rich, sporting,
pleasure-loving squire. The style Of entertain
meut at the palace, for example, is quite like
that you would receive at the house of the
Duke of Sutherland or the Duke Of Westmns-
ter. Nay, have even heard the complaint
limited that when the Queen entertains officials
and at dinner the vianus are not various or az
we'll served as at any ordinary arstoeratic gen.
rleman's house. The Queen certainly sets an
example of economy to her upper class subjects.
When she comes to London for the early Par
liaueutary season her favorite method of dis
pepsing hospitality is to give garden parties
and .'breaktasts" in Buckingham Palace gar
dens, or iu the private garden of Windsor Gas
tie. Invitations to the Sc are, Of course, very
much sought Tor, because they are the most
select: there you come directly In contact with
royalty, and see it more nearly aud Familiarity
than if you dined with the Queen 10 the castle.
When you are conducted 10 the garden by
one of the scarlet hunkies OF majesty said Hun
Ky Is about the only visible hint OF its being
royal party You see pretty tents and canvas
psvilioDs disposed here and there under the
oaks, on the velvet lawn, or by the side Of the
pgham Palace garden, which is 10 the very
centre of fashionable West End London, the
momcnt you have passed behind the high
wall which shuts it out from St. James
park 90 the one side and aud Grosveuer square
on the other you would never guess that you
were in the midst IF the city. The surround
ipgs are exquisite and most illusorily rural
You see a number of gentlemen aud ladies, ele-
ganrly dressed. standing about in groups; par
taxing of the by no means sumptuous fare that
is being served without ceremony in the tents.
The scene is cheerful, elegant, bon ton, easy,
and unrcstrained. You catch glimpse of the
Queen dressed in black, with here and there
relief of rich white lace, but with no suspicion
of tiusel or gaudiness about her; plain lady,
o! substantial proportions, in the prime of life,
the center of a respectful but by no means awed
or atashed circle, receiving those whom she
recognizes with a slight smile and a pleasant
word, and the presentation OF those she does
net know with slight bow There are faces
here familiar to you in the windows of the print
shops-uoblemeD, statesmen, ministers, am.
baSSadors, leaders CT society and court fashion;
but there is little or no pretensioD of manner or
carriage.
You are surprised above all at the simplicity,
the elegant commonplace, of the whole thing.
You may iostle Wales or the Russian Ambassa-
dor or the Lord Chief Justice without being IN
the least aware Of the fact The gentleman
who, seeing you are stranger, asks ifyou will
not have sandwich and cup of coffee, may be
fashionable artist or a provincial mayor, and
may be the Duke of Teck. 1t, perchaDce, you
have been at fete champetre at some great
country house-say at Chatsworth or Belvoir-
you say to yourself that this differs in no strik-
ing respect from it, unless, indeed, it differs
by its lesser brilliancy and its more suggestive
simplicity. London Cor. Boston Post.