Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-06-02
Dining at Winsor.

Dining at Winsor.
PROGRAMME FOR THE QUEENS GUESTS.
Royal guests leave Paddington either at
five or half past six. On arriving at the
visitors entrance of the Castle, they are
received by the pages of the chamber who,
after consulting table on which each
persons location is written out, conduct
the guests to their respective apartments.
The visitors rooms are spacious, warm
and thoroughly comfortable; they are hung
with interesting pictures and each con-
tains large bath with perpetual hot
and cold supply. If the guest is known to
any one in waiting, he will probably be
speedily looked up by his friend; if be is
acquainted with lady Of the household,
he may be bidden to drink tea with her,
In any case, he probably receives visit
from Sir John Cowell. About half-past
seven it is time to prepare for the Queen g
dinner-party, as it is indispensable to ap-
pear at the royal table in full dress. The
old and ugly Windsor uniform is usually
worn by those who have right to it. Soon
after eight the visitor finds his way into
the grand corridor, where the dinner COM
pany assemble. Shortly after half-past
eight the Queen enters from her own pri-
vate apartments followed by Princess Be-
atrice. Her Majesty speak word or two
to the visitors, and then all go to dinner.
The private dlning.room which opens from
the corridor, is a most comfortable apart
ment. The Queen always lunches in this
not exceed sixteen. The further side is al
most all window. looking into the quad
rangle; the walls on each side of the door
are covered with splendid tapestry, which
was presented to William w. 10y Louis
Philippe. There are only two pictures
the Queen (by Angeli) at one end, and the
Duchess of Edinburg at the other. The
dinner is always very good, the carte being
we'll conceived and we'll executed, and the
dinners excellsntly served. On the naenu
the name of the cook who is responsible
for each dish is written opposite TO it, so
|
dispensed. Champagne and claret are the
wines usually taken. There is a
large cellar of very fine old port at
the Castle, but very little is now consumed
nor is sherry (which was the favorite wine
of William IVY in great request. In
Prince Albert's time Tokay always ap-
peared. as he invariably drank one glass
after dinner; and as a supply was sent
every Christmas by the Emperor of Aus
tria, he got the best that could be had
The royal dining-room is quite spectacle,
and the first time visitor ''has the honor
of dining" he is very likely to lose his
dinner while looking round the ROOM
John Brown, in full Highland dress, is
stationed behind the Queens chair, and
occasionally the other personal servant, y
Lohlein (who was Prince Albert's conf
Dental valet,) is also to be seen lowering
1 about. There are footmen in their state
liveries, pages and cellarmen in their re-
spective uniforms, and the clerks of the
kitchen, who carve at the side table. On
ordinary occasions they are in plain black
| :
they appear in their uniforms.
While the Queen is dining, the ladies
and gentlemen of the household are taking
their meal in the large dining room, I'M
der the presidency of Sir John Cowell; this
room opens into the first of the three prin-
cipal drawing rooms, and is at the north
east corner of the Castle, and the finest
view from the whole place is obtained
from its windows. The Queen dimes here
when she has party of twenty or thirty.
On the very rare occasions when the num-
Der is still larger, and it becomes an affair
Of state banquet, st. Georges Hall is
used. The Queen leaves the room with
the ladies, and in two or three minutes the
gentlemen follow, and then comes the only
personal intercourse that takes place be-
tween guest and the host, as her Majesty
remains in the corridor for perhaps half
an hour, and converses for few minutes
with each visitor in succession, after which
she bows to the circle and retlres. The
guests and household then adjourn into
the Crimson or Green Drawing-room There
is some wonderful Chippendale work in
| this room, which would be the despair of
ordinary dilettanti if they could see it),
and the evening closes with music and
whist. These rooms contain numerous
cabinets of priceless china. The Queen
passes the evening in conversation with
Princess Beatrice, or in reading or writing,
or in listening to a reader, either in her
own sitting room or in the adjoining one,
which was formerly used by Prince AL
bert. Both are invariably lighted up.
Candles are used for the illumination OF
her Majestys private rooms.
There is an excellent billiard-room.
where smoking IS allowed and cooling
drinks are to be obtained. The idea that
the regulations as to smoking are of in
convenient stringency is quite illusory.-
There are smoking rooms, not merely for
! the household and guests, but for the up
per and ordinary servants. 1t is impossi-
BILE to grant liberty to guests to smoke in
their rooms, as the next person might dis
like the smell, and after nights occupa-
ton by some of the German visitors, one
would find an atmosphere capable of cur
ing Westphalian ham.--Lo1adon Truth.
FEELINGS come and go like light troops
following the victory of the present; but
| principles, like the troops of line, are un-
disturbed and stand fast.
As TO people saying few idle words
about US, we must not mind that any more
than the old church steeple minds the
| rocks cawing about it.
WHEN the nation gives birth To a man