Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-17
QUEEN vICTORIA,S DAILY LIFE.
How She Lodges. Feeds and Receives
Her S.ues;s-Her Hours for Bust.
Correspondence Of the New York Sun

Correspondence Of the New York sun
The habitual precautions for isolating the
Queen from the curiosity and demonstrations of
her subjects, and making the transit from one
royal residence to another m6nastically secluded
were perhaps even Atensifed during the Jour
ney OF Friday last. With one solitary exception
the stations were virtually unapproachabie
while the Queens special train was in sight.
Once only. at Ferry Hill station, the Great
Northern company issued tickets enabling some
privileged individuals TO enter the sacred pre-
clncts and to feast their eyes, at a respectful
distance. on the midnight pageant. These tick
cts were only Obtaiuabe with great difficulty,
and after searching investigation into the pos
tulant's antecedents. Ii is not said whether
gate money was taken, and who benefited by
the proceeds.
At Windsor In broad daylight when the
train arrived from Scotland. a guard OF the
Third Battalion of GTenadier Guards lined the
Castle Hit road. the whole cOnstabulary force
OF the borough patrOlled the way between the
Great Western station and the palace. a detach-
ment of the Metropolit an police had been add-
tionally sent from PaddingtOn and the COM
pany's staff jealousy guarded the station rails
and viaduct arches so that. at a rough cOmpu-
tation. il was estimated that the number of
officers employed to protect the Queen against
her loyal subjects exceeded the gathered spec
tat0rS by q not lncOnSidefaDle inquire.
Apropos of the journey of the rOval family of
England. it is not perhaps generally known
that its members. although endowed with con-
siderable civil lists. do not bear the expenses
of their Continental excursions, in so far that
the budget is charged to the amount of $40 for
every trip across the Channel PAYABLE to the
steamer that has carried them across. Last
year the Prince of Wales and his sons crossed
seven times. the Duke and Duchess Of Fdin-
burgh five times. the Duke and Duchess of
Mecklenburg three. the Duke and Duchess of
Connaught the same. the Princess Imperial of
Germany twice, the Duchess of Teck. the Duke
OF Cambridge and Princess Beatrice respec-
lively once. running up bin of 1920. betrayed
by long-sutering. but discontinued ratepayers.
The dull regular, embarrassing routine of
her majesty's daily life so trying even to the
enduring patience of her last remain0 daughter
has once more begun. unTelieyed save by the
homely. almost lowly incidents recorded above.
and which constitute the only communion be-
tween the nation and herself. Time was, even
after the castle had been virtually closed for the
festivities that guests were hidden to it for all
three days visit so dear to the British heart.
and during their stay enjoyed the privilege of
revealing in the priceless accumulation of pie
lures. tapestries, objects of arts. rare books,
rarer engravings. and unrivaled specimens of
china-One little table with rose DubqY7'y me-
Gallons alone being estimated at 425. 600. Now
the invitations rarely extend over one evening
and night and although they are to all intents
and purposes commands. sometimes only reach
the recipients few hours before the time when
their attendance is required
fast train brings you down from Paddngton
station in 40 minutes. As no carriages are la
bitually sent to meet you, you have to trust
yourself and servant to flies cabs to reach the
castle Pages ofthe Queen lads belonging to
the best families in the Kingdoms take charge Of
you and. consulting written list, conduct you
to the apartments set aside for your use. These
consist in complete suite of rooms the only
fault being that in winter they are apt to be in
sufficiently warmed. as the Queen is constitu-
tOnally averse to heat. Shortly after the arrival
OF guest. he receives the visit OF the master of
the household, Sir j. C. Covell who brings him
an invitation to have tea with one or other of the
ladies in waiting.
Full court dress is de riq,te,u for the dinner
AS early as o'clock the guests assemble IN the
great gallery which runs around the quadrangle
and which forms an immense picture gallery
never opened TO the general public. even at
those periods when admittance to the state
apartments is allowed during the Queens ab-
sence from Windsor. At half-past 5. accom-
panied by the Princess Beatrice her Majesty
makes her appearance and. with few brief
words TO the company. leads the way to the
dining room. If there are sixteen to dinner it
Is served In that apartment one side of which
is broad window, opening on the central
court The walls are hung with tapestry and
two paintings only adOrn the apartment-a pOr-
TRAIT OF the Queen by Angel. and one of the
Duchess of Edingburgh. When en- fdmilje the
Queen dimes in one of the octagonal towers
where each of the eight windows frames per-
feet view of the park.
There is little or no conversation at these
state repasts. The Queen not unfreQuently
leans forward to whisper remark to her daugh-
ter in a fashion which, to say the least is dis
composing to the uninitiated. The nlenu be-
sides the names Of the dishes. gives that of
the chef who has cOncOcted them. The innu-
Vulnerable foOtmen are all in gala livery
buffers and pages in costume. and the So
1fnA ssnta 81 III,
and knee breeches, stand at the sideboards to
carve.
After the dinner. which IL short. the Queen
retires with the lades-a mere formality for the
men follow three minutes later. The members
of the court and household have also finished
their meal, taken in the great hall opening out
Of the first Ofthe three great saloons. and which
is used by the Queen only when her party ex-
ceeds thirty. Sir j. C.. COwel presides at that
table The post-prandal ceremonies are promptly
gone through. her Majesty exchanges a few SEN
fences with each of her guests who remain
standing the whole time. and at the end OF half
an hour, at the outside. withdraws to her priv
ote rooms. which are always brilliantly lighted,
and where she finishes the evening convprsinr
with her daughter. reading. writing, or being
read to. Meanwhile her visitors are at liberty
TO play whist or listen TO music in the red and
green drawing-roOms. The gentlemen can be-
take themselves to billiards or TO the smoking
rooms. The latter are provided even for the
any other apartment. public or private
Every visitor knows that he will see his
royal hostess no more and that he is expected
TO leave the castle by IL next morning He
can take his breakfast in his rooms or down
stairs as be prefers. Her Majesty has her very
cary meal either alone or with some prince Of
blood royal At she drives through the
grounds, which are Of great extent and
beauty and strictly private, TO Frogmore
where she alights and. weather permitting
enters tent spread on the lawn for her
use. There she reads her letters and the
newspapers. The latter have been pre-
viOusiy carefully scanned by one of her ladies in
waiting and the passages which should meet her
eye marked in red pencil She scrupulously alb
stains from glancing at any Others. Under a
second tent she then attends TO business and
bulky packages Of correspondence are opened
before her. mounted groom constantly rides
backward and forward. carrying her instruc-
tons to her private secretary at the castle She
herself returns thither for lunch, after which the
afternoon Is filed up with walking and driving
with Princess Beatrice until the evening again
begins.
Amid the p0mp. magnifcence, and lavish
display OF the great royal citadel in that gor-
geOuS pile filed with wealth of art in con-
trast with the eXOrbitant expenditure of stables.
kitchens and countless attendants pages
grooms, dOmestcs and gardeners, petty econ
omies are practiSed which many an mpOver-
ished householder would feel ashamed to at
tempt One instance may suffice: Every new
visitor Is entitled to fresh supply OF candles.
III would be unseemly to leave I'm his rooms any