St. Paul daily globe., 1884-09-19
QUEEN VICT0RlA's HOUSE HOLD
A Review Of the Officers and Dependents Of
the Queens Establishment and
Their Duties.

The queens court is composed of officers
subordinates, and attendants to the number
of nearly thousand, the majority receiving
salaries that may be called more than liberal
First and foremost comes lord steward,
whose office is political one, in the gift of
the existing ministry; his salary is $1,000 a
year. He is the principal officer of the court
and his Jurisdiction over the entire house
hold. All officers and servants connected
with the court, excepting those of the queens
chamber, chapel, and stable, are subject to
his orders. He appears in court on all such
occasions, and the subodinate officials of the
household are appointed by him.
The active duties of the lord steward are
performed by the master of the household,
whose constant residence is within he pre-
clncts OF the palace. Necessarily he has a
large staff of officers to assist him, having
full control over the domestic establishment
The salary of the master is IS, T90 year, and
his private secretary receives 81, 500 year.
sThe lord treasurer ranks next to the lord
steward, acts for him at all state cerem monies
in case he is absent, and draws 81, ,520 year.
The board of green cloth is compored of
the four aforementioned officials, and
adjucatcs on offenses committed in certain
parts of the palace. To assist them in their
onerous duties, they have secretary at ST.
500 year, three accounting clerks at 1000
year each, divers other clerks to the num-
Der of six, and one female assistant
The clerk of the kitchen is an important
fun ctionary, evidenced by the fact he gets
So, 500 a year and found.n Under him he
has seven clerks to keep accounts, check
goods as are received, and gave the necessa-
ry orders to the tradespeople.
The chef receives $4,000 year and his
four assistant cooks 1,750 each, with the
privilege of each taking an apprentice, the
latter having to pay premium of 81 600.
There are six other assistant cooks and twelve
helpers of different kinds.
The head of the confectionery department
of the kitchen receives 81, 800 yearly, and his
assistant S1,220, they having six assistants;
in addition, there are the pastry cook and
baker, with four assistants, and three women
having charge of the coffee-room. The linen
is looked after in the ''ewer department, con-
sisting of yeoman and two assistants.
The chief butler receives 90 500 year. He
holds an important position, inasmuch as
| he selects and buys all the wines used in the
royal household. To properly arrange the
|
there are two principal table deckers with ST.,
600 year each a second table decker at $3.50
third at $3.50, and an assistant with $3.50.
| The least liberal salaries probably are those
paid to the three yeomen having charge of
the plate pantry, whose united salaries
amount to put 81. $50, while the valuables
intrusted to their care are estimated to be
worth from S10,000,000 to 49,
! 900, 900. They have six assis-
tants. The care of her majestY's Goals
must be an arduous duty, as it intrusted to
no less than thirteen persons.
The first and second lamplighters receive
$500 o year each and board money, and have
seven assistants.
The court of Marshalshea is regular court
of justice attached to the queens household
having over all places within twelve miles OF
| Whitehall. The lord steward is the judge,
the function of the court being to admins
ter justice between the queens domestic
servants. This court was established by
Henry VIII, and now costs the natiou$9,-
GO year, not including the salary of the
chief Of police of this court (who is called
knight marshaD, $4,000 a year, and hi;
eight assistants with $500 year each.
On Maunday Thursday of each year and
twice a year in Scotland yard aims arc dis
|
fee that looks after these distributions, the
two principal officers of which are called the
hereditary grand almoder. Both offices arc
honorary, but they have a secretary, who re-
ceives 81, $50 year, about the amount dis
tributed TO the poor on Maunday Thursday.
The lord cham berlain receives $4,000 {
year and the vice chamberlain 81, 620. They
superintend all the officers and servants be
longing to the queens chambers, except the
bed cham bers, these being under the groom
of the stole, as well as the officers of thu
wardrobe. All entertainments given in The
palace are under their care, and they have tC
audit all accounts cynnected with royal mar
riages, coronations, funerals, etc. To as
sift the chamberlain there are comptroller
of accounts, an inspector of accounts, three
clerks and four messengers, three united sal
aries amounting to SIS, $50.
In this department also is the keeper o
her maiesty's privy purse. He is the fnan
cial secretary Of the queen.
The mistress of the robes draws a salary o
50, 500, and the groom of the robes 81, 900
with three assistants. There are also eigh
ladies of the bedchamber. who each in roUa
ton wait on her majesty fortnight at
time.
The queens maids of honor are eight i I
number, and receive 800 a year each
They attend her majesty two at a time for {
month, thus serving but three months il
the year.
The bedchamber women are the same IL
number as the maids of honor, receive th'
same salary, aud serve in rotation in th
same manner. They are only expected Il
figure however on state occasions.
Next we have eight lords in waiting, the
grooms in waiting, the gentlemen usher
Of the privy chamber, daily walters, groom
of the privy chambers quarterly walters
grooms of the great chamber and thirty -tw'
gentlemen of the privy chamber.
The last named receive no pay whatever,
except the honor of the thing, while the frs
mentioned cost the exchequor S55, 965
year
a difficult position TO fill is that of marsha
of the ceremonies. He attends on all stat
occarsiors, and conducts foreign ambassa
dors, etc, to the queens presence. a thor
oueh knowledge of the details of etiquette
and above all, Of precedence, is absolutel
| necessary in this post. The salary is onL
81 600 a year.
There are five pages of the back stairs
who receive $4,000 year. Their duties ar,
TO wait on the sovereign. Two state page
and page of the chambers assist the five.
Inc IOrus, lacles, anu HeIus VI hohOi nav
six pages of the presence to attend them a
breakfast and luncheon. These pages ar,
also required to wait on her Majesty's visit
) OTIS. They each receive 5000 year, and hav
, pages-men to wait on them.
Eight sergeants-at-arms draw $500 yea
apiece. Their duties are now nominal
though in the days of the joust and tourne
they were TO ''hold watch outside the royl
tent in complete armor, with bow, arrow
sword, and mace of Office; and TO captuT
any traitors about the court or other great ot
tenders"