The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
ENGLAND'S INNER COURT
OBSERVATIONS UPON 1T AS 1T is
The Procession of Royalty on Wheels
Daily Habits OF the Oueen-How She
Lives-Dress and Etiquette-ser-
vants-Yictoria's Eccentricities.

comedies with the spring function of a
draying-room. He can stand in Pail Mall
or ST. James park and see the carriages,
freighted with 'fair women and" a few
'brave men," the fair faces and jeweled
necks of the former rising above the clouds
OF tulle and lace or the pillows of brocade
which fill the space round them as they pass
slowly, with many halt, toward Buck
ingham palace. For one OF the most
marked changes in these later days of the
Victorian era is the reception by her
majesty of the nobility and gentry in
Buckingham instead of st. James palace,
where the prince OF Wales. representing
his mother, holds the levees.
Granted good weather Ia large grant,
we acknowledge, in our early spring., it is
a fine sight, though less deliberately grand
than it used 10 be forty years ago, when
the display OF large family coaches, with
bewigged coachmen, powdered footmen,
voluminous hammer-cloths (as the orna-
mented cloth covers OF the driving seats
are called, and richly caparisoned horses,
Outnumbered the unpretending broughams
and hired conveyances. Now the num-
Der OF presentees have doubled or proba-
bly, quadrupled. and the humber We
hicles preponderate.
Over these changes the old style of con-
sentative laments. chiefly because change
OF any kind IS Objectionable in his eyes,
but also, no doubt, because of a dim con-
seriousness that this continuous enlarge
ment OF the court bounds may be akin to
the oninous swelling of that immortal
and ambitious frog which was the precur-
scr OF Its final bust up However this
may be, a certain interest hangs round
''the court, which IN England is kind
OF inner core OF the national existence,
and which at the present time Is slowly
expanding and varying alphabetically
with the gradual mutations col social life
For London, 1t must be admitted, ''tbe
court has virtually ceased to exist. The
hospitalities of Marlborough house, though
all the pleasanter for their spontaneity
and semi-private character, are not state
functions, nor do they bear the solemn
seal of official admission to the sovereign's
circle.
The separation OF real ''court life" from
the outer fringe OF drawing rooms, levees,
state balls and concerts always existed,
though IN much less degree, forty or
fifty years ago. Then the right to be pre-
scented was. more limited, and those
admitted to the royal presence were
possibly more acquainted with the
sovereign; now, when great scientists
give new realms to tho kingdom OF
knowledge, great inv3lt IS fresh power 10
human activity, when great discoveries
bring the unknown within the reach of
human ken, great fnanciers and organ
1zers increase the sum of human wealth,
new nobility arises, which. If they care to
demand it, not only have a right to APP
pear before their sovereign, but honor the
circle which admits them. Below these
crowd the ranks OF swiftly successful
Inammon-seekers, who burn to stamp their
shoddy with the sacred seal OF acceptance
NJ court. For all these there arc few op-
portunities In London for such patent az
randizement. The queen lives retired
IN the semi-seclusion naturally most ac-
ceptable to her, since the terrible bereave-
ment which left her perhaps the loneliest
woman in the world
The inner life of the court has ia il little
TO tempt a Sybarite dutiful-
ness, conscientious performance of work
are It's characteristics. Vain and giddy
gal'ants would find its atmosphere op-
pressive and uncongenial. Sobriety and
thoughtfulness are in the air; perhaps a
slight degree Of monotony or tinge of iris
fssse may make holder and lighter spirits
sigh Tor fresh fields and wider range, but
none can quarrel with its mental tone or
the routine which prevails.
At 8 her majesty breakfasts alone. I'M
less some OF her children, grandchildren
or personal friends are staying in the pal
ace, and she is rarely without them. In
summer, at Osborne, Windsor or Balmo-
raj, this meal is generally served out Of
doors IN some alcove, tent or summer
house; after the queen either drives in
small pony carriage accompanied bv one
Of the princesses, or she walks attended
by lady-in-waiting or maid-of-honor,
with whom she converses with friendly
ease, and followed by two Highland serv-
ants and some favorite dogs.
Luncheon is served at >, the c0uUiucs
being her majesty's family or royal CUES Is.
Until this hour, from her short breakfast
exercise, the queen is diligently occupied
with official correspondence and business
OF various kinds. Long training has made
her 4 politician OF no men ability and
breadth OF view, her natural common
a superstructure. It assists, too, in en-
aiding her TO choose her friends well and
wisely, though the court surroundings
are not calculated to help royal personages
IN forming Just judgment OF character.
Human nature puts on somewhat too
angelic guise, where everything may be
won by amiability and nothing By the
reverse.
In the mornings the maids OF honor
There are nine in all in waiting for the
time are with the princesses. reading or
practicing on the piano. singing or play
ing lawn-tennis with them, as any young
ladies, companions together, might The
lady-in-w waiting accompanies the queen in
her afternoon drives and visits, which are
most frequently to the poor and to hum
bic workers, often to simple gentry or any
one IN trouble. Afterward this lady reads
aloud to her majesty in her private sitting
room.
The royal dinner is at $50, and that
meal is shared by those OF the royal family
then residing with the queen, by dis
visitors, and some of the house
hold in rotatiOn-viz., lords and ladies-in-
waiting, maids-of-honor, equerries and
gTOOms-in-waiting- latter official hold
ing a considerably lower position than the
equerry, though TO the uninstructed it
sounds like distinction without differ
ence.
The queen is a woman of strict business
habits and steady application the amount
oil correspondence she gets through is
enormous In the private portion OF this
correspondence her majesty is assisted by