The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-01-02
A ROYAL LAUNDRY.
How Queen Victoria Superintends the
Washing and Ironing.

How Queen victoria SupeTlntenos 'hS
Washing and Ironing.
Queen Victoria laundry is a
square, ivy covered building, with a
wing projecting from one side. 1t
has no pretentions to architectural
beauty or appearance, but its intc-
rior has been designed for the special
purpose for which it is fitted In
this the personal linen of the queen
IS dealt with, and no stranger, under
any circumstances, is permitted in.
side its walls. The s0iled linen ar
riycs from tic royal palaces in great
white square baskets and is taken in
hand at once by the sorters and
compared with the lists TINT accom-
pany it. The personal linen of men,
bers of the royal family is sent and
returned in wooden boxes with brass
plates, on which are engraved the
names Of the owners and numbers.
These are taken to sorting room
kept specially for them.
Two washing rooms used for the
household and table linen lead from
the general sorting room. From the
rinsing tub everything goes imme-
diately into the wringing machine,
which, revolving at the rate of 700
revolutions minute, delivers the
articles very nearly dry. Across tho
passage is the nangle and press
room, where daily great piles of ia
blecloths, towels, sheets, etc., are
dealt with. Towels form by far the
largest number of items dealt with,
and when Victoria Is at Windsor
several hundreds of dozens a week
20 through this establishment, and
all the household linen dealt with is
from the queens establishment
alone, for, though all the personal
linen of the members of the royal
family is cleanscd here SO as to Sc
cure the greatest amount of safety
from any infection, the household
linen of the different branches is
sent principally to private firms.
Drying and ironing rooms are on
the first floor. That devoted to the
former purpose is deliberately fitted
With slides over the furnace, but is
principally intended for use in wet
or wintcry weather, rs there is o
splendid drying ground attached,
and adjoining this is large CORFU
gated iron shed, with open ends and
sides formed of revolving shutters,
for use on showery days and damp
nights. In the ironing department
n rule is in force that seems strange,
INVOLVING, as it does, much extra
work and expensc-everything here
is thoroughly dried before it is
ironed. OF course the patent iron
ing machine saves good deal of
tho extra labor, but the scores Of
f1atirons speak eloquently for them
selves Of their share of the work.
Tho royal table linen is of tho fin
est substance and is specially manu-
featured. The designs woven in are
very handsome and elaborate, the
queens monogram predominnting,
with roses, shamrocks and thistlcs
among armorial bearings. 1t is also
made in sets, each tablecloth having
Il number of serviettcs to match it
in design, otc.
The queen herself periodically su-
perintends the throwing out of worn
articles at her palaces. AS she is
seated in the linen room at Bucking-
ham palace each thing is held up
before her and condemned or passed,
as the case may be. If the former,
its destination is ut once fxed-ei-
thcr hospital Or some other charita-
Bile institution-and it is certain I,
reach that destination az soon after
it is cleared from tho books of the
palace as possible. House Furnish
ing Review.