The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-19
Literary
Favorifes
Of Queen
Victoria.

falling eyesight. two persons In her
household have come to possess moro
and more Importance These are the
lectrices. or readers. employed by the
nation TO save what remains OF her
majesty's vision
The late Lord Beaconsaeld once hu-
morously described the two lectrices a.
the queens pair OF spectacleS" For
many years Frauiein Bauer and Mile.
Norele have held these positions. the
queen only needing their services for
German and French. as her English -
read to her by her ladies' in waiting or
maids OF honor.
through the courtesy OF the queens
private secretary. a chat was quite re-
Gently obtained with both these ladies
regarding the tastes OF their mistress in
literature. Mile. Noreie. a spriShtly
and charming Frenchwoman. was easi-
~ enough induced TO speak. "Her mai
esty. she declared. reads very little
OF the lighter side OF our literature un-
less. indeed. one excepts the various
periodicals which are sent marked for
rerusaI from the secretary's Office. she
is especially fond of the older authors
works. Xavier de Maistre's. Victor HUI
COS and portions OF Baixac'S. for in
stance. l think that the story she likes
best in all French literature is De
Maistre's touching Lepreux de Ia Cite
Aoste.' have read IL to her times
without number. the beautiful parhos
OF the tale appearing TO sooths her in n
remarkable manner
OF all the moderns really believe
that her majesty holds NJ Alphonse
Daudet alone admirable. She thinks
htss1 tire
fers the delicious Letters From Ny
Mill In Provence and 'Trente Ans de
Paris TO the better known books. You
will be perhaps astonished 20 learn that
the queen likes Henri Murger and many
a time have we laughed together over
the graceless scamps OF the Vie de Bo-
heme. Last year we read Feneion's
'Telemaque' from cover To cover. Her
majesty declared that the work brought
back two of her life's happiest periods
her own childhood days in Kensington
palace and the days in which she taught
her children their French.
"A very important branch OF my
work consists in reading the many let
ters received daily by the queen from
members OF her family and intimate
friends. Nearly all OF these are either
in German or French. Many OF the
queens Juvenile descendants are ac-
customed TO send her long weekly ac-
eounts-perfect diaries. in fact-of their
doings and opinions"
Frauleln Bauer was less communi-
cative than her colleague. She comes OF
family which has served the queens
German ancestors in many capacities
for generations back.
The queen" she said read. con-
siGerably In modern Cermea literature.
She is even fond OF the humorous Jour
nails and subscribes 20 all the principal
magazines. Her German secretaTy.
Herr Maurice Muther. carefill watch
es for all newspaper articles which may
interest her and sends them marked
for ,eading. ! think tha; Schiller ~
her majesty's favorite German poet. bat
she IS also very fond of Goethe. Helns
she dislikes intensely. I have heard her
quote the prince consort 10 the effect
that 'Heines genius had the phosphor-
escent light Of decay.
She likes historical novels. particu-
larry Laube's Der Deutsche Krieg and
Scheffers 'Ekkehard' This taste for
historical fiction. / believe. follows the
queen into other languages. she great
ly admires Walter Scott Felix Dahn
Reading her matesty's voluminons 4
German correspondence forms a very .
large portion OF my duty
Hon. Emily Mcneil. who, In her ca
pacity Of maid OF honor 20 the queen.
has read extensively 10 her majesty In
English. was kind enough To add a few
words to those Of the iectricez The
queens tastes in English literature
she said. ARE catholic. She reads al
most every new book which is described
20 her as possessing real merit For
years the queen took Lord Beaconsield's
opinion largely on the subject. but since
the great premier's death her advisers
are many.
The queen n never tired OF rereadinK
Scott and Dickens. Re-
Gently she has shown a sympathetic
feeling for Milton and has been perus- =
ing the blind poets works. Lord Ten
nysOn Is. however,. her favorits There
Is an utterly erroneous opinion abroad
that she greatly dislikes Mr. swinburne.
On the contrary. she has remarkable
liking for 'AtaIanta In caiyeon.- and
others 81 Swinburne's poems OF late
she has been reading Mr. Kipling. and
expresses admiration for his viSor and
keen insight into human nature She
told a friend that Kipiing had shown
her empire 10 her IN the most realistic
with her fondness for historical &C. =.
ton. she eyincss much interest N the
new school Of historical hction TIE
Celtic reuascence also attracts her. for
she sympathizes with the Gael 20 a re-
extent. and IL pr0gdsr. I ysr-
iy believe. q her kinshlp 20 the stu
arts than Of her descent from ths
Gueiphs"