New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12
THE QUEENS "SPECTACLES."
VICTORIAS LITERARY TASTES AS De-
SCRIBED BY THE GERMAN, FRENCH
AND ENGLISH WOMEN WHO
ARE EMPLOYED AS
HER READERS.
From The Chicago Record.

HER READERS.
From The Chicago Record.
Now that the Queen of England, like her
grandfather, George III, suffers from failing
eyesight, two persons in her household have
come to possess more and more Importance.
These are the 'lectrices," or readers, employed
by the nation to save what remains of Her
Majestys vision.
The late Lord Beaconsfeld once humorously
described the two lectrices as the Queens pair
of spectaces' FOR many years Frauleln Bauer
and Mile Norele nave held these positions, the
Queen only needing their services for German
and French, her English is read to her by her
ladies in waiting maids of honor
Through the courtesy of the Queens private
secretary a chat was quite recently obtained
with both these ladies regarding the tastes or
their mistress in literature. Mile. Norele,
sprighty and charming FrenchWoman, was
easily enough induced to speak Her Majesty"
she declared, reads very little Of the lighter
side Of our literature, unless, indeed one excerpts
the various periodicals which are sent marked
for perusal from the secretarys office. She is
especially fond Of the older authors works
Xavier de Maistre's, Victor Hugos and portions
OF BalZac's for instance. l think that the story
she likes best in all French literature Is DE
Maistre's touching Lepreux de la Cite dAoste.
have read 1t to her times without number, the
beautiful pathos OF the tale appearing to soothe
her in a remarkable manner.
"Of all the moderns / really believe that Her
Majesty holds NJ. Alphonse Daudet alone admir-
able She thinks his satire too mordant. though.
and prefers the delicious Letters from My Mill
In Provence and 'Trente Ans de Paris TO the
better known books. You will be. perhaps
astonshed to learn that the Queen likes Henri
Murger; and many a time have we laughed to-
gether over the graceess scamps OF the Vie dc
Boheme Last year we read Fenelons Ieie-
maque from cover to cover. Her Majesty de-
clared that the work brought back two of her
life's happiest periods-her own childhoods days
in Kensington Palace and the days in which she
taught her children their F1eLch.
very impOrtant branch OF my Work consists
I'm reading the many letters received daily by the
Queen from members OF her family and intimate
friends. Nearly all OF these are either IN Ger
man or French. Many of the Queens juvenile
descendants are accustomed to send her long
weekly accounts-perfect diaries In factor their
doings and opinions.
Fr;iulen Bauer was less communicative than
her colleague. She comes Of a family which has
served the Queens German ancestors in many
capacities for generations beck.
''The Queen" she said reads considerably IN
modern German literature. She Is even roma OF
the humorous journals. and subscribes TO all the
princIpal magazines, Her German secretary;
Herr Maurice Muther carefully watches LOT a.,
newspaper articles which may interest her' anu
sends them marked for reading. thihk tha'
schiller is Her Majesty's favorite German poet
hut abe is also very fond OF Goethe Heine she
disIikes intensely. I have heard her quote the
Prince Consort TO the effect that heine genius
had the phosphorescent light OF decay
she likes historical novels. particularly
Ianhe's per Deutsche Krieg, and Schehers
.Ekkehard' This taste fer historical notion.
beieve follows the Queen into other LANGUAGES
She greatly admres Walter Scott Felix Damn
and Freytag are two more favorites.
Reading Her Majestys volumlhous pernai
corresnondence forms a very large portion OF my
duty" l., .or oanac,tv
The Hon Emily Mcneil. who In her capacity
y, maid az honor to the Queen has read eA,
tensIvely TO Her Majesty in English, was KIM
enough to add few words TO those "a ."I NJ
trices THE Queens tastes In Ensnsh H., H.
oture" she said. ARE catholic she reaus ai','os'
crery new hook which is described 10 her 40 ~ ~
sessing real merit. For years the queen tu 'p
ord Eeaconsfelds opinion largely on u.e S
ioct but since the great Premier death "e' au
yisers are many .i,r cbaLe
'"rhe Queen Is never tired OF reauihB o"a ~,
.noaro Scott and Dickens Recently she nus
sbown n sympathetic feeling for Milton ana mas
haen nerusing the blind poets works. Loru iei g.
,,,,snn 10 however her favorlte. Ihere Is an w
,orlv erroneous opinion abroad that she sIcatIS
di.i;l,ee Mr. Swinburne On the contrary, sho
49,. a remarkable liking for ATLANTA III Cdy-
a. and others of Swinburnes poems. vi Ia.e
hn has heen reading Mr.. Kipling, ana expresses
,r,Iro ,ion for his vigor and keen lhslEnt ,ii'o
$50, rature She told friend that hipins
hod shown her empire to her in the most rear
istic manner r.. rhetorical fiction she
toae much interest in the new school Oh ms
.rino, action The Celtic Renaissance a,so a.
,n,a ber for she sympathizes win the nael W
ranarkabl extent and is prouder te, h,
t,,o,,a Of her kinshp to the Stuarts imam Vi hei
descent from the GueiphS'