The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-20
GOSSIP ABOUT GREAT FOLKS.
THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SER
VICE OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

The Empress of India Never Dis
charges "A Servant, and at Christ
mas Presents Her Old Retainers
With Gifts of Solid SiIver-Mrs.
Belmont Employs FOOtman Sew
en- Feet High-9Ome DOmestics
who Live in Luxury Through
Their Old Age.
Queen Victorla's encourage numbers
nearly I 900 persons. Some of the posts are
sinecures, and the persons holding them
are merely ornamental, not useful For the
maintenance of this vast establishment,
the nation sets apart nearly half million
pounds.
The only additions to the royal house
hold since the time of Henry VIII are
two steam apparatus men. Although there
is no longer a royal barge, nor any pa
geantry on the Thames, there are stin
barge master and a waterman, with a sal
airy each of f4OO a year. For 200 years there
has been no hawking, but the office of
grand falconer is stIl held by the dukes
of st. Adams. There Is a keeper Of the
swans, who attends to the welfare of the
royal swans on the Thames and who sees
that swan upping is conducted annually in
approved fashion.
There are four table deckers, whose sole
duty is to lay the dinner cloth and see that
the plates, dishes and cutlery are fairly
set forth There is a wax filter, who sees
that the candles are properly disposed;
there are also a first and second lamp
lighter, who receive the same salary as
that of the poet laureate-f1oo year.
The salary of the Queens chief butler,
who looks after the wine, is 500 pounds
year.
The washing of the clothes for the royal
household costs more than $1,000 per an
mum.
When the Queen makes her annual visit
to the continent 90 servants are taken along
and so new ones engaged.
No servant is ever dismissed from any
of Queen Victoria's royal palaces. To this
Is attributed the freedom of gossip about
her Matesty's household arrangements.
When a marriage occurs, the couple are
usually provided with small post, carry
ing with 1t a residence. Most of the royal
lodges are occupied by couples who have
served her majesty for many years.
All the servants who were in the Queens
household during the lifetime of the Prince
Consort receive each Christmas pieces Of
solid silver in any shape they prefer up
to a certain value. They are sent with
large black bordered card inscribed with
good wishes from her majesty and the
Prince Consort."
The Oldest servant of Queen Victoria Is
yoeman jailer, Stephen Sweeney of the
Tower of London. He holds the obsolete
office of headsman of the tower. His
costume is that of the reign of Henry VIII,
ami his ak, always kept sharp and bright,
Is Just such a one as was used to cut off
the heads of Henry's wives.
1.-The Flowers o the Forest" is pet
melody with Queen Victoria and one
which for forty years or more has always
been played over the graves of the SER
wants and retainers of her majesty. .t
In memory of the woman who nursed
all the Queens children and many of her
grandchildren, monument has been erect
ed, designed by the Princess Louise and
inscribed, I'm grateful and loving memory
of Mary Ann Thurston by V. r. I. and
her children, Victoria, Albert Edward, AL
| fred Helena, Louise, Arthur and Beatrice.
There are 1900 people upon the German