The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-03-04
WHAT VICTORIA READS.

NOW lHdt tHe queen Vi EllSldHl llhe
her grandfather, George Ill, 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 majesty's vision. The late Lord
Beaconsfeld once humorously described
the two lectrices as ''the queens pair of
spectacles." For many years Fraulein
Bauer and Mile. Norele have held these
places, the queen only needing their
services for German and French, as her
English is read to her by ladies in wait
ing or maids of honcr.
Through the courtesy of the queens
private secretary, a chat was recently
obtained by the London Queen with
both these ladies regarding the tastes
of their mistress in literature. Mile.
Norele, a sprightly and charming
Frenchwoman, was easily enough in
duced to speak.
"Her majesty" she declared, "reads
very little of the lighter side of our lit
erature, unless, indeed, one excerpts
the various periodicals which are sent
marked for perusal frc:a the seer etary9'ss
oince. she is especially fond of the old
er authors works, Xavier de Maistre's,
Victor Hugo's and portions of Balzac's,
likes best in all French literature is De
Maistre's touching 'LepreuX de la Cite
d'Aoste.' I have read it to her times
without number, the beautiful pathos
of the tale appearing to soothe her in
a remarkable manner.
"Of all the moderns, l really believe
that her majesty holds NJ. Alphonse
Daudet alone admirable. She thinks
his satire too mordant, though, and
prefers the delicious Letters from My
Mill in Province and 'Trente Ans de
Paris to the better known books. You
will be, perhaps, astonished to learn
that the queen likes Henri Murger;
and many time have we laughed to-
gether over the graceless scamps of
the vie de Boheme.' Last year we reNd
Fenelon's 'Telemaque' from cover to
cover. Her majesty declared that the
work brought back her life's happiest
periods-her own childhood's 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-
counts-perfect diaries in fact-of their
doings and opinions
Frau!ein Bauer was less communica-
tive than her colleague. She comes of
a family which has served the queens
German ancestors in many capacities
for generations back.
"The queen" she says, "reads con-
siderably in modern German literature.
She is even fond of the humorous jour
nails. and subscribes to all the principal
magazines. Her German secretary.
Herr Maurice Muther, carefully watches
for all newspaper articles which may
interest her, and sends them marked for
reading. l 4hink that Schiller is her
majesty's favorite German poet, but she
is also very fond of Goethe. Heine she
dislikes intensely. | have heard her
quote the prince consort to the effect
that 'Heine's genius had the phosphor
escent light of decay
''She likes historical novels, particu-
larly Laube's Der Deutsche Krieg,' and
Scheffel's 'Ekkehard' This taste for his
torical fiction, l believe. follows the
queen into other languages. She adj
mires Walter Scott. Felix Dahn and
Freytag are two more favorites.
"Reading her majesty's voluminous
German correspondence forms a very
large portion of my duty"
Hon. Emily Mcneil, who in her ca
pacity of maid of honor to the queen,
has read extensively to her majesty in
English, was kind enough to add few
words to those of the lectrices. "The
queens tastes in English literature"
she said, ''are catholic. She reads al
most every book which is described TO
her as possessing real merit. For years
the queen took Lord Beaconsfeld's opin-
ion largely on the subject, but since the
great premier's death her advisers are
many.
1.-The queen is never tired of rereading
Scott and Dickens. Re
Gently she has shown sympathetic
feeling for Milton, and has been perus-
ing the blind poets works. Lord Tenny-
son is, however, her favorite. There is
an utterly erroneous opinion abroad
that she greatly dislikes Mr.. Swinburne.
On the contrary, she has remarkable
liking for Atlanta in Calydon, and
others of Swinburne's poems. OF late
she has been reading Mr.. Kipling and
expresses admiration for his vigor and
keen insight into human nature. She
told friend that Kipling had shown
her empire to her in the most realistic
"With her fondness for historical fic.
tion, she evinces much interest in the
new school of historical fiction. The Gel
tic Renascence also attracts her, for she
sympathizes with the Gael to a remark
able extent, and is prouder, verify be-
lieve, of her kinship to the Stuarts than
of her descent from the Guelphs, IN.
Y. Sun.
When bilious or costive, eat Cascaret,