Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-04-14
WHAT VICTORIA READS.
The Queens Literary Tastes De
scrfbed by Her Lectrfces.

/ The Queens Literary Tastes De-
scribed by Her Lectrices.
Now that the queen of England, like
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
Beaconsfield once humorously described
the two lectrices as ''the queens pair of
spectacles." For many years Fraulcin
Bauer and Mile. Norele have held these
places, the queen only needing their
services for German and French, as her
English is read 10 her by ladies in wait
ing or maids of honor.
Through the courtesy of the queens
private secretary, 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
Frenchwomah, 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 excep.s
the various periodicals which are sent
marked for perusal from the secretary's
Office. She is especially fond of the old
er authors works, Xavier de Maistre's,
Victor Hugo's and portions of Balzac's,
for instance. think that the story she
likes best in all French literature is De
Maistre's touching 'Lepreux de Ia Cite
G'Aoste.' / have read ii 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 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 a time have we laughed to-
gether over the graceless scamps Of
the Vie de Boheme.' Last year we read
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.
~ very important branch of my
work consists in reading the many let
tors received daily by the queen from
members of her family and intimate
fris nds. 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-
diaries in fact-of their
doings and opinions"
Fraulein 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-
in modern German literature.
She is even fond of the humorous Jour
mails, and subscribes to all the principal
Her German secretary,
Herr Maurice Muther, carefully lywatches
for all newspaper articles which may
interest her, and sends them marked for
l .hink that Schiller is her
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
'Ekkehard' This taste for his
torical fiction, / believe, follows the
queen into other languages. She ad-
mires Walter Scott. Felix Dahu and
Freytag are two more favorites.
Reading her majesty's voluninous
German correspondence forms very |
large portion of my duty"
Hon. Emily Mcneil, who in her ca
has read extensively to her majesty in
was kind enough TO add a 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
he queen took Lord Beaconsfield's opin-
on largely on the subject, but since the
great premier's death her advisers are
many.
''The queen is never tired of rereading
Scott and Dickens. Re
emily she has shown n sympathetic
ceiling for Milton, and has been perus-
ng the blind poets works. Lord Tenny-
ION is, however, her favorite There is
in utterly erroneous opinion abroad
hat she greatly dislikes Mr.. Swinburne.
IN the contrary, she has a remarkable
liking for Atlanta in Calydon,' and
'thers of Swinburne's poems. OF late
he has been reading Mr.. Kipling and
admiration for his vigor and
,een insight into human nature. She
old friend that Kipling had shown
Ter empire 10 her in the most realistic
manner.
with her fondness for historical fic-
ion, she evinces much interest in the
ew school of historical fiction. The Gel
ic Renascence also attracts her, for she
with the Gael 10 n remark
BILE extent, and is prouder, verify be-
ieve, of her kinship to the Stuarts than
+ her descent from the Guelphs,"-N.
:. Sun.
Curious Cotiilon Favors.
Some curious favors were used In a
otillcn at n recent swell affair in Lon