New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-22
QUEEN VICTORIA AT HOME.
THE COMFORT AND LONELINESS OF HER
PRIVATE ROOMS.
AMUSING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE ARISEN
THROUGH THE sovEREIGN's LOVE OF
SIMPLICITY IN DRESS

SIMPLICITY IN DRESS
The home life Of Queen Victoria has ever been a
subject Of widespread interest and sympathy Her
somewhat dull and monotonous childhood her
idyllic married life her .ong widowhood and her
peaceful but busy old have alike attracted
both writer's and readers on every hand. Per-
haps the most remarkable feature in the Queens
career says a writer in ''Harmsworths Maya
zine" has been the skill with which she has con-
triVed TO maintain the charm and simplicity OF an
old fashioned English home life Notwithstanding
the ponp and ceremony which necessarily belong TO
q court This is largely due to her early training
The daughter OF the Duke of Kent a prince Of very
limited income. the young Princess Victoria saw
little Of the luxury which is commonly supposed TO
abound in royal circles. Strict economy was the
rule in her early home and the lesson has never
been forgotten.
Amid the costly magnihcence which characterizes
the State apartments the Queens private rooms
are always notable for their comfort and houne-
ness. IN matters Of dress. too. Queen Victoria IS
far economical than many Of her middle
class subjects. This may best be illustrated by a
good story. which has the advantage Of being per-
fectly true. Some time ago a newly appointed
equerry was going through the stables when he
saw person in a shabby black dress and uush-
room hat looking at the horses. Possessing more
zeal than discretion, he al once called out: My
good woman, you must so away at once. Strangers
not allowed here when the Queen is in resi-
dence." AS she did not inclined TO leave he
went on to threaten to have her escorted TO the
gates Judge of his feelings when the sha billy
dressed old lady turned round and the Queen stood
revealed This is only Of many amusing Incl
dents that have arisen through the soveregn's love
OF simplicity in dress
The Queen attributes her long life and excellent
health very largely TO her practice of spending as
much time possible in the open air every day
In her youth riding her favorte recreation and
in Scotland she has almost lived on pony back
Now, OF course. carriage exercise has taken It's
place. Every morning Her Majesty goes out in her
little pony chair often visiting the farm and stables
in the course Of her drive Sometimes her chair is
drawn by beautiful donkey which was purchased
in the South of France by his royal mistress to
save him from III treatment. This donkey rejoices
in the name Of Jacko and holiday occasions
wears curious harness adorned with bells and
with two foxes brushes hanging over the blinkers
The greater part Of the forenoon Of each weekday
is devoted TO business. for no woman in the land
gets through more actual work IN the course OF
each week than the Queen. Her dispatch boxes are
arranged on table set in Windsor Park near the
Here the Queen carefully reads and aunotates the
Foreign and Home offices for It has been the rule
Of her life 70 attend personally all important
fairs Of
SETTLES HOUSEKEEPING QUESTIONS.
But this by no means represents all the multi
farious occupations OF the Queen Her private cor
respondence is enormous, for It IS a kind OF IN
written family law that all her children and grand
children shall write her every day All irpor-
tant housekeeping questions are settled by the royal
mistress herself who often orders the meals and
even keeps eye the household linen When
the Princess Royal now the Empress Frederick
became Crown Princess Prussia she greatly scan
dalized a certain pompous old German countess
who discovered her busily engaged IN arranging the
linen cupboard. 1T is beneath the dignity of a
Prussian Princess remarked the old ladv RIr
her protests were quickly cut short by the answer
My mother does it
Even the smallest details Of domestic economy
notice. A story Is told that on enc occasion she
a ISad r1Ou If
busted that day. She promptly wrote the ROYAL
autograph in the dust and beneath II the name of
room This may rather q small matter but
when one remembers that nearly two thousand
precincts II shows a very remarkable knowledge Of
the personnel of so q staff
After the busy mornings work the Queen takes
a frugal luncheon. Notwithstanding the resources
OF the royal kitchens and the well laden table that
Her Majesty always likes TO see before her she
sets an example or strict moderation, her
tastes in food being of the simplest. The Queen
is a great stickler for old fashioned observances
At me royaI TAME IN particular she insists upon
a plentiful supply Of cold Yiands the sideboard
though she rarely takes anything cold The
wants Balmoral will never forget one occasion
when only the half OF a cold chicken graced the
sideboaru. The royal mistress the state OF
affairs on entering the room Soon she cOuveved a
hint to Princess Beatrice and LADY F-Iv 10 both ask
for cold chicken. and asked for the same herself
Great was the CONSERVATION, and the Queen
tainly did not enjoy the lecture they subsequently
received from the master of the household.
60 for a long drive unless the weather is excep-
tionally bad. for It is no small shower of rain
waiting are said u attribute their colds TO this
cause. sometimes when the Queen goes for a
long drive. tea basket is taken along. and the
cup that cheers Is prepared in some quiet spot A
small portable "a bic is then placed in the carriage
and the kindly face Of the monarch beams with
qualification as she proceeds to pour out her IA
vorite beverage.