The Portland daily press., 1900-01-30
ABOUT A QUEEN.
Chicago Reco.d.)

Perhaps the most remarkable feature In
Queen Viotoria's career has been the skill
with which she has oontrived to main
tain the charm and simplicity Of an old
fashioned English home life, notwith.
standing the pomp and ceremony which
necessarily belong to a court. This Is
largely due to her early training. The
daughte of the duke of Kent. a prince Of
limited income, the young Princess Vio-
toria 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 mag
nifiencs which characteristics the state
apaI tments, the queens private rooms
are always notable for their comfort and
homeliksness.
In matters OF dress, too. q .e9n Victoria
Is far more economical than many OF her
middle GLASS subjects. This may best be
illustrated by y good story which has the
advantage Of being perfectly true. Some
time ago newly appcinted squerry was
going through the stables when be saw a
person in q shabby black dress and
mushroom hat looking at the horses
Possessing more zeal than discretion, he
at once called out: "My good woman,
you must go away at once. Strangers
are not allowed here when the queen 10 in
residence" As she did not seem inclined
to leave he went ON to threaten to have
her escorted to the gates. Judge OF his
feelins when the shsbbily dressed old
In iy turned around, and the queen stood
revealed. This is but one OF many anus
ing Incidents that have arisen through
the sovereign's love OF sim plicity In dress.
After the busy mornings work the
queen takes frugal lunch. Notwith-
standing the resources Of the royal kitch-
ems and the well-laden table that her
majesty always likes to see before her,
she sets an example of strict moderation.
her own tastss 10 food bsing Of the 81 m p
lest. The queen is great stickler for
old fashioned obser vances at the royal
table In particular she insists upon q
plentiful supply of cold vlsnds on the
sideboard, though she very rarely takes
anything cold. The servants at Balmorai
will never forget an occasion when only
the half of q cold chicken graced the Ell de-
board. The royal mistress noticed the
state of affairs on entering the room
Soon she conveyed hint to Princess
Beatrice and Lady Ely to both ask for
GOLD chicken, and asked for the same
herself. Great was the CONSERVATION,
and the queen secretly enjoyed the scsne,
though the servauts certainly did not
en- Joy the lecture they subsequently, re-
ceiyed from the master of the household.
Queen Victoria attributes her long life
and excellent health largely to her prac-
toe of spending As much time as was
possible In the open air every day. In bar
youth riding was her favorite recreation.
and In Scotland she has almost lived on
pony back. Now. of course. carriage
exercise has taken its place Every
morning her majesty goes ous In her
little pony chair, often visiting the farm
and stables In the course OF her drive.
Sometimes her chair Is drawn by the
beautiful donkey which was purchased
in the south of France BY his royal mis-
tress to save him from ill-trsatment.
This donkey rejoioes in the name OF
JACKIE, and on holiday occasions wears q
Gu -ious harness adorned with lis and
with two foxes brushes hanging over the
| blinkers. The greater part Of the fore
noon Of each weekday Is devoted to bust.
ness, for no woman In the land gets
through more actual work In the course
of each week than the queen. Her dis
patch boxes are arranged on table sst In
Windsor park, near the Frogmors tea
house, whenever the weather permits.
Here the queen carefully reads and ano-
tatsa the innusnerable dispatches which
come to her from the foreign and home
offices.