The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-26
Daily Life of
Queen Victoria,


In England's royal palace the dull.
embarrassing routine OF Victoria's daily
life. tiresome even TO her single dauGh-
ters. was never unrelieved save by the
homely, almost lowly, incidents which
constituted the only communion be-
tween the nation and herself For the
past 40 years there had never been q
tinge of Bohemianism.
Her majesty was something OF q
night owl, and the habit OF late retiring
chung to her until the end. She seldom
retired before 1 o'clock in the morning,
and that naturally meant late rising.
She usually left her room about an
hour before noon. There were eight Wo-
men Of the bedchamber, who received
salary per annum OF $500 each--all
danes OF high degree''-Who might
have been supposed to assist in the
royal toilet. But the office was only
sinecure, and they were not called up
on except on state occasions.
In the quaint correspondence Of Hen
rietta, countess Of Suffolk. the curious
nature Of the duties of the bedchamber
women is thus set forth: 'sThey came
into waiting before the queens prayers.
which was before she was dressed. The
queen often shifted in a morning. II
her majesty shifted at noon. the bed
chamber lady being by, the bedcham-
Der woman gave the shift to the
lady put it on 1.-THE queenl- Sometimes,
likewise, the bedchamber woman gave
the fan to the lady in the same man
ner and this was all that the bedcham-
Der lady did about the queen in her
dressing. When the queen washed her
hands, the page Of the back stairs
brought and set down on the side table
the basin and ever. Then the bedcham-
Der woman set it before the queen and
knelt on the other side Of the table over
against the queen, the bedchamber lady
only looking on. The bedchamber Wo-
man poured the water out of the ever
upon the queens hands The bedcham-
Der woman pulled on the queens gloves
when she could not do it herself. The
page Of the back stairs was called IN
to put on the queens shoes"
But Victoria swept aside this absurd
and cumbrous etiquette and made her
toilet, assisted by willing maidservantss
like any other English gentlewoman-
After her late breakfast in her own
private apartments, a simple meal. her
majesty gave attention to public busi-
ness. Her mail was always enormous.
But her private secretary, for years the
noted Sir Henry PonsOnbys and some
times her daughter Beatrice, assisted
in disposing Of the matter. The queen
worked persfstently until luncheon. an
informal meal, served at 2 o'clock IN
the private breakfast room or out OF
doors in pleasant weather, in company
with such members Of the royal family
as happened to be at the castle.
After luncheon came work again.
principally with the dispatch boxes. All
this time letters and kilograms were ar
irving in great numbers. The latter
were sent to Windsor over a private
wire. while to the Isle Of Wight ex-
tends a special cable From O'Clock
until dinner was announced. with the
exception of a two hours drive, either
in rain or sunshine in a pony car
riage drawn by a donkey. business oc-
cupied her attention Sometimes an
hour and a half In the afternoon was
granted to some representative body
or important parsonage or the premier.
or there may have been a meeting OF
the privy council. Her own affairs also
demanded attention, for she had an
enormous private fortune invested in
lands and securities Then she was
familiar with every detail OF the man
agement of her large farms, where were
bred famous cows.
The drive over and the elaborate dim
ner toilet made, the state meal Of the
day was now enjoyed. A Command"
to dine and sleep at Windsor was the
highest social honor that could be be-
slowed on a subject. The happy re-
cipient is ever after regarded with due
sensation Of envy. The queen was mis-
tress of the arts Of tact and delcacy as
hostess. When, however, she had fin
ished each course, the guests also made
a speedy end Of the viands before them.
as court etiquette never allowed one to
lag behind the queen There was less
formality or Stiffness" than at any
other aristoeratic dinner table in Eng
land. Conversation was lively. and
many a laugh rippled unsteady above
the subdued clink Of the changing
plates. No one ventured to address the
queen initiatively, but so embracing
was her interest in each guest that coD-
verse was sparkling and edifying
throughout the repast. The dinner serv-
ice was Of the most elaborate descrip-
ton
She retired about midnight from the
drawing room and in her private apart
ment devoted an hour or so to reading,
selecting books OF quiet and poetic
character. though she scanned many
novels and was said to be an admirer
Of Marie Coreln and to writing It Is
believed that she often passed some
portion OF this midnight hour in reveries
over the past when her adored husband
and accomplished friend and confdant
was at her side. to minister TO that de-
pendent woman's nature which was so
sweetly hers by divine right" not OF
kings but of all womanhood-
rwn.-. vvf~torfo-m a~-f~-w