Evening star., 1901-04-27

high as 500 men. The ship has six decks
On the bridge has been built. amidshipS a
spacious shelter for the steersmnn and Off
GERS on duty, and in the bridge house it
self two cabins are now fitted AS a sitting
room for their royal highnesses The
other rooms are occupied by the commn-
dore. commander and navigating officer
On the boat deck a 30-foot gig takes the
place of one of the ships lifeboats while
over the poop deck two :I2-foot steam cut
ters are carried. In all, the ship has four
teen boats.
AT the forepart of the promenade deck
is the royal drawing room, a charming
apartment, with area of aoo suuare
feet. 1t is paneled in rosewood and SATIN
wood and beautifully inlaid. The furniture
Is satin-Sheraton. upholstered in blue and
white silk damask, and the carpet is a deem
pale Saxony of delicate faWn color A
feature of the room is the enpra,-fuYS
which adorn it. Prominent among these Is
a fine portrait of Queen Victoria as a girl
one set Is made up entirely of war pic-
lures, including portrait of Earl Roberts
ana there are copies of some of the most
recent works by Cation Woodville Paxton
and others. illustrating the South African
conflict There is also fine drawing of the
King in evening dress. Another set of en-
cravings consists of English pastoral
scenes. Immediately aft is the entrance To
the grand staircase and to two writing
rooms, upholstered in blue leather. Amid
ships is the royal smoking room, panelled
and furnished throughout in oak The mn
holstery is in subdued shade of green
leather. Further aft on the poop is the
Wardroom smoking room. very cheerful
apartment.
The royal apartments are on the MINER
deck. The whole of the space Immediately
forward of the grand staircase which has
nne circular sweep, with ample landings
mas Deen converted into two suites Of cab
ms, consisting of three rooms and a bath
room These are divided by a central cor
ridor, which, by short stair at the for
ward end. leads directly to the royal ser
on he In a.
rooms are all decorated with auiat taste
The paint work throughout is whit. nm
relieved by any note of color The furni-
ture In the room to be occupied bv the
duchess is satinwood with n finely figured
grain. In the dukes cabins the frrniture
Is of light oak. The general scheme az
color Is a dehcate green, expressed I'm the
carpet and upholstery, whether of silk or
leather, varied by chintz coverings ana
curtains. The panellng is very simple and
severe, relieved only by a small heading
"hlch is used throughout upon the ftments.
as Well as the bulkheads. I'm each room ia
noiseless beeSwing fan, operated by elec-
trlclty, and as easily started stopped or
regNated by the occupant as the electric
Hght. All the royal rooms are filled with
photographs, some of them of great in
tereSt. In the dukes room facing his bed
is a photograph of Queen Victoria with
the dukes children, and with an inscrip-
ton IN the queens own hand while o,-er
his head hangs the well known photoprapb
OF his mother with Prince Edward of
York, which is signed Granny and Baby-
Alexandra. Here, as in the drawing room,
most OF the pictures have been brought
from York house Nearly all the engray-
mgs In the drawing room formerly hung
in the entrance hall of the town house Of
the duke and duchess. 1t should also be
mentioned that in the drawing room is a
neat library of some six hundred volumes.
whlch, while it contains a few novels, is
largely made up of books dealing with our
colonial and imperial possessions
The ODhfr carries a
all told, and the catering is being done by
the Orient company.