The St. Mary banner., 1901-04-13
BRITISH SlNECURES

BRITISH sINEcUREs
The Queer Lot Ct PeopIs Who Lived
About the Queen.
You may expect that the reformers
in England will attack parliament i'm
mediately upon it's assemblage for the
purpose Of cutting off the sinecures OF
queer lot Of people who have lived
about the queen, writes W. e. Curtis,
in the Chicago Record. There are a
thousand or more attendants at Wind
sor castle. Many Of them hold their
positions by hereditary right and have
little or nothing to do. The sovereign
Of England has, however, several hen
ornble and remunerative appointments
which King Edward VII. will cling to
as tenaciously as his mother. He has
the privilege Of appointing six trum-
peters, who draw pay at the rate of
$3.50 a year and are given quarters in
the barracks at Windsor with their
families. These appointments are not
hereditary and the late queen used
them to reward soldiers who had dis
tinguished themselves by extraordin-
ary gallantry.
One of the most desirable posts at
Windsor castle is that of the kings
limner," who in ancient times decorat-
cd books and manuscripts with initial
letters and who now prepares the
parchment commissions when his ma
jesty is pleased to confer knighthood
or some other honor upon one Of his
subjects. The gentleman who now fills
the post has extraordinary skill with
the pen and brush and his diplomas
and certificates were greatly admired
for their exquisite taste and skillful ex-
ecution. He receives a salary Of $500
a year. The clockmaker at Windsor
castle receives the same compensation
and it is his business to keep all the
timepieces In repair. The historiogra
pher, who is supposed to keep a record
of events, holds hereditary Office with
a salary of $4,000 year. The master
of music, Sir Walter Psrrett, the IA
nous organist, receives 81 800 and ar
ranges concerts for his majesty's di-
version. The surveyor of pictures is
paid 81 800, the librarian (who by the
way is Richard r. Holmes, an eminent
author) receives $4,000, the examiner Of
plays $1,000, the keeper Of the swans
is paid 5000 and the barge master, who
looks after the boats used by the royal
family at Windsor, has q similar COM
pensation.
The kings champion is relic of the
middle ages. On coronation day it Is
his business to prance around in
armor mounted on q mail charger with
q long spear and a monstrous sword,
and challenge all the world to dispute
with him the title of his sovereign to
the sceptsr. This challenge holds good
during the: period Of sovereignty. or
the life Of. the champion, aIl may be
by subject or alien.
Queen Victoria and her uncle, Will
lam w., dispensed with this medieval
absurdity at their .coronations. but the
pay and perquisities still
for the = are hereditary and
be abolished even by act of par
lament without some indemnity.
The present champion is Francis Sea-
nan Dymoke, who is now a venerable
nan, and II any should take the trouble
o accept his challenge he would have
% resign in favor of a more brawny
3riton. He receives salary of 5000
rear and certain allowances. Of food
md clothing which he draws from the |
ord steward of Windsor castle.
Another ancient supernumerary is
he page of the pipe, who also holds a
hereditary Office which dates back to
he time of Charles II. That merry
monarch acquired the tobacco habit
rom some of his Virginia colonists and /
equired page, who was paid a salary
# $500 year. to keep his smoking ap-
aratus in order. In a moment of gen.
rosity his majesty made the appoint
aent permanent. Until 1765 the honor
vas held by the duke of Grafton, who !
,ot hard up and sold it to merchant
lamed Harrison. AS Queen Victoria
id not smoke the Office was a sinecure,
ut the descendants of Harrison are en-
tiled to the privilege OF entering the
resence OF their sovereign at any time.
Winking and Reading.