The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
THE LATE QUEENS RELICS
A SHRINE To WHICH VICTORIA,s
BELONGINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
Author of "Thc Personal Life of Vic
TORN" Describes the Per-
sOnai Possessions.
Sarah A Tooley. in London Mail.


have been completed for placing them on
view in the state rooms shown 10 the pub
lie
The relics have come from the late
Queens private rooms at Windsor Castle
and Buckingham Palace. and each has a
unique personal interest, arising from the
fact that they are things which her Males
q had treasured for many. many years,
and which she practically always kept in
her sight
No more appropriate place than the old
palace where she was born could have been
found as the final resting place Of these
things. and in sending them 10 Kensington
the King was doubtless actuated by the
desire 10 add still further 10 its character
as the shrine OF Victoria.
Prominent among the relics is the late
Queens jewel case. 1t is a really wonder
ful structure-for one can call it nothing
less-in ebony. standing In its entirety six
feet high. The case itself is a square box,
having on each side separate compartments
fitted with slOping velvet trays for the jew
els. Zach compartment has a glass door,
through which the entire contents could
be seen at a glance. The case rcvolves upon
a beautifully carved ebony pedestal and is
surmoUnted by artistic design. Small
figures originally stood In inches around
the case, bat appear 20 have been removed.
This handsome receptacle. in itself fine
specimen OF artistic workmanship was
specially used by queen Victoria for keep
Ing her decorations and orders. and one
can imagine the gorgeous effect. when
tne stars and devices, set with their price
less gems. radlated through the glass doors
the brilliance of the rubies emeralds sap
phres ana diamonds being enhanced by
the ebony framework Of the case.
In the same room with the jewel case
are two large ebony cabinets. also Of beau
ttul workmanship, and in these the late
Queen kept other personal Jewels and
riage present TO Queen Victoria from the
married ladies OF England.
HER AUTOGRAPH BOOKS
The floor of one room is almost covered
with volumes having the late Queens book
plate inside the cover and bearing interest
Ing autograph inscriptions
large proportion OF these books
amounting 10 several hundreds. had been
given by the Queen to her mother, the
Duchess of Kent. An autograph collector
would be in paradise if let loose among
these books, for they contain inscriptions
In the late Queens handwriting from her
earliest years onward. In round uniformed
characters occur such items as ITO dear
est mamma, from her loving child Vic
toria." and then 1 came upon intermediate
stages OF the youthful princess's caligraphy
and at length 20 the graceful, finished
handwriting TO which she had attained in
her seventeenth year. when she inscribed
handsome illustrated Quarto of Rhineland
travels 10 dearest mamma, from her af-
fecuonate and devoted daughter Victoria {"
Among these handsome volumes which she
had presented 10 her mother I noticed an
edition de luxe OF MOore'S ''Lalla Rookh &"
Among the books which had been given to
the late Queen was prayer book, inscribed
10 her daughter by the Duchess OF Kent in
1S5i, and which was used by her Majesty
az her coronation. IL is beautifully bound
IN red velvet with monogram in gold and
inclOsed in a red velvet case.
Another interesting little volume is an
Illustrated German story book. given by
the present Duke OF Cambridge TO his
cousin On the fly leaf is inscribed, in boy
ish round hand: ITO my dear cousin Vic
tOria.-George. Hanover. 1926"
Tt will be remembered that the duke
passed some years Of his early life at
hanover. where his father acted as regent
Looking haphazard among these piles of
old books, l came across what must now
be, l imagine, rare work of descriptive
notes on Hampton Court Palace On the
outside OF the morocco cover is inscribed
the word 'WOlsey." above the hat and
crest OF the great cardinal who built the
the late Queens interests is also furnished
by bound sermon by the Rev. Baptist
Noel on the duty Of Christian people toward
the female children of India.
-
The printed volumes. however. pale in in
terest before a pile Of the late Queens ex-
ercise and copy books. TO which an addi-
tionaI interest is given by the fact that
they have. after all these years. come back
again to the room in which their owner
actually wrote in them. The apartment at
the palace where these books now are was
Queen Victoria's old schOolrOom.
1t is a sOmber wainscOted room, the bed
room and death chamber Of Queen Anne.
and looks down into Queen Annes court
YARD, one OF the old parts OF the palace.
JpOn the hOOr is the same carpet which
covered il when the little Princess Victoria
sat on her high chair labOriOusly writing
tie characters In the COpybOOks which
were before me. Probably il was the quiet
ude OF the room and the fact that it had no
disturbing outlook onto the public gardens
which induced the Duchess of Kent TO Sc
lect II for her daughters schOOiTOOm.
Several OF the exercise books contain
French and German TRANSACTIONS written
In a pretty running hand, indicative OF a
young ladyS finishing studies In this
room also are other relics of childhood.
Two tiny wicker chairs, seated with groups
OF WOOl-WoTktd mowers, winch nave a sur
prisingly fresh appearance, accounted for
BY the red chintz covers which are on
them and which the queen never allowed
TO be removed.
There too. are child's tea table and
some dumb bells and couple OF hassOcks.
CareIuuA covered ike CndlrS. IQeSe relics
Of childhood always stood in Queen Vic
tOrta's private sitting room at Windsor. In
vain / looked for the dolls which were the
delight and solace of Princess Victoria s
childhood They have. 1 understand. been
distributed among the late Queens grand
children.
The room adjoining Queen Victoria's old
schOOlrOOm, and where the jewel case and
ebony cabinets already referred 10 are kept
s. historically interesting. Ii was Queen
Mary'S bedroom, and there she died from
smallpox. Afterwards King William caused
II 10 be sealed I'D. partly out OF respect TO
his wife's memory and more probably for
fear of microbes, methods Of disinfectiOn
being little known. IL remained sealed for
seventy years. during which time il had
come known as the haunted chamber. Then
IL was opened and brought into use.
1t belongs TO the part OF the palace built
by Sir Christopher Wren, and has a beau
tiful oak cornlCe carved by Grinling Glib
hons The walls are paneled with oak. but
an atrocious wall paper conceals their
beauty. Neither this room nor the adj
joining one Is shown 10 the public, which
Is 10 be regretted d they are among the
most interesting IN the palace, and would
prove an historic repository for Queen
NictOria's books and other relies when
these are arranged Tor exhibition
FOUND 4 $4,000 PEARL.