The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-06-06
NO.. 23
KINGS KITCHEN AT
WINDSOR.

1t is doubtful if there is any kitch-
en- in the world so teeming with ro-
nance as the Kings kitchen at Wind
sor, says the London "Tit-Bits," for in
addition to the great historical inter-
est attached to it, inasmuch as it has
been in existence for upward of seven
centuries, it is vcritablc treasure
house Of gold.
The Royal kitchen is room of con-
siderable size, much larger, in fact,
than the kitchens of many of the lead
ing London restaurants, for somc hun
dreds of meals have to be prepared
there every day. 1t is fitted up with
black oak throughout, for which George
III was responsible, he having OK
pended 100000 in this direction alone.
But besides :he kitchen proper there
are the confectionery room, the pastry
room and the bakehouse, in each of
which separate staff is employed.
The clerk of the kitchen, who re-
joices in a salary of f7o0 year, is re-
sponsible for the conduct OF these de-
partmenis, and he has to deal with all
the tradesmen who supply the Royal
household. But the potcntate of the
kitchen is the chef, who also receives
600 year, and under him are four
master c-oks, each of whom has the
control Of small army of assistants;
while the confectionery department is
ruled by two yeomen with salaries of
$500 and f25G, respectively.
Such a thing as unpunctuality is
unknown in the Kings kitchen. Six
separate sets of meals are served up
daily, and one to be late would throw
the household into disorder. Neither
is waste allowed in any form; the most
rigid economy is practiced, and such
food as remains unconsumed is dis:
tributcd among the poor, who apply at
the castle every day.
The Kings kitchen hides something
like $4,000 in copoer and iron utensils
and 100000 in plate. Among the
former should be mentioned the enor-
nous meat screen of solid oak lined
with mttal, which is nearly 800 years
old and bears the Imperial badge of the
House of Tudor-the portcullis and
arms. Connoisseurs have sighed in
vain for this meat screen, for its worth
is inestimabe. Then there are 1000
knives, 5000 forks and as many spoons
used for cooking and kitchen purposes,
which do not include the 5000 forks
and spoons of massive silver for use at
the Royal table. There arc 800 pots
and pans, mostly Of copper, and five
scourers are employed sorely to keep
them brightly FURNISHED.
Not far away are the plate rooms,
two in number, which, although they
measure only 13 feet by l6 feet, hold
treasures Is tons of sovereigns would
not buy The wall consist of concrete,
feet inches in thickness, and detec-
tives arc on duty guarding the rooms
day and night. The most valuable
item in the storerooms is, of course,
the famous service consisting ofplates,
dishes, tureens, epergnes and Candida
bra. all Of solid gold, which were made
by Roundelle and Bridges for George
". This service is used only on state
occasions, and will probably be brought
out for the coronation banquet. Equal
ly famous is the Emperor's service of
silver gilt, the worth of which may be
vaguely CLEANED from the fact that
each plate weighs stone and the eper-
gnes two hundredweight apiece.
Some of the dishes and other arti-
cles could not be bought for thrice
their weight in sovereigns on account
of the historical interest with which
they are associated. There is one gold
dish Of surprising loveliness which is
supposed to have been used by Alex
ander the Great before the battle of
Hydaspes, and for upward of six cen
turies it has reposed at Windsor. An
other much valued piece of plate is the
silver-gilt flagon, 3 feet in height,
which was recovered from an Armada
wreck three centuries ago, while there
is also table of solid silver, the sur
face of which measures feet square
and is engraved with the four en-
bems of Great Britain.
But perhaps one of the most cher
ished relics in the Kings pantry is the
golden eagle which was taken from
Tippo Sahib's throne. 1t is of solid
gold throughout, the feather tips being
pointed with priceless diamonds and
rubies, while the beak is carved from
flawless emerald.
When fellow is about TO propose
and the girl IS nervous, it is generally
because she is afraid some one will in
terrupt them before he gets it out.
The lawyer-"Do you know him
we'll ~ The Doctor-"I'Yc never