Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-02
Domestic Life Of the queen.

Of the day, and night. Probably they
sleep some time.
Domestic Life Sof the queen,
The interest which excited the thous-
ands who watched the royal progress. OF
the King and Queen through London
few days ago is as nothing to the joyful
anticipations at present filling the hearts
Of the cottagers at Sandringham. To
them the king is not only King but
squire; the Queen not only the Queen but
lady bountiful5 In the truests sense of the
Word. #
W ken visiting the estate a short while
ago I asked one of the Oldest tenants
why in his opinion his majesty decided to
retain Sandringham compare lively
small demense, as q royal residence. a
look almost of pity suffused the hardy
face of the old man. g You do not know.
si1.o'': I1e jerked out. .fvVf y, this is the
Queens home! Her majesty would never
forsake us so long as she breathed-
It is even so. Sheltered from the gaze
of the world, "a peaceful country house
surrounded by woods and hills ana stiHu-
lating air., sufficient distance from rail-
and sea to escape the trippe1 and above
all family rendezvous. SanHring ham IS
beloved by King and Queen, but more
especially by Queen.
s Let it not be supposed for moment
that duties of the State do not attend the
sovereigns when he sojourns at his nor
folk retreat. Buckingham Palace and
Sandringham House are connected by
telephone, while subsidiary system OF
comm unication is arranged between the
latter and York Cottage. the stables, the
kings veterinary surgeon, and other off1-
GERS attached to the court who live near
by. with ny of whom His Majesty may
talk over the wires Indeed, royal tele-
phones have in the new reign come con-
sidera bly, into use, and when the court IS
at Sandringham, as it will be shortly,
messages pass almost hourly between
London and Norfolk
At his country home the King bestows
more personal attention on his CORE
spondence than is the case at Bucking-
ham Palace or Windsor. where secretaries
are more in evidence. It will surprise
many to hear that His Majesty opens
practically every letter himself, though
possibly a servant may be standing by
holding a paper knife with which to slit
open the envelopes There are three trays
or baskets opposite the king one marked
Comptroller" another 'Privy Purse,
and third Private Secretary, and
like the practical business man he is, His
Majesty will scan the communication rap
idly over and then toss it into the right
the edge as a guide to the department
Those who imag CINE that the King never
sees most of the letters addressed to him
may be assured that this is a fallacy.
Whatever might have happened when he
was Prince of Wales. now that he is the
ruler of this country, his majesty insists
upon personally experimenting his cores
pondence-an undertaking as thorough as
! it is laborious. TypeWriters, by the way,
| have lately been introduced into the royal
residences. and these are freely employed
| in sending replies to letters addressed to
! the King.
But if there is business to be done at
! Sandringham-and a Kings life is nearly
| all business-p1easure and charity find a
place, for the two go hand in hand. One
! thing the King enjoys doing more than
| others is taking a surprise walk around
| the estate. Quite Unexpectedly he will
| look in at the stables when the men may
be grooming the horses or filling the pals
| What marvellous memory his majesty
+, has! Though he may have been absent
| from Sandringham for months, passing
through momentous and diverting scenes
/ yet he never forgets the smallest detail
connected with the estate. Does he re
/ member that the handle of a door wa:
loose when he was around before he IN
! variably inquiries whether 1t has beer
| made secure If one Of the stablemen':
children had a weak spine year ago tn
King will not fail to ask how the chllt
is faring now. His regard for order ant
tidiness Is punctillious. A groom one
placed pail within reach OF mare:
hind legs. The royal master chanced Z
+ see it, the groom was called up and some
! thing was said. Yet he is loved by then
all, for his personal interest IN thelr wei
&c, To- nat
I Everybody knows that the royal 1an1li
throw off restraint when staying at Sanu
ringham, but few know to WaaI eAte en-
this habit is really carried. When IN
i stopping at York cottage, that IS the tim
to sec the paternal instinct fully display
t ed About 5 o'clock, after tea, the prime
their hour for romping with dad an
thus every afternoon they troop IN an an
engage the prince In fun and frollc. y
+ Then the Princess Victoria will driv
/ out freely alone, or cycle with her Gamer
4 fastened to the handle-bar. A snort Tim
Z the kings veterinary surgeon, the yehicl
4 being dog cart. It was suggested ina
/ the princess should take the reins, and t
& carry out the idea it was necessary I
change seats Instantly the surgeon aros
TO allow the kings daughter to pas as:
Please keep your seat, Mr. Bowel, sal sal
I can pass you!'' A homely touch indeed
Another. annual duty which the *quee
never fails to perform is to visit the cot
tage adjudged at the yearly horticulture
i show to be the best-kept on the estate
the prizes being given by the king an II,
Il queen. Cleanliness and neatness are tn
| qualities placed above all others. ana tn
. year widow had the satisfaction Of ca!
q ryng off one of the prizcs.-London Dali
Mail.