Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-23
ROYALTY IN THE COUNTRY.
Queen Alexandra's Daily Life at
Sandringham.

From the Gentewoman.
Queen Alexandra at Sandringham, even
when guests arc at the hall, spends the
life OF an ordinary English chatelaine
Rising early she partakes Of simple
breakfast and then, accompanied by Miss
Charlotte Knollys, visits her dogs at the
kennels and looks after her flowers and
fruit in the gardens, whose beauty owe
as much to her taste as does the interior
Of the house at Sandringham.
Before luncheon the queen goes over
her correspondence-it Is always very
large-with Miss Knollys and, whatever
To her guests she never appears before
luncheon, as her time Is too fully occu-
pied Letters again fill her afternoons
sometimes; and then the genial Sand
bingham tea follows. when besides cake
and tea. sandwiches, even soups, ham and
eggs, and all sorts of good things are dis
cussed. and the men have the choice OF
partaking of whiskeys and sodas
The queen presides over one tea table
and Princess Victoria over another. and
the children of the Prince and Princess
of Wales come over from York Lodge to
enliven the party. The parrots are usu-
ally made to go through their antics al
this time, and there is one In particular
which does not cease to draw corks and
yell God save the queen"
After dinner, which. by the way, Dr.
OFT does not allow the king nowadays to
partake of later than 8 o'clock instead
of at quarter to 9, as of yore, music Is
discussed by the ladies, and the kins
goes off to the bridegroom at an early
stage of the evening. He will Sit up very
late over bridge, and with his wonderful
constitution he never gets either tired
or cross over the game.
Lately the queen has taken liking 70
bridge and plays quite well. 1t is prin-
ciple with her and the king never to al
low any unmarried girl under their roof
to play cards for money.
The queen has always been a great
reader and her taste in books Is individ-
ual and most delicate. She avoids the
problem novel and prefers books that deal
with serious topics and especially works
that have made history. Stories that deal
with the simple annals of the poor at
"Uncle's Toms Cabin" is much appre-
ciated by Queen Alexandra.
Years ago the then Princess of Wales
asked friend to procure for her copy
Of "Jinx's Baby that indictment OF So
called charity John Inglesant'' is said
to be one Of our queens favorite novels.
and she has always had great liking
for Miss Charlotte Yonge's old world pro-
auctions. Indeed. The Heir of Red
clyffe" was one Of the books that she
Hans Andersen's fairy tales were also
in high favor, especially THE Little
Match Girl and THE Swineherd."
Then Queen Alexandra has a great love
for poetry, especially for the works OF
British poets. Some of Shelley's verses
please her, but the late Lord Tennyson's
poems are perhaps her chief favorites.
Like many other ardent booklovers she
considers that a good book deserves fine
raiment. and she. like King Edward. has
done much to revive the old art of book
binding, and in this relation it is worthy
of note that the artistic group of women
bookbinders have received many commits
sions from her. The queen has a most
ornate book plate the ownership of which
is indicated by the one word Alex
andra.''