AT VICTORIA'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 156, 26 March 1908, Page 3

AT VICTORIA'S COURT.

THE QUEEN AS HOSTESS. '!

■ Those', interested - in the rather curious ceromonial arrarigements which prevailed at the. quiet Court of. Queen Victoria, will be glad to note a passage .in the latest-instal-ment of -Lady .Randolph Churchill's. Reminiscences,. appearing-in the "Century :Ma'ga,:zino" -for. February. She is writing of the period of Lord Salisbury's short-lived first administration in '18S5:—

"While Randolph was' at the India Office, I was told that the Ordor of the Crown of India would bo , given to mo if ho 'recommended mo for ic. This decoration, ■ which was instituted by Queen Victoria-,'.arid 1 designed by the, Duke of -Albany,..has' l d very pretty-pearl and..turquoise cipher attached to ii pale-blue ribbon edged with white. . I admit I thought it would be very nice to have it, but Randolph demurred at the idea of recommending his own wifo for it,' and therefore L sorrowfully gave up tho idea.'.: A few months later, however, much to my delight, tho following letter arrived:: . ...

".'Windsor Castlo, r . * ; " .'November 30, 1885.. ; Dear Lord Randolph: " 'Tho Queon wishes to personally confer the Insignia of the Order of the Crown of India, on Lady Randolph Churchill on Friday "next, Decomber 4, at 3 o'clock. "'Will sho come hero to luncheon? i " The 1.10 train from Paddington is the most convenient one, and if Lady Randolph will let me hear whethor she comes by that or another train,-' I will send the carriago to meet her here. : , " Tours very truly, . , . " 'Henry Pbnsonby.' "On the appointed day I went to Windsor, having been duly apprised, by a noto received in tho morning from a lady-in-wait-ing, as to what, garments I should' appear in.- . "'Lady Randolph Churchill : " 'Bonnet and morning dress, gray gloves. " 'To kiss the Queen's hand after receiving tho dccoration, like tho gentlemen to-day. A room will be prepared for her;' "Tho Queen, with ono of tho Prinoesses and a lad3'-in-waiting rocoivcd mo in a small room/ Sho stood with hor bnck to tho window, wearing a long.whito veil which, against tho light, made an-aureolo around her. Addressing a fow kind words, to me,''to-which in, my otnbarrassment I mado some inaudiblo answer, sho proceeded to pin the order on my loft shouldor. I remember that my black velvet dress was thickly- embroidered with jet, so much, that ,tho pin 'could find no hold, and unwittingly, tho Queen stuck it straight into mo. Although, like tho Spartan boy I tried to hide what 1 felt,-1 suppose I gavo a and the Queen realising what ahe had

dono was much concerncd. Eventually the pin was put right, and I .curtsied myself out of the Royal Presence., As I reached the door, her Majesty', suddenly stepped forward saying with a smile, 'Oil 1 you have forgotten tho :caso,' holding it out to me at tho samo time, This little touch of nature relieved an ■'otherwise somewhat formal ceremony. Remarking afterwards to tho lady-in-waiting that I was afraid I had been awkward and nervous, 'You need not bo troubled,' she an- 1 swored, 'I know tho Queen felt moro shy than you did.' s "Shortly, after this wo wcro commanded to-Windsor to dino and sleep. Wo dined in rathor a small room, tho walls of which were hung.with family portraits by Winterlialter. Conversation was carred on in whispers, which I thought execedigly ' oppressive and conducive to shyness. When the Queen spoke, oven the whispers ceased. If she addressed a remark to you, tho answer was given while tho wholo company listened. _ "Thero is a story (which I give for what it is worth) told of ail officer who, being on guard at the Castle, was asked to dine. Tho whispered conversation and the stiffness of the proceedings beginning! to weigh on him, he thought ho would enliven tliem with a littlo joke. Tho Queen, hearing smothered laughter, asked what it was about. Scarlet and stammering the pcor man had to repeat his little tale, amid dead silenco. Fixing a cold eyo upon him, 'Wo are' not amused,' jvas all tho .Queen said.