A NIGHT IN THE ROYAL TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9022, 29 October 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

A NIGHT IN THE ROYAL TRAIN.

When the Queen of England travels Her Majesty makes her progress in state. The prosy utilitarianism of modern life has, of course, banished the picturesque pageants which attended the ordinary movements of the monarch through the land in the Elizabethan era. Then every subject of the Crown knew all about the Queen's doings when she was en voyage. The roads throughout the land by which Her Majesty made her way to the castles or mansions of her nobles were lined with the people, who made traditions for their children or children's children of all the brave display of magnificent processions of handsome men and beautiful women who accompanied the Queen. Even when Her Majesty went down the river to her palace at Greenwich it was a sight for the good citizens of | London, which even a modern Lord Mayor's Show could not equal in popular interest. Nowadays the monarch, when she appears in public, avoids display. When she goes on her travels Hor Majesty hides herself from her subjects, and is supposed to go on hor way as any ordinary mortal would. That, however, is one of the delusions of the day. When the Queen travels she travels in courtly fashion. Her Majesty's long journeys may be described as the Court in transit. And, during the journeys, all the ceremonial of the Court at Windsor is observed, so far as can bo in consonance with the best possible arrangements of railway companies. In the case of a royal journey the best arranged plans of the railway companies never "gang agley." The person of the Queen is precious in the loyal minds of the railway directors, who, nevertheless, do not look upon the royal peregrinations as events calculated to increase the dividends. From a financial point of view, running a royal train is a dead loss to the companies concerned. It takes about as much trouble and expense to run a royal train to Scotland as would be entailed.by half a dozen ordinary express trains, and the remuneration which the companies receive amounts to about as much as would accrue from the passengers' fares in one express. To begin with, when the Queen determines on a long journey several days, sometimes a whole week, is occupied in organising the official arrangements. When Her Majesty goes north the royal train traverses the lines of several companies. The Comptroller of the Household has to communicate " Her Majesty's gracious commands," in the most formal Court phraseology, to the chairmen of the various companies. It would be beneath the dignity of royalty to hold communication with such ordinary persons as a stationmaster or traffic manager, or even a secretary. Of course; tho secretary of each company concerned knows whence the royal instructions come, opens tho official letter from Windsor or Osborne, and, without consulting his chairman, makes the arrangements. The royal carriage consists of the Queen's saloon, the Queen's bedchamber, and Her Majesty's boudoir, all communicating. The saloon, which is always beautifully draped and furnished, serves as dining-room and drawing-room combined. The boudoir is for the private use of the Queen and the members of the royal family who may accompany her. In tho Queen's carriage only the Queen's family party are accommodated, seldom numbering more than four or five. Of late years the Princess Beatrice of Battenburg has been the Queen's constant companion. One of the ladies-in-waiting is always one of the royal party, and one of the Queen's readers as well. It is worth noting that all tho ladies employed as Queen's readers are musicians. Her Majesty loves music, and all her ladies-in-waiting and readers are expected to satisfy the royal taste for the Cecilian art. There is also a personal attendant to look after the comfort of the royal travellers, the Queen and the Princess. During tho daytime, on a royal journey, the male members of the royal party are admitted to the Queen's carriage. They lunch and dine, en famUlc But, after dinner, which is conducted with semiCourt ceremony, the gentlemen retire to their travelling quarters, where they enjoy themselves after their own masculine fashion. During the daytime the Queen reads, and is read to. Her Majesty generally selects the stock of literature for the journey. Princess Beatrice and the Princess Victoria May are her favourite readers, and they and the lady-reader suffice, in alternate turns, to give Her Majesty all the news of the day, for, at the few stopping stations on the royal route, the latest editions of the newspapers are handed into the royal saloon. Her Majesty, either at home or on her travels, is a great newspaper reader. While the gentlemen are present musicfor the royal saloon is furnished with a piano—serves to pass away the time, and both ladies and gentlemen indulge in song. There is even an occasional game of cards. The Queen is a good whist-player, and, although it used not to be etiquette to beat the Sovereign in any game, Her Majesty takes her chances on a perfect equality with her opponents. On (lit the Queen usually scores, nevertheless. There are no stakes at the royal card table. In the halcyon hours, when the gentlemen are invite to join the Queen's party, no smoking is allowed. The princes and officials of the Court have their own smoking-room in tho royal train. Light refreshments are always carried in the royal saloon; but the set meals, luncheon and dinner, are usually in readiness at stations where tho train is timed to stop at luncheon and dinner-time. It may be interesting to tho ladies to learn that, when travelling, the Queen and her companions enjoy their five o'clock tea, only it generally takes place at six o'clock. When the dinner is over, and the gentlemen, if any are present at tho royal tabic, have retired, it is needless to say they see no more of the ladies during the night journey. Frequently the Queen and her ladies have a little more music and a game of cards all to thomselves before retiringtime. On her journeys the Queen always sleeps well. Hor hour of retiring to her bedroom varies. Sometimes Her Majesty is asleep by eleven o'clock. Oftener midnight findH her unwilling to rest. Her retirement to the travelling bedchamber is marked by as much ceremony as at Windsor Castle. There is an apology for a supper, only vory light refreshments. The Queen never neglects her prayers, and, when on her journeys, spends about a quarter of an hour in private devotion before retiring to rest. Her devotions concluded, the lady of the bedchamber in attendance on the Queen helps Her Majesty to undress, and at the last moment her daughter, the Princess Beatrice, receives a motherly kiss and a "Good-night." Indeed.it is an unfailing rule of the Queen, at homo or when travelling, to bid all her attendants a courteous " Good-night." Tho Princess sleeps on a couch within call of tho Queen, and the other ladies have their sleeping apartments within call. The Queen is an early riser on her travels. She has a passion for scenery. When daylight dawns she is awake and up and dressed enjoying the panorama of nature. A cup of coffee is always ready for her when she wakes— breakfast for the ladies only is ready by eight o'clock. In other portions of tho royal train the night is not always spent as quietly or as decorously. When Henry of Battenburg has nob been sent on in advance in charge of the " Battenburg babies," as other members of the royal family irreverently call the children of Princess Beatrice, he is always an occupant of the royal train. The gentlemen of the Court spend most of their time in the royal smoking saloon. They smoke, they drink in a gentlemanly manner—not after tho gentlemanly code of their forefathers— they tell stories, they play cards—for stakes, but not extravagant stakes—they sing eongs, but do not go to bed early. The sleeping accommodation for the gentlemen of the royal party is limited. The other members of the household have their special saloon ; and pass the night-time in imitation of their betters; the exception being, perhaps, the Queen's gillies and Her Majesty's Indian servants, who eschew all the simple pleasures which the others enjoy, and enjoy immensely. But one draconian rule is observed. While Her Majesty sleeps there must be no noise in the train. No bells are rung in the stations a3 the royal train passes through. No other train, nob even goods, is permitted to pass by. The "goods"are shunted until the Queen is out of hearing. And many a merchant has to* wait, with gnashing teeth, for the late delivery of merchandise for which his customers are impatiently clamouring. The explanation that the night traffic was stopped to make way for the royal train has, however, as far as legal memory extends, never been pleaded for breach of a contract of delivery against a railway comHomeland,