The Queen's Sundays

Arnong the articles in the Novembei Quiver is one by Mary Spencer Warren tlling how the queen spenüs Sunday. In former years it was customary foi her majesty to rise quite early on Sunday morning - as, in fact, sho did every day in the week. Of late years, however, she seldom leaves her toom mucn before 10, at wlüch hour breakfast is taken with any members ai the roya) íamily who may be there, a cup ot tea and a little toast having been previously conveyed to her majesty's bedside by one of the "dressers." Aftel breakfast the queen has a turn round the grounds in her donkey carriage, the donkey being the one that she bought at Florence. To preach before the queen is, of ecurse, a greaíly conveted honor and etiquette formal and preseribed has to be observed. No personal reference to her majeBty is permissible, a pure gospel discourse being de rigueur, delivered as thongh her majesty was not present. Many have tried to evade thes rules. The qneen likes and enjoys a plain practical discourse, selected from the lessons or gospel of the day, to ocenpy abont twenty minutes in delivery. Questions of the day and, above ail, politics, must be entirely excluded. A celebrated divine broke this rule one Sunday and preached a very strong political sermon; but it was nis last opportunity - the royal pulpits have neitheF of thembeenfilledby him again. Wherever her majesty may be it is now her invariable custom to drive out in a pairhorse cai-riage on Sunday afternoon. Dinner subsequently is somewhat stately. Very often the queen partakes of it with only the members of her own family present or any royal guest who may bè staying there, save and except that the officiating clergyman of the day and the minister in nttendance generr.lly recelve an invitaiion. As a rule, other guests are not asked. After dinner the queen retires direct to her own special drawing-room, where, together with any of her family who may be present, she will enjoy some music of the old masters, preferably Beethoven and Mendelssehn. The queen herself often takes part in duets with one of her daughters, and the Duke of Edinburgh, when present, contributes with his violin.