The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1001, March 4, 1899Various
General
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1001, March 4, 1899
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
Passing by the pretty little fountain supported by a china stork
standing amid rushes, which so pleasantly cools the dairy, we next come
to the “butter-room,” the walls of which are entirely covered with
plain blue glazed tiles, and the floor with Indian matting. Along the
window end of the room runs a broad shelf, which literally bends with
the weight of a perfect menagerie of china animals; cats, dogs, hares,
bulls, etc., are mixed up in bewildering profusion with every kind of
jug, the Brown Toby in all its varieties being conspicuous in this
latter class. The place of honour is held by a group of cats, in which
sentimental Tommy, with one paw round the waist of Tibbs, is delicately
trimming with the other the whiskers on her half-averted but not too
shy face.
On the right-hand wall are to be seen four Jersey creamers with which
is made the “Devonshire” cream for winter use. In addition to the
“Devonshire,” butter and cream cheese are made here in sufficient
quantities for the use of the Royal Family, whether residing at
Sandringham or Marlborough House. To the latter the dairy produce is
regularly forwarded by an afternoon train in special receptacles duly
marked with the Prince’s crest.
[Illustration: “CUSH,” A PEDIGREE BULL AT SANDRINGHAM.]
The dairy in former days was frequently visited by H.M. the Queen,
who, in comparing it with her own magnificent dairy at Windsor, which
was designed by the late Prince Consort, has always remarked on the
completeness of its arrangements and management.
The dairy herd consists of some twelve cows of the Prince’s own
breeding. Needless to say, they are models of their species. They are
accommodated, when not out at pasture, in the very completely filled
range of cow-houses which surrounds a square courtyard in the immediate
neighbourhood of the dairy. Here one may usually see in addition one
or two fine specimens of bulls, and also, in the proper season, some
lovely calves, which delight to frisk about in the knee-deep straw with
which the courtyard is bestrewn.
Last of all, if furnished with the proper credentials, one may see the
sanctum sanctorum of the dairy; this is the Princess’s own tea-room.
It is a small sunny room of about sixteen feet square, with a large
bay window overlooking a pretty little garden. The floor is covered
with a plain felt carpet of a dull bluish colour, on which are strewn
some of the Prince’s Indian trophies in the shape of tiger, leopard,
and other skins. The walls are divided into panels by black-edged
mouldings of unpolished oak, the interior of each panel being painted
with blue-green flatted paint to match the floor. This forms a perfect
background for the specimens of china with which the walls are almost
covered. Apropos of this china, it may be mentioned that it nearly all
consists of presents from personal friends of the Princess, and also
that the greater number of the pieces were painted for the purpose by
some of the greatest ladies in England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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