JERSEY COWS BELONGING TO THE PRINCESS OF WALES.
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.
“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.
One particularly notices, at the top of the low dado surrounding the room, a row of china tiles framed in oak, with some capital reproductions from Caldecott, Kate Greenaway and others, each tile being painted and presented by a different lady. A circular china plaque, with a portrait of the Princess as Queen Elizabeth hangs above one of the doors, and is faced by one of the Prince as Henry VIII. over the other entrance. These same oaken doors, with their handsome old wrought-iron hinges and fittings must also be noticed for their beautiful panels made of slate and covered with designs of Cupids sporting amid flowers, which were painted and presented by the Duchess of Devonshire. The plain white marble chimney-piece, draped with olive velvet, is surmounted by a mirror in a massive ebony frame, which is surrounded by some very rich blue plates and vases. The centre of the mantel-shelf is appropriately occupied by a bust of H.M. the Queen. Any artificial light required in the tea-room is supplied by candles only, in connection with which we notice the handsome brass candelabrum, brought by the Princess from Denmark, which hangs from the ceiling.
The furniture of the pretty little room is of the plainest. It is framed in light oak, and is covered in a small pattern damask. Here and there in the room and the adjoining corridor are some small cabinets containing very fine specimens of old and modern china: Sèvres, Worcester, Chelsea, and Derby, with many others, being represented.