OUFEN

matronliness 1 therr hitde wooden faces, due to the combination of small, sharp noscs, and bright vermilion cheeks (consisting of a big dab of paint in onc

(77 spot), with broad, placid

| - brows, over which, neatly parted on cach temple, are painted claborate, clderly,

. [ § 4

S 3 3 i | -]

| j N

greyish curls. The remainder of the hair

1s coal black, and 1s re- licved by a tiny yellow comb perched upon the back of the head.

......

HANDKERCIT .

The dolls dressed by Her Majesty are for the most part theatrical personages and Court laclics, and include also three males (of whom there are only some seven or cight in the whole collec- tion) and a few little babies, tiny creatures made of rag, with painted muslin faces. The workmanship 1n the frocks 1s simply exquisite ; tiny ruffles arc sewn with fairy stitches ; wee pockets on aprons (it must be borne in mind for dolls of five or six mmches) arc delicately finished off with minute bows—little handkerchiefs not more than half an inch squarc are em- broidered with red silk mitials and have drawn borders ; and there are chatelaines of white and gold beads so small that they almost slip out of one’s hands in hand- ling, and one is struck afresh by the deftness of finger and the un- wearied patience that must have been pos- sessed by the youthful fashioner. Not nearly

[ 7CTONRALS

THE EARL OF LEICESTER (1).

/201.7.5. 225 so much care has beeny however, expended on the underclothing, which is of the most Iimited description, many Court ladies having to be content with a single satin slip—the dancers alone, for obvious reasons, being provided (though not invariably) with silk pantaloons.

A whole group of dolls represent characters m the ballet of “Kenilworth,” which was performed in 1831 at the famous King's Theatre. Tt would be interesting to know whether Her Majesty was herself taken to the opera, or whether the costumes were deseribed to her, or whether the knowledge was obtained from prints, 7 which latter theory, owing to the minuteness of detail, scems the most probable.

To this sct the Princess Victoria con- tributed two of the characters, Robert Dudley, Iiarl of - Leteester, and iny Robsart in rdimg costume.

The Earl ol Leieester (1), who presents a distinctively mascaline physiognomy, owing to the addition of painted black moustaches and whiskers, and the absence of a back comb, 1s attired in pink satin hose, slashed with white silk, a white satin tal:bed tunic with pink satin slashings, and a white lace

ruffle. On his breast he wears the Dblue nbbon of

NOTES BY THE QUEEN.

“ She went to the opera and saw the ballet, of which she was very fond, several times.

1 None existed. 1 Noz vidinge costume.

AMY ROBSART (51)