The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-07-18
ness ofemotiou, which gave little doubt
that her heart went with her hand.

hess VI iehioIou, WHICH gave Utte DOUBT
that her heart went with her hand.
AS we propose to devote seperate
niche in our gallery of portraits to Prince
Albert, it may now suffice to say that few
marriages in any circle of life have been
crowned with a more unbroken happiness.
In domestic virtue, in purity of taste, in
healthy refinement of enjoyment, the
Royal life presents an example which not
alone the court but the cottage may i'm
itate with advantage. The Queen in her
habits initiates much more the industry
and activity of the New England lady
than the Incidence and ease which char
acterze the Old England fashionable life.
AT an early hour she may be seen in the
gardens Of Buckingham Palace, or on the
slopes at Windsor, in plain cottage bon
net. in brisk walk with her husband, or
caring with tender finger, for some sickly
flower. And the languid ladies who loll
listlessly about the court, often lisp their
lamentation at having the leaf OF their del
lcate slumber stirred by such an early
breeze. Indeed two summers since, on a
visit to that mimic mockery of Court at
Dublin, which, like flunkey in his mas
ter's clothes, apes thl follies and frail,ies
of Royalty without possessing its man.
ners or its men, the Queen threw the Lord
Lieutenants and aud his lieges into con-
vulsions Of confusion by arriving at the
castle at an hour when the slugeard
slaves of fashion were asleep. In her
Highland home Of Balmoral, the bunch
OF fresh heath and glass from a sparkling
spring are carried at the first blush of
morning to her bedside, and she NAV be
seen clambering up the bonnie banks and
down the merry braes "wi her wee bit
BARNS" to the delight of the good Scotch
housewives around. Previous to her mar.
riage, ,ridingon horseback was the favorite
exercise of the Queen, and under the tut
ton of Miss Quentin, the daughter of Sir
George Quentin, Colonel of the Tenth
Hussars, she had acquired a graceful and
firm seat. Riding is that which mon.
arches do best, Talleyrand says, for horse.
cannot flatter. In those days her appear.
ance in the Park, surrounded by a gay
and gIittering cavalca1e Of equestrians,
was brilliant feature in the summer
evenings ofRotten Row. On her entrance
to the Park "the Queen" ran along the
avenue like flash, and with loyal cour-
tesy, cavaliers and carriages ranged them
selves on either side, while the ROYAL La
dy rode through and received the homage
of her admiring subjects. But those
bright days of youth are past. Her po.
sition has been one of such almost unin.
terIupted interest, and the young plants
have succeeded each other in the royal
nursery with such luxuriant rapidity, tha.
rocking has supplanted riding and the
hobby displaced the horse. Both the
Queen and Prince devote several hour,
in the day to the society and instruction
Of their children, and usually make ofthe
children's dinner pleasant preface to the
pomp and parade of royal banquets. The
Queen has discovered that healthy spring
in which alone the philosophers stone Of
happiness is found-employment. Those
hours which do not belong to the sacred
duties Of the mother she devotes TO the
enjoyment Of the most refined pUnuits.-
Some Of her sketches and drawings dis.
played much grace Of design and execu.
ton. Under the skilful tuition Of Costa
she has become fair proficient in the
science Of music,and the glorious Lablache
has taught her to play with somo taste
on that most beautiful Of all instruments
the human voice. He speaks with the
most affectionate pride Of his pupil. who
every night that her master sings, may
pe seen hanging with raptrpous delight
over that huge volcano Of song. Both
Queen and FRINGE are passiona,ely fond
Of music, and are always to be seen when
in town, at the Royal box in the Opera
which stands within two Of the stage or
the right hand side of the FIRST tier
Though she usually screens herselfbehind
parapet Of curtain from the FIRE Of The
lorgnetie, she is occasionally visible. Out
OF the season the evenings at the palace
are passed In social rubber Of whist, to
which the Queen is especially partial, OF
in agreeable and refined conversation
She usually singles ont the most cultiya.
ted and distinguished ofber guests as Ire,
particular prey, without consideration o
any rank butthss Of merit. Atone O
the nost brilliant banquets Of last sun.
mer, at which the most distinguished
statesmen and foreign ministers were
guests, the Queen passed the whole sven