The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-22
Miscellany.
A Glimpse nj the Priucess Of Wales.

A Glimpse nj the Princess of WaieS.
"Hattie," chatty correspondent OF the
Saturday Evening Post, writes pleasantly
from London about the persona9es and
scenes there encountered. One day Hattie
took drive and saw the Princess:
Sailed out, and snubbed Regent street, en-.
PEASANT, as being neither SO wide, nor SO
splendid, nor so gay as our own Broadway
Rolled through Belgravia and made COM
ments to the effect that whatever the interiors
of the houses were their exterior was not to
be compared 10 those Cf Filth Avenue.
Pronounced St. james to be long, low and
dingy-Buckingham Palaee-a most unpala-
tial looking residence-Marlborough House,
the home of the Princess of Wales, rather a
nice place Tor young couple to set up house
keeping in, etc., ad infnitum.
Turning into Hyde Park we patronized it
as a pleasant countryside place, but possess
ing neither the artificial advantages and
beauties OF Central Park, nor the natural
ones of Paramount,
We stigmatized "Rotten Row. as being
most un-euphonious name for a very delight
ful equestrian avenue, and were just rolling
on beside the limpid waters of the Serpea-
tine, when we were aroused from, let us hope
not too unkind criticism, by the voice OF
our coachman, who, bending from The box,
said eagerly-"Here comes the Princess OF
Wales"
Fancy the conmotion! If it had been the
Queen or the Prince, or half score of Dukes
and Duchesses we should in all probability
have lain back on the cushions and gazed in
languid curiosity, but it was Alexandra! OF
whom Tennyson has sung-Alexandra the
sweet and womanly, enshrIned in the hearts
OF her adopted people unalterably, by reason
other many goodnesses. We all sat up very
straight, trying not to look curious and
pleased and conscious, and feeling that we
had failed miserably in the attempt One
young person donned her eye glasses and
wished that circumstances and high breeding
would have allowed the use of opera glasses
instead.
Meanwhile a stylish landau rolled towards
US, drawn by two handsome prancing bays.
The cOachman and footman were dressed in
plain dark livery-the whole equipage and
its appointments being as simple, UMPIRE
tending and perfect as one could well imae-
inc.
Two ladies were seated in the carriage, one
OF whom turned her calm quiet gaze full
upon us-it was the princess. She has an
oval face, pale and pathetic-with quantity
OF hair, of that neutral tint called ght
brown, drawn carelessly away from the
smooth, frank brow Her blue eyes are Large
sad and questioning; her nose slightly aque-
line, and her mouth is very sweet and sensi-
tive. Not beautiful, and hardly to be called
even pretty, except perhaps under a fattering
gas light, with the brilliant adjuncts of
splendid toilet, she yet has a tender, woman
ly, fower-like face that would in any rank OF
life cause good man involuutarily to accord
her his protection, and a good woman to
give her her love.
She was dressed quite simply, wearing a
blue velvet paletot, with bit of swans down
at her throat black lace hat with blue vel
vet flowers and strings, and dark gloves.
After that we drove back to the hotel quite
satisfied with our day, and with huge, noisy,
CHEEKY London-in Which, alter all, one finds
something strangely familiar and home-like.