The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-07
From the Wisconsin State journal. !
'sThe Princess of ThuIe."

Our readers Will remember William Blacks
charming novel, "The Princess of Thule" pub
lished some three years since. The King
'Sheila," the Princess and her maid "Mairie,"
are characters drawn from real life, living on
the Island of Lewes, one of the Hebrides, and
the most northern and largest of the group,
northwest of Scotland, We copy the following
description of visit to the island written by
young lady residing abroad, which we think the
readers of 1.-THE Princess of Thule" will be in
terested in:
Not long since we took the large steamer
which goes from Greenock as far as Storna-
way, taking week to make the journey and
return. must tell you first that we have
really and truly seen Her Royal Hiehness the
Princess-who do you think? 1 know that
republican blood begins to burn with indigna-
ton at the very thought of being called upon
to rejoice with me over having seen some
bloodth irsty and conceited scion of despotism,
but pray be calm; you are.quite as ready to paw
homage as !, nay, more SO, for it was the far
famed and benignant Princess of Thule We
were directed to certain hotel belonging to
the King of Borva, and which was kept by his
royal daughter. 1t appears that His Majesty,
known in common life as Mr.. Hunter, keeps an
nm and farm at place called Gaw-na-hins, on
the west side of the Lewis, where tourists and
people in search of holiday go to spend some
were in Stornaway Mr.. Hunter had taken in
addition to his old inn, the Commercial
Hotel" in town, and we wera about their first
guests Our arrival created quite sensation
Ihe inmates were evidently in all the excite
ment OF laying carpets and generally getting
things put to rights. Workmen in various
directions, the prototype of 'Mairie'' flying
about, the ,'Kipg" in gray clothes with an i'm
posing full-moon face, well combed, grizzled
beard, pompous, dignified and commonplace,
his principal characteristics or rather qualities
for characteristic is too angular word to be
applied to him, being as far as 1 could Judge,
utter insignihcance and boundless sense of his
own Importance. He is Enthusiastically like his
portrait. 'Mairie'' is just "Mairie'' Cher real cal
name is Annie), and makes an awful clatter
as she sits at the table. Her English carries
her as far as 'syes" and "no.'' She looks NOR
tally insulted if any one addresses her a long
Sheila herself, she fitted around on the even
ing of our arrival, evidently the presiding
genius of everything, taking care that we had
no opportunity of staring at her. She is very
ladylike, more like au ordinary English girl
sweet refined and thoughtful 1t was disap-
pointing to see her wearing a miserable hol-
land dress with shabby frills. On the Sunday
she kept studiously out of sight. never saw
more than the back of her head. which was
prettily arranged with natural flowers, while
poor Marie" in her thick boots was thunder.
ing about all the day. You must understand
that the staff of walters consisted of "Mairie.''
But the mark of the Princess's hand was
everywhere. Everything was well ARA nged;
carpets, crockery, wall papers, etc., were
chosen with taste totally different from what
one sees in county or even town hotels,
have since heard that we were fortunate to
have had glimpse of her at all, as but few
have an opportunity of seeing the heroine of
Mr.. Blacks delightful day.
Thousands of visitors have been attracted to
the Island of Lewes from areading the novel of
Mr.. Black, and it is said the king is taking adj
vantage of his fame and fast making fortune
by keeping an inn. Since the above letter was
written the Princess "Sheila" has married. and
the many admirers of the heroine among the
wealthy and fashionable people of London pre-
sented her with elegant wedding Gifts