The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-17
The Princess Mercedes at
School.
HOW SHE BEHAVED IN THE CONVENT.
Her Schoolfellows' Opinions OF
Her.
THE NEWS OF HER BETROTHAL.

OF 1894. The letters were written home,
not intended for publicaton but their present interest
hss induced tho writer 10 publish them BY them We
get most charming idea OF Queen Mercedes child
and ure made ultimately acquainted win her school
life The letters arc written from the pensionnat oil
the convent Of -, near Paris. We will begin with
the one dated
now, ANA you WOULDN'T know the old bu'lang; its so
swarming- with girls. We are d;v.ded into Two
casse o MY or more little ones Is al the other COW
vent aud entirely separate from US IN every way
There Is 10 DO distinguished adoltion 10 The pension
mai Mex week In the shape VI ono OF the Orleans
Processes, daughter OF tue Duke de Montpeuse.
She - " be Installed nero ~ lazy scholar, ANA VIII
have her Seat ~ class ana he IN every way just IKE
one Of u.s. Inc Countess ol Farls VINO 10 her sister,
was also educateu here Tnis litlie princess, they
say, 10 0erohed 10 her cousin the young Prince OF
As,urias, If that rs The case may Queen OF
np.in some Jay, tuougn; 70 20 sure. aoesa iY9k
just IN iroui oil me SIT in GLASS; shall have
good Opportunity TO observe her.
ARRIVAL OF THE LITTLE PRINCESS.
TUESDAY, Uct. 2I.-Ihe Princess actually arrived
this morning anu Is now we'll Installed here. Tho
Duke ana Duchess oil Aon,psnsier came out win her
" coll on Tue Superiorcss ana See the school, 1t
Just al the recreation We were out IN the
park, so they walked round and visited the play
S"snds ., Inc a.ssns glasses and stayed some !ims
stand stu and courtesy as they passed. but the Duke
anu Duchess begged particularly mat our game Of
PRISONERS base shoula not De interrupted, they
wanted 10 see how well We could play. You I'M
agine that on hearing this We chased other with
great Zeal Poor Alcxandrne has dropped from he
couds Sine doesn't think much Of the French roy al
iamily now. vi course we were all looking out
eagerly for our new schoolnaate, ana she soon APP
peared, walking with Tue governess little
way behind her parents and tue superioresR All we
could see was That sne was gfl Of thirteen or 80,
st IN short dresses, wi,h pleasant, dark lace al
most hidden under u broad brimnied straw hat. She
had on very simple little SUIT OF some purple aud
whNe striped stun, and wore white cotton gloves and
boots without heels. Fancy the feelings OF Alexan-
drpe lhey were somewhat assuased, however, by
tue appearances Oh the Duchess She Is the sister OF
Queen isabella, aud Is TALL distinguished looking
luan, Was very richly dressed full OF animation. ana
seemed worry much interested in everything she saw.
Tue Princess WAS n0t formally Introduced TO us TIL
alter Wa had goue into class, when the Superiorsss
brougn. her IN to show her her seat she had taken
her hat Oh aud looked very shy and pretty AS she
came IN. She seemed to BE- good deal embarrassed
~ facing 30 many grls. and hung her head htts,
and answered In a very low voice when she was
spoken to. but her eyes looked up bright ana u Of
integence There Is something very attractive about
her; she 10 perfectly simp and upassuming She
TOOK her seat at ner desk and Anne dc D. show,
her about her lessons and the books she would need
nad good chance to examine the Princess US she
formed ior her age and sits up very sraight,
though she droops her head lutte. Her complexion
Is very tine aud clear, with healthy tlnKe, and
features are pleasing especially the eyes. which Of
" soft gray or hazel, with DARK lashes, deep una
very orlgat ana iuii Of expression. Her hair Is
she wears " brushed tight 10 her head aud braided 10
two braids wnlcn arc ustened low across the back OF
hcr head. Then she has very white throat ana
pretty shaped ears aud altogether develop
mo quile II handsome woman We had been Told
beforehand by the nuns that We must all call her
''Aadau,e" II seemed a funny idea 10 cali such
htte krl Madame, especially mere, where VIC AL call
eacn other by our nrs names Whatever the difference
aye rank, but tho nuns didn't think It right that
we snouia be quite 50 lamiilar with iuure queen.
noticed however, that they themselves called her by
her name, Mercedes
At first some oil undertook TO instruct Madame
in PRISONERS base, but w. soon ound she knew II as
well any OF us she 10 last runner and VIII make
= capital player Some OF the girls were little sny
win ner anu wouldn't chase ner very hard a. hrst,
but sue saw through 1t aud seemed quite hurt by H.
ana woula purposely put herself IN their 80 that
thcy couldn't avoid Catching her. anu We soon en AZ
sase all sound. think she is gong 10 be trump
Without losing The eentleness aud simplicity OF her
manners she Is last getting over her shyness, aud
there nothpg rough about her, yet she is brigut
ana wa ana I, v"ry lor al sS,
she works well little Wine ana then waits ior the
tsvcher ~ come aha correct her drawing and mean
wnile employs herself scribblng her name ana
in.,ias, IN. o." "Mcrc6des d'Orleans, IN o." in
every corner OF The paper.
HONk LIFE
Sue tola us lille t0-uay aU0ut her ways at home.
The Duchess Of Mouipensirr brings up her chlIrcu
very ens,5y, and they all have To get up at
60 20 beu ~ eight Maaame was quite disappointed
when sue came hero 10 ind that our hours
earlier tnan hers, lor we ses UP ~ Sali-past I'VE.
somewhat. Her playmate Is tue Prince Ferdinand,
year ol1er than Lorseii. they treat tner parents
with The greatest respect, and never dream OF going
10 bed without their istncrs blessing Mercedes says
ihaL sometimes wnen nelr father % win the hunt
no dclays0 tai nearly midnight but instead Of un-
dressn., tue chdreu stay down stars aud take maps
III chairs TIL he gets back They aii0w ed to
lie ON sofas when Older people are present. but isr.
codes says she can sleep very soundiy ia u cna,r.
Wneu The father comes home they just wake up
enough to receive his embrace anu blessing, and get
oil 10 bed AS fast rs they Can.
THE QUEEN ~ PUNISHED
THURSDAY, Dec. -.--lhe tbird oivision in history,
Sister Margucrite's class ~ tDe Middle Ages, came
down IN quite an excited frame oi min this evening
IL 10 ~ class, made up moslly oil Noy enn.s, aud
contains number Of girls as full OF mischief As any in
the scnooL Sister Marguerite has had good OF
trouble all wDter in Trying to keep order ana silence
during tue Ieciiations. anu nov io-nsht The girls
pltcn vi NOISE ana dissipation that made les
sons almost Impossible. Bad notes, usually cnec-
tuai were now oil no avail, and US one ny one
older girls soI led away by the spirit scneI that
alod poor siser Mars uerto ic that all al, no.
rty was tast slipping IRON her hands; ana when at
last little, quiet, demue Madame, 10 the delight OF
the vng nders, could resist tneir Overures longer
but began, to JON IN the pranks she felt that
somcsning desperate must be res,rtea TO- With rap
sleruly, .Meru6desI' The Priuccss started to nor
feet and turned crimson, and tho girls looked up 10
hear what Was coming next. SISTER Margu, rite went
on gravey :-"Mercodes, am ericved " see you en-
couraging luis conduct III your CLASSMATES. You may
go aua stand at tLo door TIL the ciass quiet" All
was hushed III instant ana the girls we're aghast
70 stand al the d0ur Is consucrud one OF the
Illuminating oil puDishmens ana Is seldom resorted
except Win the pet,tes. Inc door VI he recitation
room Is gass Que, lead ny into tae ham, right tho
loot OF tue STAIRCASE, where people continually
passiuu: so that Tue offender who stands Is
In iui sight OF the passcfs by well OF the class
Tue girls looked wonaerngly NJ each other, at the
mistress, then at Tie Princess 10 see what she would
aud walked quickly with head bent down, the door,
opened u, went out and s.ocd there with her nands
.deu aud with very RED lace. Ihis step had the
desired elect OF bringing tue class order there
was hardly girl pit ieit she deserved the punish
mcpt lar more than Madame. However, Sister Mar
guoriie let her stay there several minutes. just
as she about 10 call nor back down tho
stairs came the good, KIND mistress OF class, who
has soft spot her heart Tor all little sinners,
aud VINO couldnt heip laughing AZ Madame's discom-
hlure 1T being seen III sucn position, and emprae.
iDg led her back to class, asking Sister Marquee
ria Al 10 Deua Ion
enough From this I'll the end OF the lesson girls
were all IKE nte modeis. This evening, alter
Madame had ,clt the nuns told That after class se
came up 10 Sister Marguerite and thanked her for
having given her this punishment saying, 'You
reminded me that III my position ought always to
give highest example. hope never shall forget
~ She always takes rcprool in such good spirit
that aon'L wondsr Inc nuns think so much OF her.
THE QUEEN REClTks LoNGFELLow.
Al the the term, when the pupils standing in
their classes were Reported tue writer If these letters
says.--"i curious 10 SEQ how the Princess u'Or-
Icnn. Mould tuIc mis- OcUAs ION: bul sne had 10