New-York tribune., 1879-01-02
CURRENT TOPICS IN PARIS.
REMINIsCENCEs OF PRINCESS ALICE.

REMINlSCENCES OF PRINCESS ALIVE.
THE LATE PRINCESS PENsIvE AND sTUDIoUs-A
FRENCH PRISONER OF WAR BEFRiENDKD BY
HER-THE CAREER OF AN ADMIRAL WHO b.
CAME A SOLDIER AND AN AMBASSADOR
fFRoM AREGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl
PARIS Dec. 1s.-The Princess Alice, of England,
whose death has again plunged Queen Victoria INTO
the gloom from which Lord BeacOnsheld had IN
duced her to emerge, was link between French
and German philosophy. The lamented Princess
was the most pcnsive member of her family
The days and hours of her life when were
not consecrated TO family affections and works o1
mercy and kindness, were spent IN medtauon'
reading and converse by word of mouth ana oy
letter with great thinkers, some of whom she had
discovered herself. Her mind was essentially re-
ceptive. There were many points OF resemblance
between Princess Alice and Lady Jane Grey. NO
flight of philosophy was too high for her TO follow
and she was wholly free from intellectual PRIDE ana
the harshness that comes so often of women break
ing their heads against metaphysical systems
When tbe Princess wanted to digest an abstruse
work she sat down to the piano or organ ana
let her fingers wander over The Key-poaru'
She had the senslbilucs of musician,
skilled hand and cultivated ear Her 'housn'S
while she played took ORDER shape ana wing cue
wrote to Dr. Strauss at whose feet sue sat- tha' az
such times her soul mounted to heavens
gate like the bird she most loved 10
watch and contemplate. Strauss, as the worn
knows. devoted himself to the elucldaton
ofthe truths and legends on which the Christian
Church is based He. according to some, reduceo
the personality of Jesus Christ to a myth. Accord
ing to others, lie revealed HIM as a sublime emana-
zion of the heart and soul Of Pagan Antiquity.
Greek civilization, Jewish patriotism, ana
Asiatic inspiration eliminated III him. AS
Jewish incarnation ne was the bridge which con-
oected together the hard intellectualism and the
practical common sense of the West, and the vague
dreaminess of the East, and enabled them to
act and react each other. lie was
the moral ideal which was set up by
overridden Greece and Judea III opposition TO
the gross sensualty, the lust of conquest and the
Ciesarism of Rome Princess Alice took the latter
view Of Strauss's theological teachings. She ac-
cepted as her rule of life Plato's 1t is better to
suffer than TO do an injury" and the Sermon on
the Mount.
A French officer, who was q prisoner OF war
III Germany in 1870, and who resided on
the same floor with me in Paris for many
wears related TO me some interesting cOnversa-
tions he had with Her Royal HighnoSs lie
was recommended to her by his mOther-iu-law'
n Dresden lady of rank, the descendant OF French
Huguenots, who had emigrdted to SaXony. The
Princess sent her Chamberlain to inform him that
she would be happy to receive him on a certain day
and hour at the Altes Schloss of Darnstadt. This
Grand Ducal residence Is an ancient castle, built IN
the time of Luther, and lies III the OLD
part of the town, where the ground is
low. 1t was surrounded with mOats and ditcLes,
which, since the late Grand Duke abandoned this
residence to his nephew Ludwig, have been drained
into ponds with an outlet to river flowing through
the Odcnwald. No mOIe gloomy looking schloss Is
there in all Germany. But the gardens
arc exquisiely laid out. Children were
playing in them. and the anterior Of the
edlfce was adapted with charming taste
10 the needs of modern life My friend was ushered
with some state 10 the eighteenth century wing, in
which the reception rooms are situated. The Prln-
cess Alice was in a drawing-roOm at the extreme
end OF the suites of apartments, through winch he
was conducted by gentleman usher IN court
dress chamberlain who was awaiting him
introduced him. He found the Princess standing
and at each side Il little gir She attired in the
plainest manner in brown stuff, very plainly made
and devoid Of trimming. The children were III
similar costumes. A large black cross stood out
from deep white linen collar, which COM
pletely enclrcled the neck of the Princess
who looked with her fair Madonna braids
of wavy hair and her purely oval face and
sweet. pensive cast of DhysiognOmy, like an angel
Of peace amid the angry passions and mlSerles Of
war. Prince Ludwig, her husband, was in
France at the head Of a military division, and in
the neighboIbOod of Tours from which
my friend came. The Princess, who knew
he belonged TO mOnarchical family,
spoke among other things Of the friendship which
existed between Grand Duchess Of Hesse-D Darn
ltadt and Marie Antoinette. There was a collection
OF that Queens letters in the Grand Duca Library,
and among them one of peculiar interest. 1t was
written Immediately after the death OF the frncess
Sophie France. third chi i'd of Louis xvi aud Mare
Antolnette, and contained some EXPRESSIONS betrdy
ing presentiment of the ills which were to oy;I-
take the royal family. In this way the con
yersation was led by Princess Alice to grave
topics on which she descanted with pen
etrating sweetness. and IN a. voice winch
fell like music the ear" The royal
lady told the French officer that she took no PRIDE
in laures culled in unless IN defence OF homes
and liberties and she did not beheye that
any political or other edlhce cemented III DlOOd
could endure, for that the meek were to
inherit the earth. la conclusion she asked
my friend if she could be of service to
many. the private library Of the Schoss was at
ms service. fOresters of the Grand Duke would
rerelve orders TO conduct him through the hills aud
aales of the 0denwald IN winch he would ind
sites Of enhancing beauty during ms stay
in Grand Ducal Hesse the French o!iiccr Sas
invited to literary conferences Whlch were heid at
the AiteS SchiOSS. Each time the Prncess Alice
kindly sent for him al the end of the lecture and III
the presence of her children entered INTO con
yersation with hlm. She was pTond 10 think
her great-grandmother,. the Duchess of SAKE
Coburg befrIended Voltaire and dscerned
the excellence of ms heart, under cynical exte-
nor aud the passion for justice which animated
him. 1t was at the request OF the Princess Alice
that Strauss delivered his lectures on 'VOltaiTc.
his Life. Writings and Tine" III the Theatre OF
Daunstadt.
The deceased English Princess, 10 whom an old
English name was gwen at the baptsInal font.
the Lady Bountiul of her little state She founded
prphsnages and training school for domestic
servants, which sine frequently inspected herself.
The lark which she made her emblem, lived, she
Vas nrne 70 reflect ON Tie GROUND and Obscurely. II