Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

or DESMARK---A HoNEGY CHILD THAT
GREW ISTo 4 BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.
The Princess Dagmar, as the EN-.
press is still called IN the land Of her
birth, grew up with her sister Alcxan-
dra, now the princess of Wales, at the
Danish court, with very modest sur
roundings. The queen was an excel
lent mother, and sought to develop in
her daughters the woman in preference
the princess. 1t used to be said at
the capital that the princesses were
made to help in making their own
dresses, and that the furniture in their
common bedroom was covered with
inexpensive calico. 4 story of the
naive admiration expressed by Prin-
cess Dagmar on being shown the we'd
ding trOus-cau of one of the noble
ladies at court, and her longing won
der whether she would ever herself
own "such handsome things" was told
with touch of sympathetic pride by
the people Of Copenhagen, with whom
the two princesscs were great iavOritcs.
Dagmar had won her way deepest in
to the peoples heart, however. Her
sweet disposition, the winning grace of
her manner and the perfect freedom
with which she, like her sister. land
indeed the whole royal family. moved
among all classes Of the people were
well calculated to gain for her aiiec.
ton that followed her to her new
home and found expression at her
wedding in score of ways that touch
I'd the heart OF the princes, profound.
ly. At every subsequent appearance
at her fathers court she was received
by the people with an enthusiasm that
even embraced her husband, despite
The rumors Of his sinister character
aud violent temper that from the be
ginning had threatened to make the
match an unpopular one. The Care
witch apparently took kindly to this
popularity, and when at Copcngagen
mingled freely with the populace. His
bluff, soldicrly way soon found favor,
aud when Dagmar's children in little
killed suit, and with dark hair "haug.
ed over their forchcads began to be
seen about the park at Fredenborg.
"grandPapa's' summer palace, the re.
cancellation 10 the foreigner was com.
plete.
One Of the causes that contributed
to the popularity Of the Princes Dag
mar was, perhaps, her name. Her
father had wisely given to all his
children, except Alexandra. old. BIZ.
;orical Danish names. identified with
the past of the nation. Frederick
Christian, Naldcmar and Thyra are
all name. that hold high place in
Danish history and live in it, songs
and traditions. But of all the na.
tons great names none Is dcarcr to
the heart Of the Danish people than
that of DaCmar, the queen of the vic
torious Naldemar and the friend of
the needy and oppressed throughout
the land, whose goodness was 20 great
that on her untimely heath. bed, &C.
cording 10 tradition, no greater sin
weighed upon her conscience than
sewing a lace sleeve on Sunday"
The people of Copenhagen among
whom the Princess Dagmar moved
liked to compare her virtues with
those of the beloved queen, and at her
departure for her Russian home the
fervent wish followed her that she
would prove in truth "a veritable Dag.
"harbinger of day" TO the
unhappy people whose empress she
was some day to become. The Prin.
cess Dagmar was not a handsome child,
her features being clumsy though
pleasing; but she grew into a very
beautiful woman, like her sister Alex.
andra. In every print shop in Copen-
hagen pictures Of her and her husband,
with their children, are for sale. The |