Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-10
The Junior English Princesses.

"There is luck in odd numbers This
is the expression invariably used by his
royal highness the prince Of Wales when re-
ferring to his five children-his two boys
and three girls.
Her royal highness the princess Louise is
the most amiable of the three, and is mini
ature copy Of her mother. The princess
Victoria, her fathers pet, has temper of
her own, impetuous, ardent, hot, smiling
through tears like a sunbeam in showers
while Maude whom Queen Victoria idol.
ICES, has disposition somewhat like that
of her right royal grandmamma None of
the princesses fear the queen, although
everybody else has wholesome dread of
her most gracious majesty, who is as exact
ting as she is severe. The daughters of the
prince of Wales, after the first formal deep
courtesy down TO the ground are made, Iomp
with their grandmother as they would with
one of the gouvernantes; and it is a matter
of apprehension to the dowsger marchioness
of Ely, who, with the exception of the late
duchess of Sutherland-the grand duchess
lis most intimate with the sovereign, when
the young princesses pounce upon the queen
and dare TO pull about the ruler of an en-
pire upon which the sun never sets.
The princess Louisa is the most talented,
the princess Maude the smartest. All three
have talent for languages, and are always
delighted when their uncle, the crown
prince of Denmark, is with them, as then
they chat in Danish. He is said to be their
prime favorite, and as they dearly love
romp the good-tempered uncle INDUCES
them with the elan of a lad of fifteen.
The princesses are all musical, inheriting
this taste from their mother, who is a su-
perb pianist, but who never plays outside
Of her own immediate family circle. She
is devout follower of Rubinstein, and per-
forms that wonderful waltz after a fashion
that would have enchanted the maestro
could he but have had the privilege of hear
ing her play.
The princess of Wales carefully watches
the musical education of her daughters and
nearly every day after Mile. Gaymard Pacini,
the primiere pianist of the age, who is their
instructress, has concluded her lessons, she
she asks how each demoiselle acquitted her
self. The prince is no musician. II leave
all that sort of thing to Edinburgh" he
laughs.
The young princesses having been prom
ised visit to the Tower of London in May
last which they were nearly crazy to see,
Rev. Teignmouth Shore, one of the queens
chaplains, was ordered to act as their escort
81 won't go if can't go like any other
little girl" said the princess Maude. 81
hate to have great big soldiers saluting and
everybody bowling down to the ground. It's
no fun, and want to go like any other little
girl" The princess Maude carried the day,
having been warmly supported by her sis
tiers, and the happy, trio did the Tower " like
any other little girls" to their unbounded
satisfaction.
The princesses are made to keep early
hours. Five A. NJ in summer finds them out
of their beds, and in flannel suits for calls
themes. Their breakfast is very simple, as
much stirabout, oatmeal and milk, as they
like to eat. No hot rolls, no heavy meats,
consequently no dyspepsia. Their dinner
at two is equally plain. A nutricious soup,
fish and joint, with vegetables and one
pie or pudding. Their greatest dissipation
is waiting up to help dress mamma for a
ball.
The princesses are incessant takers. They
rattle away from rosy morn to dewy eve,
and the resident governesses, extremely ele-
giant ladies, are occasionally driven to the
verge of despair by the incessant prattle of
these little royalties. The elder governess
they call "Mam," the younger Selle dex.
terously cutting the word mademoiselle in
two. They are admirable mimics, and
every new swell " who arrives is pretty
certain to have his or her "precious weak
ness admirably reproduced by these nstu-
raj and charming children. They are very
fond, like other children, of inspecting visi-
tors from the regions of the staircase, and
favorite rarely escapes without some furtive
recognition. When en- fdmile the young
princesses are always dispatched by their
parents for the wraps of the guests when
the latter are about TO take their departure.
Louise, run and get Lady So-and.so her
cloak" Maude, where is Mrs. IS
shawlP" Victoria, go and find the duch-
ess' wrap"
The Christmas pantomime is looked for
ward TO for six months, and fondly recol-
lected for the rest of the year. The face
tiousness of the clown is admirably repro
duced, while the knocks-down received by
the enduring and ever-amiable Pantaloon
are prscticed with scrupulous fidelity. 1t
is after the witnessing Of the pantoinime
that the governesses have to call upon all
their reserves in order to bring under control
the explosive animal spirits OF these healthy
young misses
The princess of Wales dresses her daugh-
tiers in the plainest possible way, calicoes,
ginghams, muslins and flannel being de
rigueur. No corsets, no tightness of any
kind, and as for ornaments, such as rings,
earrings or bracelets, her royal highness
would be astounded if such an idea were so
much as mooted.
She is very particular about having the
girls instructed in sewing, embroidery and
all manner of woman's domestic work, and
continually holds up her sisterin-law Lorne
as model in that respect.
Little does the passer-by imagine, as he
glances up at the lightest window of MARI
borough house, that behind the blind is
seated the future queen of England, lovingly
surrounded by her daughters, to whom she
is reading some refined and instructive
story, while her husband, his cigar in his
month nazaa at this hnma nictnra with a