, 1884-01-31
ENGLANDS E
Bome Undesirable Qualities IN the
Robes of Royalty.
Victoria not Altogether m Attractive
Mother-in-L aw---A shabby
Economical Sow
ereign-
nucy h. Hooper in Philadelphia Telegraph

Lucy h Hooper in Philadelphia Telegraph
Apropos OF Grace Greenwood, / have just
finished reading her very charming "Life of
Queen Victoria" 1t is a most interesting
volume, and 1 heartily concur with her in her
enthusiastic praises OF Prince Albert. Till
his eldest son grew up we scarcely realized
what a paragon the prince consort really was
IA young and handsome man, seated beside
one Of the greatest thrones OF Europe, a
prince out OF a fairy tale for beauty and
personal fascination, yet blameless and noble
in bis daily life as a virtuous woman. Ah,
there are no such princes nowadaysl
The only real error of his life as the queen's
husband was his adherence to the strict rules
of the stiff court etiquette of Germany, and
which be persuaded her to maintain-a fact
that accounts in part for the intense unpopu-
larity that was at one time his undeserved por-
ton He carried his intense pride of position SO
lar as never to consent to receive any article
from the hands Of a servant. Even when he
was out shooting he would not take his gun
from one of the game-keepers; it had to be
transmitted to him through the medium of
his gentlemen in waiting. His wife fully inn
bibed all his ideas and followed his example.
Once, when Queen Victoria was on 4 visit to
King Louis Philippe, she expressed a desire
one evening, Immediately before retiring to
rest, for a glass of water. 1t was brought to
her on a golden salver by one OF the royal
Wallets. The queen refused to take the water,
motioning its bearer from her with an
lmperious gesture. Louis Philippe noticed
the action, and perfectly comprehended Its
Purport. he signed to ono of his sons to offer
the salver to her majesty. This was done,
and the queen then condescended to accept
the desired draught.
1 think, too, that Queen Victoria has been
much to blame In the stand which she has
taken in regard to the marriages of the mem
bers of the collateral branches of the royal
family. 1t Is a well-known fact she forced
the poor Princess Mary of Cambridge to give
up the man she sincerely loved and who
loved her, an English nobleman, and likewise
compelled her to give her hand to the luke of
Teck. More then once has the queen been
compelled to intervene in the con1ugal affairs
OF this iW-assorted pair. And in moro than
one instance she has refused to receive at
court German princes who have married
English ladies of rank, because she did not
! approve of the gentlemen marrying beneath
their station, thus taking sides with her
birthright against her own countrywomen
But the most unprincely Of Queen Victoria's
defects is her meanness. She is economical to
a degree that would be praiseworthy in a
washerwoman earning Z shillings a week, but
which is highly reprehensible in a sovereign
receiving large revenues from the nation.
ALdb bhe houlu nOL CdTt y IT'S Il Ill wen
enough, but surely the queen of England
ought not to appear in public in soiled and
shabby clothes, and that she does continually.
Her invariable wedding gift to any young
lady member of the British aristocracy en-
titled to receive a present on her wedding
from those august hands, Is an India shawl.
The reason for this invariable~s selection is said
to be the fact that a portion of the tribute
paid annually by the native princes Of India
TO their supreme sovereign, the empress, al
Ways consists of a number of fine shawls, and
so she need not disburse a penny when MAX
ing her wedding present. And the injury
that she has done to the and
tradespeople Of London in her selfish Sc
clusion during all these years Is simply In
calculable. Granted that she mourned for
her lost husband land DOUBTLESS she did, poor
wifeDwith all the passionate abandonment
due to such love and such a loss. But a
nobler mind would have recognized a higher
duty In the claims OF her people, and when
the formal period OF mourning was over,
would have comprehended the worth of self
nbnegation on such q matter.
And the poor Princess Beatrice-surely
never did a princess, young, sprightly and in
telilgent, lead such a doleful existence outside
Of the enchanted tower of fairy tale. Not
for her are the splendors OF a court ball, or
the charms of a box at the opera, or even tho
luxury of a drive in the park in the height of
the London season She is kept closely
chained to the side Of her imperiour, selfish
mother, fulfilling the duties of a paid com
panion, with never a holiday, except, indeed,
when she caught the lately, and
had to go to Aix-les-Bains by order Of her
physicians. And l am told that the poor
princess malady was caused by the strict en-
forcement by the queen Of full dress daily at
their family dinner. That constant wearing
of n decollete corsage in all kinds of weather
proved too much for the health of her UNI
lucky daughter. And from the queens die
tuni no appeal is possible. She tyrannizes
over everybody about her, with the sole eI-
ception OF the duchess OF Edinburg. The
naughty Russian princess once turned upon
her with the sharp remark, apropos OF some
question OF precedence. Madam, you forget
that my father was an emperor, while yours
was not even a king"
Now, / do not wish to decry Mrs. Lip
pincotts most charming volume, or to give
the impression that I do not comprehend and
appreciate the many high qualities of Queen
Victoria. But / have been too much in Eng
land, and have heard too much about her to
exactly look upon her rs "a thing ensk'y'd
ensainted." She has defects which are in
tolerable In p~rivate-still more in that OF a
queen-and that have told, and are still tell
ing cruelty on her family and her immedi ate
surroundings. And any prosperous American
girl may thank her stars that Queen Victoria
is neither her mother, her guardian. or her
n0tbar.ipla~