Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-04-17

the Chicago Current: do not think
that Queen Isabella at any period of hel
life could have been considered hand
some. She in no wise resembled the
dark eyed, imperious beauty, her mother.
But in her young days youth and fresh
ness, joined by that divinity that doth
hedge sovereign, undoubtedly caused
her to be credited with a certain degree
of personal attractions. Up to the pres
ent season the queen has resided in France
ever since her dethronement. It was in
Paris she signed the act of abdication in
favor Of her son, now king of Spain.
Her ponderous figure and good-natured
face are as well known at the opera OF
in the Bois de Boulogne as were those
of the Empress Eugene in by-gone
days.
Her embonpoint isreally extraordinary,
and she increases her apparent size by al
ways dressing in pale, delicate tints,
pearl gray in the daytime and white at
night being her 'favorite colors. Her fea.
lures are large, her eyes blue, and hel
complexion forid. At times her skin
bears the marks of the hereditary Bour-
bon malady, scrofula, from which the
entire royal family of Spain are great sur
ferers. Her manners are charming. No
princess in Europe returns salutation
with more admirable blending ofcourt-
esy and dignity, or receives a visitor with
more royal grace.
During her residence in France Queen
Isabella has been much tormented with
financial difficulties. She is as extrava-
giant in her charities as in her personal
expenditure. She used when she first
came to Paris to bestow 500 on every
beggar that asked aims of her. When
demonstrated with her answer was:
Could queen give less2n
She is passionately fond of dress, and
is one of Worth's most assiduous Gus
toners. 1t was through her influence
that her present daughter-in-law, Queen
Christina, ordered the greater part of her
trousseau of that renowned king of
fashion, instead of having all her dresses
made in Vienna or Madrid During the
existence of the Spanish republic Queen
Isabella was reduced to such straits that
she disposed Of the greater portion Of her
large collection Of jewels at auction. She
farmed out the royal table, it being sup
piled by contractor at so much per
diem. Yet, withal, her acts of kindness
and generosity suffered no diminution.
For instance, an ex-prima donna, who
now resides in Paris, and who in by-gone
years was a reigning favorite in the
opera-house in Madrid, sees her drawing
room and ante chamber filed annually
with a collection of choice and costly
pants by order Of the royal lady, who
was once among the most assiduous of
her hearers. And this graceful and
AlHNity dtlcHtlOil was HdlnldlleQ all
through the period Of Queen Isabellas
pecuniary difficulties. These, however,
came to an end so soon as Alfonso XII.
assembled to the throne of Spain.
The queen does not get along well with
her new daughter-in-law. Queen Chris
tina is very intellectual, very high spirited
and a thorough Austrian in many respects.
She detests the national pastime of the
bull ight. Being asked once by one of
her own countrywomen how she could
endure it, she made answer:
''You know / am terribly ncar-sighted.
Well, somehow always forget to take
my eyeglass with me-"
On the other hand, Queen Isabella is a
most ardent patroness of the sports of the
Spanish arena. This point of difference,
united to a multitude of others, has him
dered the two royal ladies from becoming
fast friends. They keep out of each
others way-that is all.