The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-07
PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR.

aited lank, very young, very neaucfat, worshiped by all, not only for her high position but for her own personal fascin- ations, went out with her attendants to watch the gay scene of skaters gliding in and out Of the sheltered poDds of a royal inclosure. That year the Christ mas time had come with all the bEilliancy of frost, the cispnexs of snow, the cheer falness of bright winter weather, now so rarely seen in London save in the delud- ;ST and arceyyrhal devices of Christmas cards and annuals. When the lovely woman had walked for awhile around the shore of the mimic frozen lake, she re- turned to the stately pile in which she was one of the fairest guests, and little later assisted at the ceremouious dinner presided over by her imperioas mother in-law. She retired early, with the gracious smile and gentle words with which she was won't to p,rt from all who surrounded her in those first days of her welded life in foreign land.
 1 A tew hours later the silent streets of the royal borough of Windsor were startled by the sounds of hurIying hoofs, and clamorous, anxious voices, breaking upon the hushed stiffness of the wintry night. An out6sting shop was hastily opened by halt-dressed assistants, a bum de of tiny articles of clothing sammarily put together, and carried of by an i'm. patient hoFseman. Meanwhile doctors and nurses, reused from their midnight slumbers, rushed with fear and awe up the steep and slippery approach to the castle, while somewhere in the town woman, who was also a mother, was found willing to leave her own young baby to take charge of the infant at the castle, who, in the midst of regal splen- dor, had come into the world with as lit- tie preparation for its reception as the miserable waif born to starvation and misery under the arches of bridge or in some foul den of Seven Dials. That child was the Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of the prince of Wales, grandson of Queen Victoria, prospective sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland and emperor of India
 Ushered into the world under circum- stances SO incompatible with the formal- ities of etiquette, most of them had to be omitted, and it was only on the morrow that the little royal higness entered into possession of the gorgeous cradle, the costly layette, and the accessories that had been waiting for him at Marlborough house, and which came down in an ex- press train with nurses and cabinet min. isters, the court physicians, and other dig nitaries who do homage at the bnth of royal babes. However, the Windsor 1 lady who had so promptly offered ner services on that memorable night was retained with grateful courtesy, and to | kA~ ek f~~ time longer innusted over and beyond his allotted attendants; and she has ever since retained the affection of the prin- cess of Wales.
 The majority of Prince Albert Victor, which he attains to-day January Sth) is celebrated with pomp and rejoicings though he enters on the fulhllment of his manhood with none of the untoward haste and accompanying mishaps which attended his introduction into the world
 He is as gracious and as pleasant hammered as his mother. who still keeps much of the youthful charm of twenty one years ago, and he has the ready tact and 6oshomis of his father. An educa- ton commenced at home, strengthened by life on board ship, perfected by foreign travel and spell at university, has de- veloped the inherent faculty of tactful adaptation which seems the apanaGe of all individuals born on or near the thrope-a faculty which stands its pos. sesser in lieu of higher powers, and wins for him more popularity than the greater gifts and qualities which it great men to be rulers.
 Prince Albert Victor md Prince George, he k1ntAaw SnAmaAs ,sC C..tsx erlani, near Lusanne. It was at 6ist given out that their visit was only for the purpose of acquiring conversational French, and that they would not mix in society. This was considered by the res idents as diplomatic way of stating that what society there was was not considered good enough for them. However, after q short time 1t was borne in upon those around the princes that the faculty of ex- pressing themselves with ease and facility in the French language was not fostered by limiting them to English intercourse that the contemplation of the beauties of lake and mountain was not all-suficient for active, cheerful, intelligent, gregarious youths perhaps, also, that in the austere- looking houses in the steep streets or the picturesque villas and chateaux dotted on the hillsides dwelt families dating from the crus' des, and whose geneal- ogical roots had struck deeper and bore wider branches than any of which British aristocracy could boast. So, for one or all of these reasons, 1t was accidentally rumored that should parties be given, and should their royal highnesses be asked, they would accept the invitations. | Thus 1t came to pass that one or two of the grave, half medieval houses in the | Rue de BouTg opened their portals and disclosed interiors that vied sn elegance | asd comfort with the choicest apartments | of the Faubourg St. Cermain; that sounds of reveiry and music echoed in the old brocade-hung rooms that the | young princes danced and Airted little, l and enjoyed themselves immensely, and that on the drawing-foom table of those l houses can be seen personally inscribed l cabinet photograph of the two still boy | ish-lo0kin1 kceR Thew huh hasa sh haf 1