Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29

tries. and her favorite headdress is
the traditional mantilla. of course, she not
Spanish in type, but it is her desire TO be
Spanish, and in this all Spaniards love her,
for she desires to encourage and reclaim all
those lost arts, which elevated as they were
by the noble decorative feeling of the Moors,
were the admiration and astonishment OF all
artistic Europe. Most of her own embroi-
derv is ecclesiastical make and is sent by
her in gifts to the different churches of her
dominion-and occasionally some remarka-
ble specimen is made an offering to the
Pope. She loves to take piece of old bro
cade-perhaps already enriched with
threads of tarnished gold-and taking the
original design as a clew work 1t all over In
her own fancy of color, OF which she has
wonderful sense. She also studies with great
interest the principles OF Japanese decora-
tive art.
She has bijou residence in park near
the city which she has arranged herself and
artists speak highly of her color effects, but,
of course. she has all the tapestries, magnif-
cent brocades and priceless bric-a-brac OF
the palaces to draw from, so it would not be
a very difficult task to put together good
color harmony if one had the slightest feel
ing or education, but it seems most royal
persons have not, for palaces are proverbially
hideous.
Occasionally the Queen, after praying for
her husband, steps before another tomb and
leaves a wreath of flowers on tilt Is near
the altar in the royal chapel, and is that of
the beautiful Mercedes, Alphonso's first
Queen.
1 cannot speak of Spain without jumping
over into Portugal and speaking of the in
habitants of one of the loveliest villas on the
peninsula, who has been queen of many
things.
TENNIE CLAFLIN AT COURT.
experienced a shock when went to the
opening of the great college opposite the
South Kensington Museum, Gresham, be-
lieve, and saw Tennie G. Claflin sitting on
the platform beside the Prince and Princess
ofWales "Why, there's Tennie c. ClafinP"
I exclaimed, pointing her out to my very
stout American companion. THAT, said an
English dame, sis Lady Cook, wife of Sir
Francis Cook, who endowed this college"
'Lady Cookp' gasped my companion in in
dignation; $50 he made lady out Of her,
did he? Well, it must have been hard work.
God help US who are not ladies.
Yes, she caught him after long chase,
but she is more than 'tlady" in Portugal.
done great service to the Portuguese Gov
ernment. and his country seat at Cintro has
worldwide renown. met in France lady
who was at the court of Portugal when Ten
ME was presented, all in pure white, with
coronet on her brow, and magnificent dia-
monds blazing on her well-worn bosom.
She looked very handsome and grandly con-
scious of her dignity as she conversed with
the court ladies. oh, if the boys could only
have seen her then!
While riYaled by her neighbor, the Queen
of Spain herself dresses beautifully. She
rides on horseback through the streets,
with her guards behind her, so that her
people may know she is really theirs and
does not fear them. She also loves to ride
in an open carriage, with the infant king in
her arms.
When the Queen Victoria came to visit
her for a moment last summer, she ordered
q magnificent gown of velvet with court
train trimmed with old lace, and wore her
finest jewels in token of respect and of the
splendor proper to the meeting of two such
queens. Victoria, of course, came only in
her rusty old bonnet, with the wonderful
little white feather. which the whole world
applauded the Princess of Wales for slyly
inserting in it, shabby black silk and
black mits. She came very near being
bundled round to the back door OF the
palace and the court ladies were dreadfully
shocked at her appearance.
The Queen is very simple in her manners,
and is gradually relaxing the serene eti-
quette of the Spanish court. OF course, it
was not possible to smoke in the Queens
presence. but knowing the Spanish fond
ness for cigarettes, at a recent court dinner
to gain popularity, she ordered cigars to be
produced. Everyone hesitated to make the
first innovation, and the officer of state next
the Queen held the silver basket contain
ing them, scarcely knowing what to do,
when the young Queen, taking one and
lighting one herself, gave it to the next
Minister and said in a loud voice: "Pass
round the cigars, gentlemen" ALI this
arouses enthusiasm for the moment, but it
is the crowned heads themselves that are
giving the death blow to royalty all over
the world by these concessions.
OLIVE WESTON.