The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-23
isabella AND VICTORIA,
How the Queen Of Great Britain
Received the Former Queen
of Spain.
The Gift of a Rose Brings Min
gled Tears at the
Mausoleum.
A Picture Of Two Queens "addhns Side
BY Side-Isabella Does Not Like
the Curry.

Especial Correspondence of The INDEPENDENT
LONDON, June 10.-Windsor has beheld
few more extraordinary scenes than the
luncheon given by her majesty OF England
to her ex-majesty Isabella of Spain. The
two queens are alike in stature and nothing
more, for Isabella is at least three times
fatter than Victoria. Both royal ladies
waddle, and as they walk side by side to
the luncheon chamber certainly nothing
less majestic could be imagined than these
two obese old ladies bowling and grinning
at one another, but with more ceremony
than cordiality nevertheless.
Queen Victoria could not very we'll refuse
to receive Queen Isabella. Although the
Spanish Queen has the prefix ''ex'' in front
of her title, she IS in an altogether different
position to any other ex-monarch that ever
was, and possibly that ever will be. She
was reigning sovereign, just as Queen
Victoria is but she was deposed by her peo-
pie and exiled by her parlia-
nent. Fortune ,1 h9weySr' rd in
her to her position as a queen, if not that
of a monarch. Her son Alphonso was called
to the throne of his fathers, and as he could
not very well be expected to renounce his
mother, the Cortez rescinded their sentence
visit as princess in the country over which
she had formerly held sovereign sway. She
had the good sense to accept things as they
came to her, and now as the queen grand
mother she is again one of the most popu-
lar women in Spain. Under these circum-
stances, when she travels, she is entitled
and must receive all the distinction ac
corded to a member of a reigning house,
consequently no prince visits Paris, where
Queen Isabella usually resides, without
coll Har
iesty, and when she announced her inten-
ton of visiting England, the Spanish am
bassador to the court of st. James was in
structed to attend her exactly the same as
if she still occupied the throne of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella.
Queen regnant or deposed, however, had
she visited England twenty years ago, her
British majesty would have declined to re-
ceive her. The Spanish queens amours
we're too notorious. She had as many
them as freely. Now it is different. With
increasing years Queen Isabella has &C
quired at least superficial responsibility
with her extra rotundity of person, and it
is even said that she is on visiting terms
with her husband, the miserable ex.King
Queen Victoria had to submit, although
with reluctance, to meeting with her
frolicsome Spanish ma esty, and the wei
come to Windsor was precisely in accord
ing a sovereign of neighboring country
Guards and u band were sent to the rail
road station. The duke of Edinburgh and
his naughty wife, the cars daughter, re-
ceived Queen Isabella as she stepped from
the train, and an escort of Life guards
csntered after her majesty's carriage up
the hill to the castle and Queen Victoria
received her guest with two frigid kisses on
her cheeks.
1t may possibly interest good many
A~,N %, L,,-vr yI,nA Al..,,
majesties had to eat at their luncheon.
The meal was not very much more elaborate
than would be served at an ordinary Amer
lean midday dinner. The company at the
royal table included the two queens seated
side by side, the Duke and Duchess of
Edinbergh, the Prince and Princess Henry
of Battenburg, the Spanish ambassador,
and the suite in attendance on both their
majssties, twenty-five persons in all. First
salad of caviare and radishes was served,
Spain slipped gingerly with her spoon,
while Queen Victoria gulped it down in
mouthfuls from the cup. A curry of
prawns followed, dish which her English
majesty particularly likes as it is prepared
for her by her Indian servants. Queen
Isabella did not seem to appreciate it, and a
mouthful or two not only made her red in
the face. but brought big beads of perspira.
ton upon her royal brow. Queen Victoria
appeared to resent her guests discontinue
at the hot bon bouche.
The next dish was more cooling. 1t was
everyday roast chicken with potato GRO
QUOTES. Her Spanish majesty asked for a
second portion, greatly to the astonishment
OF the English queen, who never can under
stand any one being hungry. An omelette
followed, or what is called an omelette at
Windsor. 1t is really chef d'Huvre of her
majesty,s cook. The eggs appear in a sue
cesslon of circles, the yolks and the whites
being like the lines of target, the center
h1rr, - l.l:- =
pound. Her Spanish majesty enjoyed it
immensely. Some ice pudding and a few
grapes concluded the repast, Isabella of
spain drinking tumbler and a half of
champagne, while Victoria of England
9uenched her thirst with long glass of
BASIS ale.
The officer Of the guards who was invited
on this occasion to the royal table, and to
whom am indebted for my information.
assured me that beyond the courtesies of
me table, hardly sentence was spoken by
the two queens. The Duke of Edinburgh,
swallowed his luncheon with frown on his
face. while his wife watched her royal
mcther-ln-law with an amused smile
Prince Henry of Battenbers addressed some
trivial remark in low voice to the Princess
beatrice, which was received with SO much
hliarity by that lady that she was the re
clpient OF reproachful glance from hel
mother.
The meal being ended, the queens wan
eAoo AoE d lew minutes III the private gar
den, and, as if stricken with her lack o.
eraclousness. her English majesty broke of
rose and presented it with a smile and
DOW to Isabella. The latter was delighted
and from that time the two ladies seemed
on better terms, and, evidently ct Queer
1sabella's request, a visit was paid to tn
royal mausoleum. The sorrows of dealt
nave been shared equally bitterly by bot
OF the royal ladies. Victoria mourns he
husband and two of her children, and lisa
y oelia her only son. When the time arrive
!of Queen lsabella's departure, Queen Vic
tofla kissed her twice on both cheeks, an
:. waved her handkerchief, with smile, a
y the carriage drove away.
Inc remainder of Queen Isabella's Wis
70 London was not marked by any speci
cofclaiity on the part of either princes q
tne nobility. The Princess of Wales Gale
upon her once or twice at the hotel, but VI
uaily managed to arrive when the SPANS
queen was driving or visiting some point
interest IN the capital. At the state rece,
SION given by the Marquis of Salisbury,
when the king of the Belgians was ali
PseSent, Queen Isabella had to be treats
as tne guest OF honor, but several peeress
Polnt-blank refused to be presented to h
majesty, the Duchess of Newcastle beil
among the number The Duchess
Portland also declined to meet
ma9estv, but her husband convinc<
net tnat such determination ",
scarcely BETTING the wife of a duke hol
ing the position of Master Of the Hors
AZ court, point which her noyvlv- m ARR