The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-21

only princess. While her husband runs
about with a feverish activity, visiting
present and possible allies, she is content
to remain at home, and perform the very
limited duties that the constitution has
marked out for the wives Of German sove-
reiRns. Owing to the many bereavements
in the royal family, the court at Berlin has
not been very gay since William II. began
father it was not renowned for Its liveli-
ness. The present emperor continues the
traditions of the Hohenzol-
lern family, and court receptions are not
much more frequent than state balls
were at Paris under M. Jules Grevy. Hav-
ing scarcely any other public duties to per-
form than to appear at the head of her regi-
ment of cuirassiers during the rare moments
when the emperor is at home, the empress
devotes most of her time to her hous -hold
cares, and perhaps continues to put up her
own preserves, as she did when she was the
Princess William. The emperor is not at
al! displeased at this kind of talent. as tho
following incident will show. Soon after
William II. was crowned, committee of
Berlin ladies, having resolved to offer q gift
to the new empress, decided. without very
long elaboration. that the souvenir should
consist Of white silk apron trimmed with
costly laces, and having the names of the
i've little princes embroidered in Raflands
In receiving the present, the empress told
the donors that she was happy to accept such
gift, for the apron had always been the
symbol of good German housewife 'Be-
aides" she added, my husband will be sat
isfied with your offering, for he desires that
! should always wear an apron in the
house,
The Empress Augusta Victoria is now in
her thirty-drs. year, and is three months
but her fair and fresh complexion makes
her look younger than her age. An oval
face. soft blue eyes, beautiful teeth, and an
abundance Of blonde hair give her decid-
eddy agreeable If not positively pretty physi-
oRnomy, while she passes for having smaller
feet than those that nature has generously
bestowed upon the sisters of her race. The
empress has already given Eve sons
to her husband: but her notherly
care is not long bestowed ON each
one, for as soon as possible their father
takes them away from the nurse and sends
them to the drill-master in Thuringia,
whore they are uniformed. booted. spurred,
and taught to train sabre in true German
| fashion, Perhaps the empress would like
to have daughter among this little flock,
but William II. is satisfied with the sons.
Speaking one day to his elder, the Prin-
| cess of SAKE Meiningen. he said: ut il bet
ter to have only boys, because when there is
daughter. that immediately causes more
embarrassment. and entails greater expense.
First of all, there must be governess, one
or more maids of honor, and lot Of COM
plicated fnery. On the contrary, when there
are only boys, they can all be dressed in the
same fashion-in uniform. A piece of cloth
will serve for all Of them. My boys are all
dressed as artillerymen, even the smallest
one. who is already corporal" And it ia
IN this costume that they play all day long!
Only, the poor little princes cannot play az
other children do; their sole recreation is to
amuse themselves with military thedky and
exercise, SO rs to become warriors, and win
, laurels, as their ancestors have done. and ID
/ their father fathers hope to do.-Theodore
/ Child, in Harper's Bazaar