The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-05-03
HER MAJESTY VICTORIA.


the newspapers CONCERNING queen VIZ
toria but 80 much of IL is calculated tc
give false impressions with regard tc
the Queen that am tempted 10 SEND
YOU few notes about her. and. rs J
have had the honor for long time past
of personally being acquainted with hei
Majesty. ! hope YOU will believe they
are true ones.
With regard 10 the Queens public
capacity IL is needless for me 10 speak.
As all the world knows how she has
fulfilled her numerous and arduous
duties. and shall therefore coniine
myself 10 endeavoring TO give some
idea Of her private life. and especially
OF her Ia her Scotch Highland home. as
II Is there that have seen her most
and have had the best opportunity OF
judging.
The Queen rises early in the morn,
ing. and after breakfast reads and
answers her letters aud transacts bust
ness. She Is fond of the open air. and
il the weather be favorable often has
her papers taken into tent or sum-
mer-house upon the lawn. which com.
mands an extensive and most lovely
view OF Lochnagar. its surrounding
mountains, and the Valley of the Dee.
After this comes walk or drive in
pony carriage. and then luncheon AT
which no one is ever present except
members OF the royal family.
During the afternoon the Queen
takes long drive. often extending Ia
over thirty miles and always in An open
carriage. She dimes late never before
$3.50 p. m. An hour spent in the draw
ing-room talking with the guests who
may have been invited finishes the day.
aud the Queen retires TO rest.
No question of state is ever decided
finally until her Majesty has been con-
suited. and she is such IA sensible aud
clever woman that she has often put
her Ministers right and settled diff
cult point, and generally for the best.
The Queen is faithful 10 her old
friends and thoughtful for everybody
with whom she comes in contact, re-
Numbering the smallest details about
them. their families aud their occupa-
tiois. and giving evidence OF this at
most unexpected moments. A circum-
stance which happened 10 me justiiics
strongly the truth OF this. Four years
ago | was singing at the Royal Opera
at Berlin, and was not even aware that
the Queen knew of my engagement
there. |. soon after my debut was at
large dinner party at the English
Embassy, and sitting next TO me was
one OF the gentlemen of the Crown
Princess household During dinner
he put into my hand a telegram. tell
ing me To read il. This was from the
Queen TO her daughter (now the ex-Em-
press Frederick), recommending me 10
her and desiring her 10 do all she
could for me. Needless to say that
after this | was SO excited that l could
eat no dinner. and insisted OH keep
ing the telegram, one of my precious
souvenirs.
Her Majesty Is fond of music aud is
good musician. She studied music
with Mendeilssohn and singing with
Lablache. As consequence of this
teaching she prefers the old Italian
music 10 any other. but at the same
time she can appreciate anything that
is good in the modern music. This
know from experience, as ! have sung
/ all kinds of music To her, the new and
the old. The Queen Is much touched
by simple. homely ballad. and after
have sung to her songs like robin
Adair" or "Old Folks at Home | have
seen tears in her eyes.
She has been In retirement for u
great many years, and during that time
| has not been present at a single oper-
attic performance; yet she remembers
well the old artists and the manner in
which they rendered the various we'll
/ known roles. For instance. when
told her that | was studying the
"Huguenots and was going to sing il
| in America. she said that was one Of
her fayorite operas; that she thought
Mario was superb as Kaoul. and. that
although Grisi sang the music splen-
didly. she never realized her idea OF the
character of Valentine.
The Queen has been present at few
concerts for many years past She oc-
caslonally has noted artist 10 sing or
play before her. but this always takes
! place la private, and when l sing AT
Balmoral there Is nobody In the room
but the Queen aud perhaps one or two
members Of the royal family who may
be staying al the castle. With regard
10 these little concerts recall "a funny
incident. sat down at the piano 10
accompany myself. and was just be-
ginning TO sing. when the legs of the
stool gave way and rolled on the floor
at the Queens feet. Her Majesty was
rather concerned at first. thinking
must have hurt myself. but when she
saw that | was all right she burst out
laughing. We all had been rathef
solemn before. but after my tumble
everybody was so amused that II was .
long while before ! could proceed with
i my 1ouU