The Forrest City times., 1891-05-22


 QUEEN VICTORIA CHER LATEST PHoTo-
 GRApHl
 swiftly along the road. On the box of the carriage sat two men, two more sat behind, while in front. on both sides. and in the rear rode a dozen grooms on horseback. On either side of the equpage was an eouerry, a gentleman of distinguished appear ance. who kept very close 10 the wheels and exactly orpo.'te to tue occupants of the vehicle
 This was the way Victoria, Queen of the English, took quiet afternoons drive. She was by the side of her daughter, Princess Beatrice, while two ladies-in- waiting sat on the seat in front of her. The confusion caused by the obstruction of the watering-cart was noticed by her Majesty. and she sat upright for an instant, while swift look of apprehension passed over Der features. One of the equerries leaned forward, and, removing his hat. n- formed her that there was nothing to Tear, whereat her Majesty settled back among her cushions and became her placid self again.
 This was the day preceding the first drawing room of the season. The Queen had come down from Windsor to receive the girl debutautes and the matrons hii herto unpresented at Buck ingham Palace. The day of the draw ing room she met less than half the company, giving way to the Princess of Wales and going out for her regular drive, which she is not willing to miss. even to comply with the usual royal functions. It was certainly somewhat paradoxical that. while a long line of spiendldly attired women was going through the torturous ordeal of being presented to the Queen, the Queen her. self was spinning round Hyde Park. her mind occupied by the picture of spring. time promise spread about her, and ob- livious, no doubt, of the uncomfort. able throng that her obligiug daughter in-law was welcoming by proxy.
 As the cavalcade swept round into The Drive, the fashionable carriage. way of the park. the great throng of equip ages melted to the sides Of the road. leaving clear path for the Queens company 10 pass through. Hats were raised. and her Majesty slightly in- NiitSN HSt ilcbu Sc ttic tlEH Ht uuO fclt- At Hyde Park Corner large crowd was collected. and as the royal party dashed underline arch cheer went up. Traffic stood still in Piccadilly as the potential one was whirled across the great thoroughfare, and then the car riage and it's guard sped along under the dropping branches of the Queens Drive-where several attempts have been made on her Majesty's lfe-curv- ing grandly around through the huge gatewavs of Buckingham Palace, which then shut them out from public view.
 II her Majesty IS red-laced and somewhat dowdy old lady of a not highly cultured type, her daughter, the Princess Beatrice, does great honor to the purity of blood that is supposed to flow In royal veins, and the august mother may point to her with pride and say that 1t was not neces sarv for her tthe Queen) to have granddaugh,ers to show that the line of beauty was by no means obsolete in the family or Guelph. Princess Beatrice possesses one of the purest, best-modeled, and sweetest faces l have seen in England. The poIse of the head, the tlneuess Of the features, the soft expression of the eyes. and the tender smile combine to create an effect that can only be nsso- ciated with women of queenlv charac. ter She is hlgh-bred to her finger tips, that Is evident at a glance, and. unless all indications are deceptive. she IS as pure and modest in heart as she is lovely of mlen.
 Beatrice is the Queens youngest daughter. and IS 33 years old Like all the younger children of monarchs, she kns h.a. l... I the greater part of her life, aud it was not until she married Prince Henry of Battenberg, six years ago. that the public bee ame acquainted with her. Her marriage with Battenoerg has not brought any prestige to her. For some reason that young man Is not regarded with much respect by the English peo- pie, and Is generally ridiculed in all the public prints whenever he performs an official act m his capacity as son-n- law-in- waiting to her Majesty.
 It Is rather startling 10 find the opinion openly expressed in some of the disrespectful London publications that 1t would be rather pleasant change if the good old Qneen could be comfort ably disposed Of and the gay Prince ai- lowed to ascend the throne. With Victoria in power the English court has become the dullest in all Europe. Her Majesty is decidedly ''home body" and cordially dislkes the effort of formal entertainment. She loves to withdraw to Osborne, Balmoral, or Windsor, call to her presence some fine old congenial Duchess, and with her. one or two younger ladies in waiting. and her daughters Beatrice or Louise, idle away the peaceful days in gentle converse, casual drives, and occasional music. The contemplation Of large function expresses her. and she consents l to take part only in those events from which it would be inexcusable nsgli.