Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25
THREE ROYAL LADIES
THEIR HOME LIFE AS TOLD BY THE
MAIDS OF HONOR IN WAITING.
Christmas Love for Her Boy-vieto-
ria's Fondness for Walking.

: Comparatively few sovereigns are less
known outside of their own realm than
Queen Amelie Of Portugal. yet there are
also few possessing q more strongly mark
ed individuality than she. Gays the Chica-
90 Times.
Born Princess Amsl;o of Orleans, she is
the daughter of the Compte de Paris, and
was married to Charles. then the Crown
Prince OF Portugal. in 1856. II was not
till three years later-in 1s69-that her hus-
band attained his accession to the throne
as King Charles |.
I Amelie is q woman of great strength of
/ character, as well as sweetness OF disposl.
ton. She Is the constant counsellor and
/ helpmate Of her husband.
Queen Amelie is a comparatively early
J riser, and II is seldom that Z o'clock finds
her in bed of morning, she is very fond
Of bathing and always takes cold plunge
bath on rising.
/ Queen Amelie's bathroom is one of the
most beautiful ana attractive apartments
In her palace. II is separated from her
sleeping apartment by Oriental portieres of
( fabulous price.
/ The walls are of endolithic marble. The
ceilings are decorated with the works of
famous artists. There are Cupids and
/ Il HNCutN, IO3t1 aIu uoItl 0uNhlb't eAllh-
merIng seas and tropical blue skies. The
tub IL q marble basin, level with the toor,
( into which 1t N let
SOLID silver IS the only metal used for
the plumbers fittings.
Her toilet completed, Queen Amelie re-
pairs 20 the royal Conservatives. where
she spends a pleasant hour before taking
that light refreshmeLt OF bread and coffee
which 10 Portugal as in Spain, comprises
shA nplu hrla EfaQf nf oil placgQG khg
enthusiastic amateur gardener and takes
special interest in the culture OF roses, OF
which she has o magnificent collection.
The light morning repast concluded,
Amelie devotes The early hours TO her cor
respondence. Of which she has great deal.
and TO considering and generously re-
spending to the many applications tor as
slst8nce which come 20 her from people
III need both at home and abroad, partlcu-
larly from France, where her great kind
ness and charity OF heart became widely
known while she WAS still the unmarried
daughter Of the Nornte de Paris.
PORTUGAL CUSTOMS.
/ Her mail attended TO with the assistance
of one or two of her ladies IN waiting,
Amelie will take up book or some piece
b OF art needleWork for an hour or two. She
is very fond OF reading aloud to herself
and Of having some one read aloud to her,
AMI much of her time Is spent in that way.
The customs of life in Portugal are
sngularly like those of life IN Spain. POrtu-
gal, like Spain, dimes near the middle OF
the day, and on very nearly the same
viands. Queen Amele takes her principal
meal of the day at l o'clock IN the alter
noon.
II consists Of soup, rice, fried eggs, seve-
/ raj kinds OF roasted and stewed meats,
/ fried potatoes, preserves and black coffee.
. -. ant tori
drive, accompanied by the King orCroWn-
Prince LOUIS Philippe, who Is now years
of age.
Amelie ia verv devoted wife and
mother. and the delicate health of both
her husband and son 10 a source OF
much anx ETY. 10 her. The latter has been
very delicate boy ever since MS birth III
1887.
No mother and son ever manifested a
stronger affection for each other. Amelio
was famous for her beauty as girl. and
she is sLlll a very handsome woman.
A wear or two ago an diidche OF one OF The
foreign legations actually had the vanity
TO imagine that he had won ;he attention
of the Queen. After various preliminary
reconnOlterings through his opera-giass OF
the royal box at the theatre, he succeeded,
through the favor of a certain lady IN wait
ing. in obtaining an audience with the
/ Queen.
! on being admitted TO her presence he
I made grandilOquent speech, concluding
/ in the Oriental manner by presenting to
her between his forehnger and thumb
/ fragrant nosegav. Amehe, invariably KIND
and aflable TO every one, though greatly
surprised at the fellows presumption, To-
/ ceived the gift with her usual urDanlty'
not wishing to hurt the feelings OF the
/ donor.
A perfumed billet, Colour de rose, dropped
/ from the bouquet to the carpet.
! The adyenturer was very thankful that
he was only kicked out for his daring.
/ Queen Amelie's taste IN dress IS exceed
/ ingly simple. She fully recognizes the
/ depressed condition of the national eX-
/ chcquor and set good example in econo,
nv by the quiet, inexpensive character OIL
/ her personal wardrobe.
In this respect she Is great contrast 70
| the dowager Queen, the mother OF Tn,
present King, who some time ego ordered
! from Worth large number OF dresses OF
/ the most magnificent character.
The dresses were lost at sea ana Inc
dOwager Queen immediately sent tine
great Paris man-milluer duplication Of
! her former order.
INEz, Marquise dc Narration.
THE QUEEN REGENT.
! Queen Christina of Spain, VINO is actlng
as regent during the minority of her SON
Alfonso MIL, posthumous child born
SIX months after the death of its father, Is
ono OF the most wOmanly women that ever
praced IA throne. At once the strongest
and most beautiful aspect OF her character
Is its maternal eide.
! Besides the little King che has two other
! chIldren-both girls-the lnfanta Mara da
1 las Mercedes, born in 1880, and the lnianta
Maria Theresa, born 1882.
Ever since the birth of the little King
his mother. recognizing the vast responsi-
bihties that will devolye upon him, has
| devoted herself to him, entrustlng the
care of his little sisters moro largely
to nurses and goyernesses.
Ever since his birth she has slept by his
side. She regulates his diet as carefully
IA though he were.an athlete IN training
1t consists largely of milk. that OF the
goat being procured exclusively for bis
use. ,..-
cess, has all the characteristic Austrian
foudness for exercise In the open ar. AT
! O'Clock IN the morning che partakeS with