St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-04

TO osborne IOr the
customary Christmas sojOurn, remain
ing in the Isle of Wight until the end
of February.
Christmas is observed at Osborne in
the good old-fashiOned style. for the
queen loves old customs, and has no
sympathy with the modern tendency to
''pooh pooh" the CHEEKY observances by
which our less cynical ancestors set
such store.
Holly, misletoe and evergreen are
plentifully used in the decoration Of
Osborne house. and the Christmas baron
of beef for the royal table is sent down
especially from Windsor.
A Christmas without the ''gOod cheer'
additionally associated with the festival
would be as Impossible to her majesty
as it would have been to Charles Dick
ems himself.
In another important particular, too,
the queen maintains the spirit of the
season, for members of her family and
personal friends never fail to receive
handsome Christmas presents from her
hands, accompanied by an autograph
note conveying the time-honored wish
of IA Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year"
Wales Turns ,Cyclist.
There are rumors that the Prince of
Wales is about to join the noble army
of wheelmen, and has been talking OF
investing in tricycle. and perhaps
safety bicycle. His physicians. how
ever, are rather inclined to object, as
his royal highness' health is not such as
would be benefited by violent exercise.
The prince, however, is obdurate, aud
says he will be a 'cyclist or die in the
attempt.
Exit Marlborough.
The late Duke of Marlborough's first
wife was Lady Hamilton, daughter of
the Duke of Abercorn. When he mar
ried her he was only twenty-five years
of age, and his wife was three years
younger. The marriage was not con-
genial one, and ended finally in the
duchess obtaining a divorce. There
were four children of this marriage
two boys and two girls.
The late duke was at one time under
stood to be on friendly terms with the
Prince of Wales, and accompanied his
royal highness on his famous visit to
India.
He had the reputation of being a stu
dent, a politician and writer. He was
also an astute flnancler.
Soon after he became duke he sold
number of family pictures. One of
these. the "Ansidei Madonna" is now
in the National gallery. 1t was bought
by the nation for $35O,000, more than
three times the highest price ever be-
fore paid for picture. and equal to
more than SO per square inch. 1t is by
common consent one of the most per-
feet pictures in the world.
Enter Blandford.
The Marquis of Blandford. who now
becomes Duke of Marlborough, attains
his majority this month. He has been
at Cambridge for about two years, and
is very popular there. His first act was
10 floor the examiners, to whom he put
questions they were quite unable to an
swer and the solution to which he him
self evolved. He has brains, is small in
stature, and IN features is said to pre-
sent strong resemblance to the great
duke. His forehead is high" and "his
nose verges on the aquiline."
He has many accomplishments. and a
Newmarket colly which is the admira-
ton of the female population. He plays
polo ana cricket, the latter with great
precision and accuracy of style. He has
great taste in colOrs, and his room pre-
sents pleasing mixture of reds and
greens. He wears a turn-down collar.
and smokes a pipe and does not put on
airs. He will be popular.