Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
BEHIND THE SCENES.
| The Queen Has Softened Toward Lady
| Mfllata.

The Queen Has SOftened Toward Lad1
Mfllata.
From the New Orleans Picayune.
There is a world of meaning in the brieS
announcement contained in the court cir.
cuar of July ., to the effect that Lady Mil.
iais had arrived at Windsor Castle and had
mad the honor of being presented to the
queen by her royal highness, the Princess
Louise, Warehouses of Lorne For the
court circular is revised each day by tho
queen personally before being issued to the
press. and the iptimation thus conveyed ia
equivaif Mt 10 Z declaration from her ma
Jesty eX-ca;hedra that the social ban hith-
erto an force against the wife of the presi-
dent of the Royai Academy is al an end
Thirty years ago Lady Millais, a woman
OF rare beauty, whose features are repro-
duced in many of Sir Johns most cole
brated pictures. notably in the Release of
the prisoner and in the 'HUguenot's Fare
wei, was the wife of John Ruskin, Mil
las al the time being a pupil in his studio
An attachment sprung up between Young
Gli!as and Mrs. Ruskin. With that unset
nshness which has been one OF the greatest
characteristics Of his entire career John
Ruskin declared that he had no intention
of standing in the way of what he was con-
Vinced was his wife's happiness Accord
irgly, following the chivalrous example set
by Sir John Compton, formerly minister at
Washington, and afterward ambassador at
Madrid, IN the case of his wife. nee Vic
toria Balfe, who died as Duchess of Friss
he permitted his wife to bring against him
in the court at scarborough a suit that he
let go by default, and which was of such
nature that IL enabled Mrs. Ruskin TO con-
tract matrimonial alliance a few months
afterward with John Millais under her
maiden name of Euphemia Gray. IL may
be added that John Ruskin remained the
good friend of Mr. and Mrs. Millais lust in
the same way that Hans Won Bulow re-
manned the best friend of his ex-wife and
of her second husband. the great composer
Richard Wagner. Indeed, the finest por-
trait ever painted by John Millais is that
which he did of his benefactor John Rus
kin, years after Mrs. Ruskin had been
transformed into Mrs. Millais.
Society, however, was less tolerant and
until now the doors Of a very large section
OF the London great world remained tight
ly closed against Lady Millais her hus-
band having meanwhile been advanced to
the rank OF a baronet, by way of national
recognition OF his marvellous talent And
the attitude OF society was to great ex-
tent Endorsed by the court which has
hitherto set its face sternly against grad
yates OF the divorce court, no matter
Whether they are the injured party or NOT
and particularly against cases such as thai
OF Lady Millais. The latter has. however
ior some years past had a firm friend In
frlhcess Louise, the fourth daughter Of the
queen, and who prdes herself far more on
her skill as an artist, both with the chiseI
ana with the brush, than on being a roval
princess AS soon. therefore as the prin-
iooi' Aildt LoTO SALISBURY had been
led by important political considerations N
lnouce me queen TO permit the presentation
a. drawing room of Lady Pirbright. the
divorced wife of Mr.. Barnett she at once
tackled her royal mother and pointed out
10 ner now graceful thing II would be to
accord similar honor to Lazy MiIais
me queen mas very soft heart, and il
Nds 70 inns mat Princess Louise appealed
arguing The pleasur and consolation which
sHcn an act of royal graciousness would az
i.fu 10 the dying president of the ROYAL
[4eautmE: Of course II was out of the
question FOR Lady Millais to attend a draw
ing room at a moment when her husband
~ IN the last stages of that frighrfuI mall
aI! known as cancer Of the larynx 10
"hich the queens favorite son-in-law. Fm-
Peror frederick of Germany succumbed 50
ner majesty conferred upon Lady MilIsis
the very rare and unusual honor of a nri-
Ea'e presentation al Windsor Castle dis
ni.cuoh 20 great that il may go far 10 as
stage the many Sights which have been
Lady Millais. NY