The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-12
Mrs. Kotasehmar's Impressions Of
Victoria Regina.
ARISTOCRACY ON THEIR WAY TO
A "DRAWING> ROOM"
How Victoria Looked-Dressed in the
Plainest of Black-The Princess of
Wales-Pictures at the Royal Academy
Madame Games as Marguerite at CO.
vent Garden-Madam Tussaud's Wax
Figures.

Madame Eames as Marguerite at CO.
vent Garden-Madam Tussaud's Wax
Figures.
Especial Correspondence of the Press. }
London, May II, 1897.
"To wait or not to wait? that is the
question" said six shivering, shaking
sisters on Monday morning, May 10th.
We were ranged on front seat, other
wise called bench, in Hyde Park, fac
ing the very narrowest portion of econ
stitution Hill, in order to gain a look
at Her Majesty the Queen. She came
from Windsor that day, on her way to
Buckingham Palace where she was to
hold Drawing room next day. We
had, simultaneously, sprung up on the
bench thirteen times at as many false
alarms of there she is and as many
times drawn our wraps more closely about
us and sat down to patient waiting.
Finally the great iron gates, which are
unlocked only for the Queens entrance,
swung open, the royal guard mounted
i'll the twinkling of an eye we had seen
the sight of sights, Victoria, Queen of
England and Empress of India, with her
daughters Princess Louise and Princess
Christian. We were SO near, and stood
| so high, that we had no difficulty in per-
suading ourselves that the bow her most
| gracious Majesty gave was personal one
| for ourselves, and intended as a public
| announcement of the friendly relations
| she desired to maintain with the United
| States; we received it in the spirit in
which it was proffered, and waved and
cheered Justify. The amount of royal
luggage sent in advance of the party GER
int, -, +Inf
| Her Majesty never travels for sojourn OF
even twenty four hours without the bed,
bureau, easy-chair and general furnish
| ings which she is accustomed to see and
use. The portraits of the Queen are SO
idealized that one sees no picture of the
actual woman. She is far from present.
ing queenly figure; imagine a short
with round puffy face, glasses on nose,
and dressed in the severest, plainest black
surely nothing could be more unlike
ones precOnceived notion of a queen, who
is supposed to be blessed with perennial
youth, loneliness and commanding grace.
Victoria in her girlhood is said always to
have been photographed standing on a
has diminished and when sitting, her
! head barely reaches her daughters Shout
| der. Princess Beatrice has lovely coun-
tenance, yet its expression shows that
even Princess can have troubles and
trials like ordinary women. We were SO
elated with our view of the Queen, that
we determined the following day to try
for glimpse of the Prince and Princess
of Wales, as they were to assist at the
| Queens drawing room. We started about
noon for Buckingham Palace, as all car
| riages begin to line as early as one
O'Clock. The English people, to say
nothing of Americans, dearly love a
ord, md TWO hr,r1u
cession filed past the carriages, looking
through the open windows at the beauty
| co and fashion of the English aristoc-
racy. There were hundreds of prancing
steeds, the coachmen and footmen decor
ated with such huge bontonnieres that
they could hardly see over them. The
titled women in their fine equipages were
dressed magnif1cently; court trains of
nile green velvet, heavenly blue brocade,
or shimmering satin; the diamond tiaras,
the necklaces of pearls, rubieS and emer-
aids were dazzling. All wore the pre-
scribed white feathers in their hair, from
which, depended the narrow tulle veil,
and each carried huge shower bouquet
of orchids, roses or some flower whose
color blended with the costume; many of
these bouquets had ribbons arranged to
stand in stiff loops among the blossoms
and occasionally feathers also were intro
duced. All dresses were cut decollete,
and the arm was bare to the shoulder as
the glove reached only to the elbow. Out
of the entire number there might have
been dozen handsome women, 1--WE saw
but two) and to state the unvarnished
truth the majority were exceedingly plain,
| scrawny and sallow except when relieved
| by unlimited quantities of powder and
| rouge. But hurrah there comes the
Princess, and ignorant people, who shall
| be nameless, began a feeble cheer, which
was quickly suppressed as a native Briton
| rather contemptuously explained "that
| is a Duchess But if one sees a brilliant
| red coach, with gilt trimmings, with two
Elegant gentlemin" in front, and two
| standing behind, dressed in scarlet coats
| and gold lace, with white silk stockings,
| immense buckles powdered hair
| tied in queue, and red and gold three
cornered hats, is it not natural to think
that such splendor means Princess is
approaching? ALI things come to the
women who wait and soon were seen the
outriders-which now we realize always
precede royalty-and the lovely Alexandra
powdered, painted and wigged to resem-
BILE girl of twenty drove by bowling
right and left. One bent old woman be-
longing to the poorest class, had secured a
place in front, as the royal carriage passed
she was nearly frantic with delight. "Oh
the dear Princess, the sweet Princess
she screamed. Evidently III. r. H. heard
her, for she turned her completely
round and bowed, apparently directly to
the loyal old subject, certainly giving
evidence of the kindly heart which has
done much to make the Princess of Wales