The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-13
THE TIMES RICHMOND. vA SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 1898.

cess, and required the aid OF several OF
her fayorite chums to coax back her
spirits.
When the Duke OF Clarence died six
years ago she temporarily lost her rea-
son, and after years OF mourning she SO
wearied her husband with her lamenta-
lions, that he, poor fellow, betook him
self or on a yacht for a long tour out OF
sound OF her wailing. f.a
When her children were Ill she de-
voted her time so entirely to them that
once Queen Victoria was compelled
TO rally her upon the Importance OF
studying questions OF state, but for the
only time in her career Alexandra re-
sponded sharply-so much TO the sur
prise OF Queen Victoria that Her MaJes-
ty let her alone.
No one has ever accused the present
Queen OF over-mounrning for any OF her
family. Though she felt the loss OF
the Prince cOnsort deeply she never Tor
gets that she is Queen who Is expected
to be the mother OF not only nine, Dut
nine million.
The Princess OF Wales has never con-
cerned herself with state matters, al
though she must know what Is going on
She has always been absolutely indiner-
ont to such things, unless swerved 20
one side or the other by personal Ia
voritism. She admires Asquith, who mar
ried "DOdO," and could have secured TOT
him almost any position, but she was
either too Indifferent or too careless TO
ask, and the viceroyship which might
have been filled by him to-day belongs
TO another. The Queen. who knows eV-
cry line Of the possibilities OF her states
men, has ever been politician, LOOKING
for improved service, civil and military
- H...ra "a
political lines and never viii; she Is not
that kind OF a woman.
Queen Victoria has her cat and dog
or two; she also keeps a few horses 20
Her boudoir Is always more or less III,
habited with small animals-cats ana
dogs. When tho Queen Is expected, IL
takes tho maids two hous to clear OUT
the menagerie and get ready Tor her
Royal Highness. who must not on any
account be piloted in until their presence
Is dispensed with.
There is nothing Queen victoria loNeS
quite as dearly rs 10 speak her Hh'u,
but Alexandra has never Deeh lohu Oh
doing so. An intimate friend said once
that the only person 10 whom size ever
aired her opinions was the rince ana
the only one whom she ever Iatsu "aS
this same Royal Highness. 80,
To others Alexandra Is meek ana mia
and forgiving. but from the Prince sAe
exacts a lOyer-like devotion. AleAeh-
dra. +, as much in love as the day on
which she stepped on British soil, ana
her wedding circlet means as much 70
her as it ever did.
And again this royal parsonage dlhe
from her mother-in-law. queen victoria,
while conventional has Deeh SO "iilos'
masculine in her dealings with the oppo-
site sex that again and again has pe"A
accued of flirting. At one time II was
said that she was attentive 10 Lord
Salisbury. and again it was thought that
She and Mr. Gladstone held more con
situations than were strictly required by
the Ministry =. 800.
mt Alexandra has never sroken - an
Englishman. unless he came across Eer
path socially: and it Is declared on the
authority of one Of her closest irlenus
that she has never in her life granted
private audience TO one OF her SUBJECTS
although besought at times 10 90 50 on
matters OF state. No touch or gossip
rests upon her.
Alexandra has her little wealnesses-
all womanly ones; she IS fond Of novels,
a thing the Queen despises, unles OF the
classic sort She dislikes famous peOpl5
such as authors and artists Tor she IS
timid I'm the face Of genius, while Tie
Queen will have nothing to do with any
other. Alexandra loves fancy work and
can outline a worsted dog TO perfection,
while the Queen never takes sutch.
Alexandra notes the hang OF skirt ana
the cut Of a sleeve. Victoria Is calnliy
oblivious 10 everything except court
dress.
Alexandra Is also very charitajle. Civ
ing in an impetuOus way, which would
drive the Queen frantic could she see the
inroads made upon the royal hot houses
and the royal Conservatives. Inc PIN
cess is not above going TO tile grape
house and gathering bunch OF tie irllt
for dear Lady ScarbOrough, VINO Is ILL.,
nor opposed TO picking thu biggest roses
for the Hon. Miss Churchill, Nho real
w wants them" Queen Victoria wolii
look askance at such extravaganza, for
there must be an income for the Royal
house and for a contribution TO the for
eign mission: but the Princess - TOO
womanly TO look SO far ahead
The court dresmaker, going 10 the
Marlborough house. was surprised 10 see
seated In front of iull length mirror,
the Princess with one hand extended
and a sweet, patr0nzing smile upon her
face 1t was Alexandra practicing FOR
the hour when. as Que N % England, Sic
would sit I'm the :Oyal chair and receive
the homage Of her subjects
The dressmaker adsthy Withdrew, ana
the Princess never knew that she had
been observed practicing for the supreme
moment Of her life.
Tie Prince Of Wales who viii be hf-
weight years old the last OF this month
will come TO the throne an old man with
a bent limb and big stomach but the
Princess at his side will be young and as
smiling as ever. She got married expect
ing to be Queen Of England, and however
delayed the event may have o1en, II VIII
find bar DrQnarel for IL.