Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-12-07

A Children's Party at q Palace.
! How time flies. to be sure! 1t seems
| hardly more than yesterday since the
Queen of Holland was a child-a merry
sunshiny little girl, usually seen In
white, a large, oadbrimmed hal
with a white ostrich feather half hid
/ ing the pretty face, and the long, fail
hair ripping down her shoulders. Now
she has changed into a tall, slender
maiden, full of grace and royal majes
! ty. The new Queen of Holland has been
a very popular person ever since she
was born; and Dutch children never
tire of hearing about the time when
Queen Wilhelmina played many a
merry game with her thirty dolls, and
with the little boys and girls who used
10 be invited to the palace to amuse
her; never tire of hearing of her warm
love for animals-horses especially
and her admirat ton for soldiers and all
that concerns them, and her great Ca
pacity for learning, and her quickness
in seeing joke.
And If the young Queen has by this
time perfectly acquired the art of be
having-when necessary-in quite as
stately fashion as the dignity of q
queen demands, she is a very lively and
bright girl. nevertheless: and there is
at the Hague a boy who would most
emphat tically convince you of the truth
of this statement, if you were TO doubt
it. When, several years ago, he was
about nine or ten years old, he had the
good fortune to be invited to a chill
drens party at the palace. His mother
was glad, but somewhat uneasy, too.
Such a very independent and noisy lad.
her boy was. Surely there was some
reason for her being afraid that ne
would not behave so well as she wish
ed him TO. She told him to try to mind
his manners. and not to stamp In that
dreadful way" and not to talk too loud
ly. And. mind you, don't forget to say
MevrOuw (Madame) to the little Queen
when you speak to her.
But this was too much for Willem,
who had been listening attentively, If
little impatiently, perhaps.
Mevrouw"" he exclaimed indig-
nantly. Il am not going to be such a
silly as to call her ali that! 'Mevrouw,'
indeed, And she is not married. and
only twelve years old"
For quite half an hour his mother
took pains to make him understand
that etiquette demanded the little
Queen should be addressed as Mad
anne" He obstinately refused to be
brought to reason. 1T is SO absurd" he
said. How can | call her 'Mevrouw,'
when she has no husband?'
The attempt to make him understand
had to be given up. He looked a per-
feet little gentleman, though, when he
drove to the palace. accompanied by his
little sisters.
Solemn looking lackeys stood ready
to conduct them to one of the beautiful
old rooms in the palace, where some
other little guests We're already assem-
bled, and they were welcomed by la
lies of the court. When all the guests
had arrived. a lackey, opening a door
announced in a loud voice: Her Maj
esty the Queen And all eyes were ca
gerly turned in one direction.
A hush. patter of quick little feet,
then in walked-nay, ran-Queen Will
helmina, simply dressed in a frock of
soft, cream -colored silk. Willem gave
L quick little nod of content. He liked
hat.
She did not behave or look like a
'mevrouw' in the least; and he clapped
lis hands when she said gaily: Let us
1ave a good. noisy game: blindnan's
ouff, or-or anything you boys KNOW
And NOISY" games they had, several
IF -blindman's buf among the
est; and Willem thoroughly enjoyed
himself. and twice caught the Queen
when his eyes were banda ged. Il knew
it once 1t was she." he said afterward.
as soon as l touched her sleeve. 1t
'elt SO soft ard nice. quite different
from the others. But. of course. l never
allied her 'Mevrouw.' l just said 'Kon-
ngin' Queen, and l am sure she liked
t."
Well, what Queen Wilhelmina GER
ainly did like was to play and to romp
md to be merry as we'll as other chill
ireD. Perhaps no Dutch girl surpasses
Ter IN her love of skating and riding
It. Nicholas