Evening star., 1898-12-31
WiLHELMINA's EDUCATION.
No sovereign Has Ever Received sucb
Careful Instruction.
From Loncman's Magazine.

FROM bonCmans Magazine.
No sovereign was ever more carefully
brought up for the task of a ruler tb1p
Queen Wilhelmina. The queen regent b.r.
self mapped out the whole education-;he
number of hours to be devoted in due pro-
portion TO each subject during the avail
| able years. She wished her daughters cd
ucation TO be truly national: hence her frs,
! teacher was the head OF a public eIenen-
tary school. Mr.. Gediking. and he WAS d.
rected 10 give the instruction as much as
possible on the same lines as 10 his own
pupils The teaching embraced 10y degrees.
besides the ordinary curriculum. natural
history physics. geology. geometry and
mathematics. Geology had a special at
traction for the young queen, and when
she visited the Natural History Museum i'm
London those who led her rouud were
! struck with her knowledge Of the subject
Meanwhile English was taught her bv
her English goNerness, Miss Saxton VIM
| ter who remained till after the queens
connrmauon, two Years ago, and she learn
cd TO speak French from a natfye Of
france before the age of nine when she
received her first lessons I'M French gram
mar and literature from DR. Saly,rIs da
GTaNe, who was enabled at once to use
French as the medium for teaching the
language. il is never questioned in Holland
as IL is, unfortunately. sometimes IN Enp-
land-that modern languages should he
begun early in order not to absorb too
much Of the time which. at a later period
is required Tor Other subjects. German.
Wnch is an easy well as 4 some what
perpleXing language to Dutch pcop,e on ac-
count of its resemblance TO their own was
not begun till five years later when DR.
hossmann from the gymnasium, gave her
majesty lessons in the language and litera-
ture. DR. Salverda de Grave took some Of
the more advanced teaching i'm other sub
9ects' such as geography and Dutch his
tory ann literature. The practical side Of
the teaching was never lost sight of Thus
The queen regent desired that the study Of
geography should be combined with a sur
Ney Of the political and economic conditions
OF the various countries and that in con-
nection with arithmetic the queen should
be made acquainted with some details OF
finance, monetary systems, loans. sc.
During the latter years of the queens
education she was instructed by specia
chiefly professors from the universities
one of the best historians of Holland Prof
Blok from Leyden, gave a course Of Dutch
history. Prof. Kan taught physical and
political geography; Prof. Kramer general
history, and In connection with this sub
1ect he led the queen through the British
Musuem on her visit 10 London DR. Van
de Stadt, headmaster of a school at Arm
hem. continued the teaching of physics be-
gun by MIR. Gedking, frequently using eX-
periments and giving short biographies OF
the great men of science. Prof De Louter
initiated her majesty in the constitution Of
omy, and colonial institutions. DR. Hof-
stede de Groot gave her lessons in art his
tory; DR.. Blink, in cosmography The
queen regent herself taught her daughter
Bible history for ten years. After that the
court preacher, DR.. Van der Filler prepared
her during two years for confirmation.
Finally Lieutenant General Kool and
Rear Admiral Stokhuyzen gave the queen
instruction In the organization of army and
navy, chiefly I'm their relation TO the crown.
Accomplishments like drawing and music
were not neglected. The queen showed the
greater taste for drawing and strong
appreciation of art, especially national art.
Plain needlework which is too often looked
upon a subject of no Importance in the
education of women, was taught her from
her earliest youth by her mother and after
ward by a special mistress. To a strong
and healthy nature like the queens physi-
cal exercise, such as riding and skating,
has always been delight.