New-York tribune., 1899-06-04

piece and cooking range. Another is the nursery
where many OF the Princesss playthings are to
be seen-the same room where the Duchess of
York was born many years after the Duchess Of
Kent lived there with her only child, The third
Is the bedroom where the Princess was sound
asleep when she was awakened by the sudden
announcement that the King was dead. and that
she was Queen of England
There are other rooms connected with the
quiet peaceful childhood OF the Queen in this
snug corner Of Kensington Palace but these are
the most interesting. An effort has been made
to reproduce the simplicity and innocence OF
that royal home. which was strangely in con-
trast with the frivolity and hippant pleasures
Of luxurious and scandalous court. pretty
display is made Of the Princesss paythings.
There are battledores. drumsticks, horses with
headless riders. hooded coach. tent with gilt
buttons dolls that once danced wires, and
a country house with stables, outbuildings and
gates. There are few simple engravings on
the walls including one which could not have
been there during the Princess's nursery days.
1t is entitled England and America" and por-
trays the visit Of the Queen and the Prince
consort to the Arctic ship Resolute. when it
was returned in 1856 TO the British Government
by the Americans. who had found it drifting in
Bafiin's Bay after long imprisonment in the
Ice, where II had been abandoned. American
visitors will be touched to find II there in the
sleeping room where the Princess received her
summons TO the throne, when the Archbishop
Of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain in
sisted upon seeing the queen"
OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
The palace has been thoroughly repaired and
renovated at an expense Of $4,000. and. with
.ba % rfar rx-ed
the Of the Princess Louise and the Marquis
of Lorne, has been thrown open TO the public
in response to the Queens wishes. The work
Of restoration has been done with judgment and
taste. and also with that simplicity which is
one of the Queens prominent and most beauti-
full traits. Portraits have been brought from
Hampton Court and other palaces. and engrav-
ings OF many incidents and scenes Of the
Queens reign are now the walls. The rooms
are barely furnished, but the fine oak panelling
and wainscoting are more conspicuous In the
absence Of the clumsy Georgian furniture which
once Uttered them Kensington Palace will be-
come from this day the most interesting OF the
royal shows of London. This is because the
Queens personality will be felt there with po-
tent fascination and charm.
There is the romance Of the Princess living
there In retirement and innocence and awaiting
the call 10 the responsibilities Of imperial rule
and the longest reign in English history. There
is also the touch OF purity and tranquility In
the home that was far removed in spirit from
the thoughtless revelry and amess licentious-
ness Of the Georgian courts. The most cynical
visitor seems to hear familiar words like an
echo in that nursery among the broken toys
And He took little child and put her In the
midst Of them" The memory of the child hal
lows the place and consecrates II to that home
loving spirit which the sovereign In her eigh-
tieth year still embodies with perennial fresh
ness and beauty. N f.