The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-05
QUEEN MARGUERITE OF SAVOY


the most beautiful queen In the world. 70
her charms OF person are added carriage
and gracious manner that have made her
beloved OF her subjects.
She also enjoys tho reputation Of being per-
haps the most talented queen Of her time
and one OF the best informed women Of hsr
age. Endowed with excellent talents. her
majesty owes almost ell her knowledge to
her own snorgy and initiative From her
youth she has always possessed fondness
for study. and she dedlcates great part Of
each day to reading. writing, drawing and
conversing with tho most Industrious person
ages In art. literature and science. The
queen has never written books. pamphlets
or articles. but several literary publications
have contained minor pieces which she has
composed. such as reflections on art and
literature and prayers.
~
For years her majesty has written In Z
diary which has attained considerable pro-
portions. but which only = few privileged
persons have been able to sec in tho pres-
ence OF the queen herself. A few extracts
may be given from this work. On the day
when Acclartto attempted to assassnate the
king on his way to the races the queen
wrote:
To-day wretch to whom we have never
done harm attempted to Kill Humbert, my
husband. the best and most loyal man In
the world. Such one can only be q mad
man or some unfortunate. My good Hum
bert was more touched with the fats OF the
man than with the danger to which he was
himself exposed. II human justice will not
pardon the guilty one. Humbert and myself
have already pardoned him. because we know
that he acted ignoranuy."
The queen is an excellent speaker. She n
honorary president OF several charitable bod
les, and frequently takes part in the sessions,
on such occasions occupying the chair. She
laid the foundation stone OF the Marguerite
hospital at Tivoli. delivering an address
which was admitted to be of exceedingly good
quality. The queen speaks self-conhdentiy
and in an agreeable tone. and at times be-
comes eloquent
OF the arts the queen knows perhaps best
of all music and paintings her teachers hav-
INK been NJ, Lucid and NJ. Marchetti. author
of "Ruy Bias" or the nrst she learned
singing and of the second the plano. She
has mezzo soprano voice, not specially
strong. but finely managed and always EN-
ployed artistcally. She has frequently sung
at small court parties. to which she invited
her friends and which were called Clrcolo
della Regina.
Visitors to the royal palace are able to APP
preciate the queens ability as a painter In
the various works scattered about the pal
ace. These mostly deal with landscapes, par
ueularly with Alpine scenes. OF which her
majesty Ia very fond. Her custom has been
to pass 8 part OF each summer on the moun..
tains. Fineness OF design and tasto In the
choice Of colors are specially noticeable foat-
ures OF thess Wsras
Marguerite Teresa Maria Glovanna was
born on November 20. 1851. Her father was
Ferdinand, duke of Genoa, who died WI en- ST.,
was 4 years old her mother is a sister OF
the king of Saxony.
ltaly's queen Is not domestic. She loves
fashions, letters, art She Is fond OF soyer-
eighty and tho endless work OF social duty
and patronage 1t involves. She is fitted ply
sieally for all things. for her face is beaut-
full. her figure tall and arstocrntlc, her hair
delight in chestnut brown, her arms and
shoulders perfect, her movements full of
grace, her manner ever dignhed. always
charming
She knows French, German, English, Span
ish. Italian of course and Latin thoroughly.
she knows Greek well and is familiar with
the literature OF all ages.
The queen arises early and retIres late. She
manages with six hours sleep and thrives
on 1t. Her work OF charities patronage. or
ganization and society keeps her constantly
busy, She is not at all domestic. She likes
driving and out-ofdoor life generally. but
has not much opportunity for indulgence In
these tastes. She likes Germany and the
Germans and Is a warm friend Of William
and his wife,
In Rome she takes an intense interest ia
the court social life; in her country place at
Monza she Is a country woman; In the Alps
she is as hardy u climber as the Tyrolese.
going over glaciers. along narrow paths or TO
the edge OF precipice with charming In
difference She is great lover OF flowers.
fine old lace and rare pearls.
One OF the prayers to the Virgin which thu
queen composed when some OF the italian
soldiers were lost in tho SHOWS OF tho Alps
was published IN Roma Litteraria- II fol-
lows.
''or Virgin, mother Of God. whom the bold
mountaineer inyokes as tho virgin OF the
eternal SHOWS and sovereign OF the high
mountains. turn thy looks toward these white
expanses, which seem TO be fragments OF thy
most pure veil. so white are they and spot
less Abate the horror Of the spectacle to
those who have to traverse the glaciers; &C.
company them through the dangers OF ths
way, and II some enc should fall in his un-
dertaking. calling upon God. receive him In
thy pious arms; make the cold shroud under
him soft and light. and let his soul, which
has so soon quilted It's earthly garm, mount
rapidly before the throne Of God.
"Thou. o holy Virgin, receive my prayers.
Seek out all tho good actions OF their Avesi
ind all the generous thoughts which thsy
had in their hearts. and pour them forth as
mountain flowers before the throne OF God,
so that when their souls shall arrive before
the Lord they shall be welcomed By the
infinite mercy"
This prayer Ia taught in all the Alpine
schools and every one in those regions knoWs
II 10y neart.
~
Many stories are told Of tho curious a6vsa-
lures Of Queen Marguerite on her mountains
eering excursions. The story OF how she en-
tsrtained party OF tourist climbers in one
OF tho mountain huts is well known. but few