Daily camera., 1900-11-26
PETTlCOAT COLONELS
Royal Ladies Of Europe Who DON
Regimentals.
Queens and Prineesses Lead Troopsy
Participate in Drilis, and Ride
with Skill and Grace Kings
Are Poor H0rsemsn.

of the royal ladies OF Europe are col
regiments, and that some of them
even devote a good deal of time and
attention to their subordinate sol
diers. Nearly all of them, when ar
rayed in their regimental garb, seem
to lose every vestige of feminine APP
pearance, and at distance they GER
tainly look very mannish.
Foremost among the feminine royal
colonies is the German empress. Her
majesty is chief of the famous First
regiment of imperial cuirassiers.
Often on parade days the empress
may be seen riding at the head of
this military body, and, after salut-
ing the emperor, rein in beside him
and let the regiments pass. She cuts
a dashing ngure, as she is tall and
well formed. Her regimental uniform
is very showy-red facings on pure
white material, surmonnted by
three-cornered hat with large, droop-
ing heron's piumes.
Queen Margherita of Italy has
grown quite stout of late, and just
before King Humberts assassination
ordered a brand new colonels uni
form, in which she appeared at the
head of regiment of Hessian ram
gers. This royal amazon is very sell
dom seen on horseback in her own
country, but when on a visit to the
duchy of hessia she delights in honor
Ing her regiment, of which she was
made an honorary chief by Kaiser
Wilhelm, her late husbands most de-
voted friend and ally.
The kaiser's mother. ex-Empress
Frederick. is chief of the Second regi
ment of imperial hussars. She is per-
hars the only royal woman who has
retained her feminine looks on horse
back. Despite her advanced age she
looks quite pretty. She is also com
mandng officer of the Eightieth in
fantry, battalions of which are sta
toned at Homburg and Wiesbaden,
within couple of hours ride of her
summer residence. During her stay
there she frequently invites the act
ing colonel, staff and the line officers
to dine with her and discuss regi-
mental matters and at times she at
tends the tleld exercises o. her men.
\ very manly appearance has the
Grand Duchess Victoria of Hess when
dressed in her regimentals as colonel
of the Third regiment of lIessian in
fantry She is very enthusiastic
about her soldiers, and does not re-
gard her position as honorary. She
is often on the parade ground, even
when the regiment is at work. Then
she appears in undress uniform, con-
sisting of dark b.ue coat, red collar
and cuffs. edged with blue, and
heavy black shirt. What gives her
manly appearance more than any
thing else is her peaked helmet,
tightly strapped about her chin.
The Crown Princess Maria of Rou-
mania is another royal female colonel.
who considers herself bound to her
regiment in more than name. She is
the chief of the Fourth regiment of
Roumanian hussars. She looks very
imposing at the head of her troops,
and is very skillful horsewoman.
This petticoat colonel is woman of
versatile talents; she has written vol
uminously in the sphere of fiction and
both in the German and Roumanian
languages, she has displayed wonder
full talents, and it is said of her that
she is the power behind the throne in
Roumania
Among younger royal female colo
nels are the Crown Princess Charlptta
of Sake Meiningen and Princess
Adolph of Schaumburg-Lippe. The
former is chief of the King Frederick
i'll. regiment of grenadiers. and the
latter commands the Fifth Westphal-
ian infantry.
Queen Wihelmina of Holland, the
youngest of all, is chief of number
of Dutch and German regiments. She
locks exceedingly pretty in the uni
form of a general of the royal horse
guards, dark blue, with gold facings,
epaulettes and the numerous insignia
of rank. Sometimes she appears at
the head of her troops riding on her
fayorite pony Baby" wearing a
white amazon riding habit, with the
regulation tall black hat.
1t is curious fact that while near
ly all the royal ladies of Europe are
superb and picturesque horsewomen,
few of the reigning sovereigns are
even tolerable riders. Emperor Will
liam has not firm seat and is at a
disadvantage because of his crippled
arm, and always mounts with assist
ance of some kind.
King Humbert of Italy was famous
for his falls, the emperor of Russia is
not a master of the equestrian art,
and the kings of Sweden. Greece and
Denmark absolutely abhor riding. The
king of Portugal finds no enjoyment
when mounted because of his "embon-
point" Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria
cannot ride for an hour at time,
and King Alexander of Servia il afraid
of horses