davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16
DOMESTIC LIFE OF
! QUEEN ALEXANDRA


one OF the busiest men in Great Brit
ain, and the princess until her tempo
rary retirement from society owing to
the death of her mother. the queen of
Denmark, was equally busy She re-
lieved Queen Victoria of most of the
social obligations of the sovereign just
as the prince took from his mother the
drudgery of attendance at public func-
tions. OF late years the princess has
presided at most of the royal drawing
rooms and kept up a brilliant round Of
gayeties at Marlborough House
OF the children of Alexandra her ED
est and favorite son, the Duke Of Clar-
ence. is dead. The loss almost broke
his mothers heart. Tor he was her de-
voted knight and constant attendant
Her second son. the Duke of York now
heir apparently. is married and has his
own menage, while the Princess Louise,
her eldest daughter. Is the wife of the
Duke of Fife Her youngest daughter.
Princess Maud. married her cousin.
Prince Charles Of Denmark Princess
Victoria, born July 6. 1868. remains as
the confidant Of her mother The Prin-
cess Victoria is a clever. Independent
young woman. though she is not con
sidered a beautiful one.
All the children of King Edward and
Queen Alexandra have been sensibly
brought up. The girls often made their
own gowns and hats, giving the
money thus saved to a pet charity. The
princesses fmbibed their charitable in
stincts from their mother. who. as Prin-
cess of Wales. spent much time. money
and influence in promoting good works.
She was most active i'm those benevo-
lences pertaining to her own sex, al
though general hospitals and funds for
the assistance of soldiers have benefit
ed by her influence and service
1t was at Sandringham that the royal
family was seen at its best There they
lived the life of country gentlefoIk, en-
PERTAINING guests and dispensing with
all possible formality- They were per-
sOnalIy known to the people therea bout
and every year gave three balls for the
benefit OF their neighbors. One of these
was for the neighboring gentry, anoth-
er for the farmers and their. families
and a third for the servants. At all Of
these affairs the host and hostess and
their children and guests We're present
and all contributed to the general
fund Of pleasure Although sur
rounded by scores of trained attend
ants, Alexandra was quite able to look
afte~ the affairs of her household. Ev-
cry day at Sandringham she discussed
with the housekeeper the various do
nestle requirements. After attending
to these duties her correspondence de-
manded her time. her secretary assist
ing. The rest OF the day she devoted to
her gardens, her pets ana her favorite
fad. the dairy
One of the features of Sandringham
is the small dairy where, like Queen
Marie Antoinette. Alexandra, with her
daughters, played at being milkmaid.
The butter for the family was made in
this dairy, and from 1t came all the
cream used by the household.
Two house parties were entertained
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16
VICT0RIA'S FAv0RlTE
GRANDCHILDREN.

1t is interesting to point out that
Queen victoria's favorite granddaugh-
ter was Princess Victoria of Sleswick-
Holstein. the only unmarried daughter
Of Prince and Princess Christian. She
has had offers Of marriage, and two a
least were good. but she remained sin
gle. and. if not heart whole, she is won
derfuIIy cheerful and content
Princess Victoria is little known be-
cause she 50 rarely left the queen
Round Windsor she is Of course be-
loved. While her good looks have rath-
er a Teutonfc air. she is well bred and
aristocratic in appearance, and she
dresses quietly and with admira BILE
taste Princess Victoria was devoted
to the queen, and. while the other
grandchildren were generally rather in
awe OF her. Princess Victoria treated
her grandmother with a merry and vi
vacious volubility which delighted the
old lady. When the queen was out
driving, she would often he seen laugh
ing at some jest from her bright com
panion. who was unflagging in her ef-
forts to amuse grandmamma-
Another favorite grandchiid was
Princess Ena, eldest daughter of Prin-
cess Henry of Battenberg. She is
very winsome and captivating child
with a high spirit, thing which was
very congenial to the queen Princess
Ena has pretty airs OF fmperiousness
toward those of her elders with whom
she cam venture to take liberties What
few, except the queen. knew was that
Princess Ena is a delicious mimic. and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

than any ascribed by Sheridan to the
original Mrs. Malaprop.
Her bit of boasting about the fine
spinal staircase in her house and a
few other such bright sayings are care
fully treasured and used to make con-
versation when everything else fails.
Her latest, however. is as good as any
that have heretofore been quoted 1t
was evolved recently in a friendly con-
versation-
I have so much trouble with my but
lers!" she said pensively the other day.
L can't get a man to suit me. IF /
could only get such a butler as the
Vanderwents have, I would be perfectly
satisfied. He is a jewel
why don't you try to get him?' ask
ed the sympathetic friend
Il have made overthrows to him, -
said Mrs Malaprop. but he didn't
seem inclined to accept them"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

We're meals at which all the family and
guests gathered. Instead of sitting at
the head of the table the host and host
ess were accustomed to sit at either
side.
Alexandra and her daughters are
fond Of outdoor exercise. They rode
and drove and walked over the San
dringham estate with a tfreless energy
that often astonished foreign visitors.
Alexandra is an extremely religious
woman. On Sundays she expects her
guests to attend church. The nearest
church to Sandringham is at WOlver-
ton, and this has been much beautified
through the generosity of its royal pa
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

nights, the afternoons were given over
to q. congress devoted to women views
on subjects great and small The con-
clusiOn arrived at was that WISDOM -
folly, and ignorance is bliss 50 tar as
rainent is concerned. Dress Of the
nast century was the most prolific
theme I wonder whether any writer
will be rash enough to give the palm 10
a particular decade and, should such
temerity be Forthcoming, whether there
will be one who viii agree with me tnar
the early twenties must have been the
most charmingly CARRIED of the whole
hundred years. Judging from the col
ored pictures in the womep's magazines
OF the period, those tWehties We're an
oasis between the ridiculously scanty
and diaphanous raiment of the classlcai
period and the banalities OF the 1oSv
modes. There was grace IN the noWahs
skirt and in the sleeves and waist on
normal length, and there was beauty IN
the sweet. soft coiors prevailing IN
short. modesty and femininity were, as
it were, materiaiized.
Bad habits leave a bad inheritance
and so do bad fashions, it would SEEM
judging by the long years II took them
to recover from grotesque models
put the period of recovery down to a
matter of from 80 to 40 years, with
pleasant interludes to lift much that
was ugly toward the realm of beauty
Those interIudes. I fancy. must have been
the period of the poke bonnet, always
described as particularly bewitchingi
the reign of the shawl. so graceful ana
feminine and most improperly relegat-
ed to charwomen; the ringlet era ana
the reign of the crinoline before Il be-
came unwieldy. In the seventies oc-
Cured the convalescence Of the sufferer
which was marred by relapses and par
ticuIarly by the dying crinoline, then
disappearing in the form Of a cage
worn to bunch the back breadths or
the gown out. but frightened by the
pretty and artistic Dolly Warden
waxed eloquent, tell you, on the
clothes question "What markeQ Lne
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16
HER PECULIAR AILMENT.

The Mrs. MaIaprop of Washington is
again CONFUSING the folk of that town
with a conversational break that is be-
ing placed away in the stock collection
of anecdotes concerning her She is a
social leader to a certain extent; her
mansion is one of the noblest and most
impressive in Washington, and the
marriage of one of her daughters to a
really worthy English nobleman has
given her 4 certain amount of prestige
None the less she has never overcome
the lack of proper environment in her
youthful days and viii say things that
are cIeverer in their wrong application
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

rishioners. The building contains sew
eral memorials, one a thanks offering
from Alexandra for her husbands re-
covery from the fever.
Now, with Windsor. ST. James and
Buckingham palaces as royal resi-
dences, it is certain that Queen Alexan-
dra's social duties will occupy most of
her time but it is equally certain that
she will not permit public functions or
anything else to interfere with that wo-
manly devotion to her family which is
principally responsible for the strong
hold which she undoubtedly has upon
the affections of her subjects.
ALICE DE BERDT-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

TFxANDRA CAROLINE MARIE
"a CHARLOTTE LOUISE JULIE, the
\ o,,een consort OF Edward VII OF
Fngland was not born 70 the purple
When she arrived in the world ner Ia
fher NOW King Christian TX OF Den
mark was an insignificant prlnceling
with "a salary of about $1,000 p year anu
prospects none too bright
The wear 1863 however, witnessed a
marvellous change in the family Iol-
funas. Alexandra $ beauty had capt.
waited the heir to the BRUSH nIouS'
and she became the Princess OF wares
her. brother George assembled the throne
IN creara. and her father. owing to the
death of Frederick VII without nelIs'
was proclaimed Christian TX OF Len
mark In 1866 the Princess DagInar'
A1axandra,s younger sister, was mar
RED to the czarowitz of Russia ana De-
came the czarina March To- 1851 upOii
Alexander-s becoming car Thus from
i4a humble beginning the family mas
haoone famous and is connected by
blood or marriage with nearly every
throne in Europe.
The three daughters Of King Chris
tan had been carefully brought up
They had had fewer advantages eouca-
fsonall,r than the modern college girl
but they had learned many thlngs mat
the average society girl considers De-
meath her dignity. AS matter OF econ
omv their mother had taught them
40 cook. to superintend the laundry
work and to make their own gowns ana
trim their millinery. The Processes
dressed less extensively than the aver
age middle class girl in their own town,
but they were exceedingly Drlght anu
good looking
The courtship of the Prince of Wales
fnow King Edward NID lasted six
months. He was p and his bride was
10 when they were married. While
travelling in Denmark he had met the
lovely. princess and, falling in love with
her III the good old fashioned way. inn
mediately informed his mother that the
Princess Alexandra was the one woman
whom he would marry During his
courtship he was accustomed to sere-
nading the princess under her window;
indeed. he acted very much like any
other young man who il victim Of
the tender passion. The young couple
were married in England with great
nomp and ceremony. and the then poet
laureate, Tennyson. wrote an ode Of
welcome to the princess. beginning:
Sea kings daughter from over the sea.
Alexandria
saxon and Norman and Dane we,
But all Of us Danes in welcome TO thee,
Alexandria
welcome her. thunders of fort and heetl
Welcome her. laundering cheers Of the street,
Welcome her. all things youthful and sweet
scatter the blossoms under her feet
Break, happy land. into earlier flowers;
Make music, o birds, in the new budded bowers
Rlazon your notices Of blessing and prayerl
Welcome her welcome her, all that is ours
Shortly after the marriage the royal
pair made Marlborough House their
London residence. and Sandringham. a
great estate Of 5000 acres in Norfolk,
about three hours ride from London,
their country seat. Between these two
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

Two magnificent carpets, presented
BY the Infanta Donna Sanchi to the
Royal Convent of St Antonio in 1900,
have just been sold at auction at the
municipal chamber. Lisbon. to pay for
repairs at the convent and church. The
sale of the carpets, which were Persian
and about IS feet square, embroidered
with real gold, caused much excite
rnent. The most eager bidders were
two groups, French and German. Bid
ding began at s4.440. and the French
men secured the prize for $3.50, which
is regarded as nearly $1,000 below the
real value. Two other equally splendid
carpets from the Estrella convent were
also announced for sale at another date,
but public feeling has become SO strong
that the sale has been countermanded-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16
WHITE : :. tn Tosg Be Are
/. STOCKINGS Vogue We

savored of novelty in every respect
Mrs. x. hasn't a large house, but she
believes that numbers promote pleas
ure- She talked it over with two
friends likewise situated, who decided
with her that instaIlment plan house
parties were prosy, and obligations
were more satisfactorily discharged
when the occasion was made memora-
BILE by the s'bigness'' of it. Out Of sew
eral teacup club chats the plan was
evolved and perfected, and a pro-
eyramme was arranged. The joint
hostesses each had an evening in which
to do the honors. One conducted a cake
walk, after which a supper of southern
cookery was served by colored walters
Another had a spelling bee, over which
an Eben Holden looking chap presided
and at which sweet cider and crisp gin
GER cakes were passed-we had previ-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

residences they have since divided their
time.
Alexandra has been q devoted daugh-
ter. Each year finds her at Copenha-
gen or Fredensborg, where the children
and grandchildren OF the venerable rul-
er Of Denmark hold family reunion
With the younger set .'Auntie Alix
has always been great favorfte. She
inspires all the young people of her &C
qnaintance TO confide to her their love
anairs, while the small folk adore her
She is never demonstrative- Even in
the family circle she maintains her
gentle dignity, and she possesses a
sweetness and a quiet sympathy that
have made her popular in royal circles
and an idol of the British public
At Marlborough House, in London.
the pressure OF public engagements
has never allowed much time for do
nesticity. The Prince OF Wales was
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

day afternoon
we dispersed. going to our various
homes Wasn't it a sensible idea? p
queried my hostess at luncheon. to
which question there was a chorus Of
ayes.
Wasn't it a capital plan2 I think so
indeed. Imagine the comfort of tho
pouty servants to placate, no vexatious
housekeeping details to annoy, no re-
arrangement of furnishings, no respon-
sibility for cause and effecti I learned
that the expenses were equally divided,
each hostess inviting the same number
of guests. The hotel people We're not
exorbitant in their charges, and all
went well. with no greater expense
than would have been incurred at
home, with a pleasurable release from
home duty in the bargain. I call this a
move in the right direction and enter
tanning reduced to a science. Some wag
remarked that ''by and by we rich
would pay somebody to eat for us" He
will never inaugurate that period, as
sumo, though, for he's a meringue
dend. I saw him eat three at one time.
The man with a sweet tooth is above
suspicion in the gastrononic sphere.
He isn't even an epicure. He's just
food lover who lives to eat and won't
ever pay the price for another to per-
form the lip smaeking for him
I began by referring to the white
stockings in evidence. which fact fore
tells the reign Of them this spring. It's
a mighty clean, wholesome idea, this
white stocking wearing. Whew, but
won't it run up the laundry billsi Two
pairs a day it means to be immaculate.
and there is no merit in the charmingly
pretty fad unless they be spotless.
While we held high carnival at
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

latter " ~~---
owe now the excellent understanding
at which sc many women have arrived
as to their rights-tssat is to say their
right to dress themselves to sc;t them
selves, picturesquely, ana not merely
to duplicate the whims of fashion
plates. 1t is well, of course, to be self
satisfied in these days of honesty, and
am sure we may really be content with
fashion as we find her now. sans exag-
geration of any kind and full Of the
most generous license. Somebody has
remarked that this is 90 as you
please age. and within certain wide
limits am sure we may all dress as we
like. 1t is only by such a hypothesis
that one can explain the various types
one meets-the society woman, the tai
Tor made coat, skirt and sailor hat girl,
the provincial dame and the smart sub
urban one-as different as can be, ana
yet all paying a certain Difference to the
laws that rule"
Am I not a good expounder OF the
doctrine of dress, though / scarce ever
have pretty gowns except on paper2
DAISY MAY.
Noxv X0rIr
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

BEHAVIOR. They do not thus parade
for the sake of the good behavior it
self, but for the unself1sh purpose of
setting an example to other persons.
From their mincing, affected little
girlhood to old ladyhood they go
through life stamped Enthusiastically
like. the V. H. every Highly Com
mended-at a horse show I wonder
if they ever have a genuine sentiment
or emotion all to themselves without
reference to fnpressing outsiders.
Without the tenderness and senti-
ment of woman, what would this
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16


ously partaken
of a fine old
N e W En- gla n d
dinner with rel
ish-
Saturday night
we had a mimic
party, with the
women irnitat-
ing the peculiari-
ties of the men
they knew, fol-
lowed by a chat
ing dish feast.
This last inno-
walton was Ger
tain1y mirth
provoking, and
a hilarious time
was had. Sun
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

during the week-one over Sunday
which included churchmen, statesmen
and literary stars. while from Monday
until Friday the personal friends Of the
family came down for the shooting IN
the evenings music, cards. private the
atricals or dancing whiled away the
time Both Albert Edward and Alex
andra were tfreless in their efforts to
put their guests at ease, and, save for a
deferential sir or madam" address
ed to them now and then. it would have
been difficult for a stranger to select
them as the future king and queen
Edward VII is 8. stickler for prompt
ness Nothing Is more likely to upset
his usually serene nature than the ne
cessity Of delaying dinner for late ar
rival To insure promptness at table
the clocks at Sandringharn were set
half hour fast
Luncheon and dinner at sandringham
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

and nladly be
5 eeching the
men to tell US
what we were
to expect when
we found a line
of traps array
ed in front of
the verand a.
This was still
more perple x
ing, but we
obliged our host
ess, who bade
US climb in and
pair off as we
pleased, which
.tactful remark
hoisted the flag
of congeniality
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

upon the empty seat. thus pre-empt-
ing it. Then she showed herself neat
" but with determination, past Mrs.
North Door, picked up the bag ana
plunked herself with a thwack down
into the seat. Tableau. Every body
looking. Mrs North Door and Mrs
South Door stand gazing foolishly at
each other. the spectators smile and
wink and nudge one another, while
the young woman with the deter
mined nose tries to look unconcerned-
Nothing like getting there.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

n 0 S e, e Y e s
close together
and a face
which s aid:
I'm going to
g G t t h e r e.
Maybe you'Il
like it and
m aybe you
won't. but I'm
going to get
there" She
carried a small
travelling bag.
She slid it out
in front of her
D a s t M r s.
North Do or
and placed it
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

at once. She We IO'l'l0 ''''5 u
kept us guessing for an hour and a
half. when we drew UP in front OF a
summer hotel which had been subsi-
died for our house party and two 9TH
ers
we were the last to arrive, and such
confusion and nlerrymaking as follow
ed would have put to shame the antics
of Stock Exchange members at Christ
mas time. 1t was capital scheme and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

all his better
class umbrellas
If any wayfarer
is armed with
one OF these
lamps and is
caught in a fog
or evening show
er, he switches
on the electric
light by touch
ing a button,
and SO has a ray
of light thrown
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16


white stockings playing hide ana
seek among miladys frou frous
and the mauve drab suggestion of peni-
tentiaI garb more than recent reference
to the church calendar that begot VI
sions of Lenten duties soon at hand
and further suggested the idea that
nothing was worth while for the mo-
nlent but fun and plenty of it. Others
thought with me, and. indeed, we've all
been having it. What with our spuri-
Gus titled contingent. who live to eat
and invite us to do likewise, and our
horsv set who ride to live because di-
gestion demands it, the days and nights
have been a cycle of frolicsome gave
ties
The fun series was begun by clever
woman who originates ideal distrac-
tons. A cellar feast after the play and
a park ride at daylight are beloved at
fairs of her invention Well, this time
I began my orgies by going to new
kind of house party, pioneer IN the
realm of entertainment, as it were, and
i is Immense In the early mail last
Monday [ received a friends visiting
r.,.d an which was printed rather than
v.-ri+ten. win you come to US at Tux
edo Thursday before noon prepared for
~, frolie and a jaunt 81 I arrived 81
,77,Itaueously with half a dozen others,
md Nv O'Clock II names had been in
so,,ibad on the first page ola new guest
l,ool- We were all in a great state OF
a~-citement, consumed with curiosity
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

result. Their
lives are spent
in a heroic eff
fort to con-
vince the rest
of the world
t h a t t h e Y
themselves in
all re sp e c is
represent the
correct thing.
They are, as it
weres always
sticking out
the little finger
when they sip
tea. always on
a dress pa
rade of good
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

complete recov-
cry of la mode
was England's
strenuous move
ment known as
the tailor made
invention. said
I and brought
down the house
thereat, (which
synchronize d
with a second
scarcely less
successful inno-
walton, though
a violent rene
dy at the time
namely, the as-
tn etic craze.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

to her grandmother she took off the
court encourage in a delightful if
slightly impudent manner of which her
mother disapproved.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

g. ONE women build their character
as man builds a house 70 sell
strictly with q view to its ap-
oearance from the outside. They are
very well satisfied with the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16
WAYS.

tired, I assure you. and you have
your arms full of parcels besides"
While they yet thus contended in
this graceful war of politeness wo-
man of the people came UP behind
Mrs North Door. She was a young
woman, but she had a long. sharp
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16
AN ELECTRIC uMRRELLA.

A manufacturer has recently patent
ed c novelty in umbrellas. He is fixing
a small electric lamp on to the stick Of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-16

ahead, -ena bling him to pick his way
without embracing every fellow pedes-
trian walking in an opposite direction