The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
THE DYING EMPRESS.
Some Interesting characteristics of
Queen Nictoria,s Eldest Daughter.

| The villa Observation-Disclosures although
| sometimes spoken of as palace, it is
| little more than a spacious, honely coun-
| try house-in which the Empress Freder-
| lex lies dying, has some unique features
| even for the home of an Empress. II lies
| empowered in the beautiful beech woods
| of the Taurus. just beyond the quaint,
| struggling little village of Konigstein,
with its magnificent ruin of one of the
strongest feudal castles in Germany. The
house was at one time one of the country
residences of the Dukes of Nassau. The
late duke laid out the beautiful gardens
that stretch far and wide on either side
of the house until they are lost in the en-
croaching forest 1t is a very musical
garden, for the late duke had 500 night
ingales brought from Italy and let them
loose in the grounds.
Empress Frederick has never been a
popular favorite in her adopted country.
AS princess royal of England she was
worshipped, and doubtless a bit spoiled.
She was strong minded, high-spirted,
witty. and audacous. Women Of this
type are not quite approved of in Prussia,
and when, added to these qualities of
heart and mind, the princess displayed
informal, almost democratic tastes and
manners, the stiff Prussian court and the
great Bismarck were scandalized.
The Empress loved simplicity in her
home life, and when pleasuring with her
husband at Wiesbaden or Baden-Baden
(she abhorred Berlin) at his shooting
box in the forest of Si.esia they lived in
almost rustic simplicity. When at the
latter place the Empress looked after the
poultry and visited the primitive peasants
in their homes. herself taking part in all
their simple festivities. In Wiesbaden
one might often see the tall form OF the
Crown Prince, accompanied by his wife,
picking his way among the baskets of the
market women in the square before the
palace Mt Wicsbadeu. and making few
pence worth of purchases. and always eX-
changing = kindly word with the peas
ants. on Sundays the Crown Princess,
with her husband, usually attended the
service al the English church. and so anN-
ious was she to avoid fuss and display
that it was only under pressure that she
would allow 2 seat to be reserved for
her. During these holidays she was fond
Of entertaining at little informal dinner
parties. whert only the minimum of court
etiquette obtained.
Since her short reign-ninety- days
AS Empress she has never taken part in
State ceremonials in Germany but no
movement that had its aim the higher
education and culture of women ever
lacked her support. As such she became
force in the intellectual life of Germany
ana patron of the best in the world of
art and letters. In this respect the En-
press Frederick deserves special respect
from serious minded women. for she is
the only member of the English royal
family who has shown any interest in the
of our sex. The late Queen
and her daughters were the despair of
the women who are working for educa-
tional and industrial reforms. Needle
work and cattle shows We're smiled upon
2rtciously by the royal ladies' but wo-
mems colleges and women's professional
were to them apparently, as |
ii they were unheard of and unknown.