The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-08

trothal to Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-
Schwerin on Oct. 16 last. She had been
engaged. according to rumor, to host OF
suitors but the real Princes name when
it came out. was something OF a surprise.
The two Dutch Queens had made the ac-
quaintance of the Grand Ducal famlly OF
Mecklenburg- Schwerin at Cannes, nut
Queen Wilhelmina did not actually see
her future husband until she visited Ber-
lin, two years ago. with her mother.
Duke Henry was only a simple captain
in the Prussian Guards, but stood well
in the estimation of Emperor William. a
number of likely candidates for the
Queens hand were to be presented at a
court banquet, from which, Duke henry
had scrupulously resolved to be absent.
The Queen and the Duke however, had
seen each other, they were mutually i'm
pressed, and the Queen would hear OF
no other sutton. She pleaded cold
as excuse for not attending the dinner
where she was to pass in review the as
pirants. The Queens mother, seeing TINS
curtailed the visit to Berlin. All the re-
ports received about the Duke were raw
ora BILE, and the Queen arranged to nave
opportunities for the young people to be-
come better acquainted.
They did not go to the Paris Exposition
but an excursion was planned to Schwarz-
burg. where Duke Henry, who had OBJ
tanned furough got up picnics in PIC
turesque points, walks, rides and drives
When the party broke up the Queen said
TO the Duke, What a happy tour!
never spent such a happy time IN my
life. and ] feel l owe so much to you
correspondence followed, and before
long the Queen summoned her Prime MIN
lister to tell him on whom her choice had
fallen. Her Council, she said, she hoped
would consent to the marriage. The Duke
belonged to the Oldest house in Germany,
the Wends. which had, curiously enough.
given a cadet of it's -Coburg- Gotha
branch as a Prince Consort to another
European monarchy. Political risks there
were almost none, for the Duke Henry
could play no part in German politics.
His career had been honorable, and ne
was beloved in his family circle. when
Won see him." added the Queen, you VIII,
| am sure, be OF opinion that could not
make better choice, whether for my
self or my people"
Henry is four years older than the
Queen. He comes OF stanch Lutheran
house. He was educated entirely by Pas
tors Lander, Kheforth and Welhelme un-
I'll he was sent to the gymnasium at
Dresden. There he boarded with Pro-
lessor Pollatz, to whom he often writes
Latterly he has acquired such famiharl-
~ with the Dutch language that he was
able to address the populations in IT when
he returned to The Hague a week or two
ago. He Is a keen sportsman and has
already raised some agitation among the
thrifty Dutch by suggesting that the
roval forest should be stocked with deer
and other game. He appears to the best
advantage in driving and the royal equip
age Is likely to become a familiar OBJ
iect I'm the neighborhood of the Loo and
The other residences of the Queen. So
strictly are the lines of the Dutch mon
archy laid down that there Is very little
scope for the Duke to exercise any politi-
cal influence.
WiIheImina's Wedding Gown.
A correspondent of an English paper
writes as follows Of Queen WilheImina's
wedding gown:
"The wedding dress of Wilheimina viii
no perhaps. the most magnificent bridal
robe OF modern times. 1t has been de-
signed as IL Is to be finally made up, IN
Paris. and meantime the marvellous EN-
broideries which will constitute one of Its
most notable features are being executed
I'm the Royal School OF Art Needlework In
conjunction with the Rijks Museum at
Amsterdam The institution follows
closely the model Of the similar school at
South Kensngton. and Is directed by
Nine. van Emstede Winkler a lady who
ie practical worker herself She has
selected her eight or nine most highly
skilled students, one of whom. Mrs. Tue
L.aer, is an American by birth. and for
some weeks past the ladies have all been
continuously employed upon their beau
tiful task
"The entire dress itself Is to be of cloth
OF silver so exquisitely supple and fine
an texture that 1t suggests those Indian
muslins of our grandmothers which could
be pulled through a ring. 1t has been
specially woven, and, naturally, at great
cost. The dress will be made up over
the richest white glace silk. and the
bright simmer Of the tissue IL enhanced
thus. The full court train Of two and
half yards on the ground falls from, the
waist and Is surrounded by two broad
bands OF embroidery.
'The general idea OF this IS detached
sprays OF orenge blossoms and their foil
age connected IN artistic style by scrolls
and ribbons. Each cluster OF the flow
ers has "A single fully opened bloom and
Is surrounded by buds more or less de-
veloped Fine seed pearls are being used
Tor these. while the foliage g. Indicated
by silver threads. ln addition to the
pearls 10 fewer than six kinds Of silver
bullion twist arc employed 10 produce the
different effects required, ana most Of the