The Washington times., 1902-08-24
King Edwards Favorite Sis
ter, Louise, the Duchess Of
Argyll, and Her Great In
terest in All Philantrophic
Works = Although Child
less She Is Devoted to the
Betterrnent of the General
Conditionof Children The
Retiring Disposition Of Mrs.
Chamberlain riunph of
Mrs. .Chetwynd- Revival of
Velvet Dresses. - It Il

r oNDoN, Aug. 23.-King Edwards s
favorite sister. Louise. Duchess
IL Of Argyll, has come to the front
lately with her characteristic
interest in philanthropy. The interna-
tionai congress for the welfare and pro-
lection of children held in London last
month, and in which delegates from the
United States took prominent parts, en-
listed the cordial support of Princess
Louise, and through her, of the King.
When the princess wrote to the commit
tee that was arranging the congress
tnat she would be its patron. she de-
lighted its promoters by expressing also
her royal brothers willingness to allow
his name to be used with hers, as spon-
sor for the gathering
Princess Louise acts with her brother
frequently. The two are close friends,
and the King is said TO like particular
ly this sisters transformations life ana
bearing. So fond of haing private per-
son is Princess Louise, that for fifteen
years she has not given her photograph
10 be published. The one printed here
with appears for the first time.
Childless Lover of Children.
Princess Louise is. perfectly at home
with people who are devoting them
selves to helping little children, which
is all more notable from the fact that
she has zone of her own. Hospitals for
-,
admitted, however, that she is 4 lady or
many hobbies, for she is an artist, both
sculptor and illustrator, an omnivorous
reader. frequently a traveller incognito.
a curio collector. a bargain hunter, is
ceft With her needle and can cook.
Queen Victoria's journal contains num-
erous references TO the versatility of
her daughter louise, and the English
certainly recognize ia her the handsom-
est, rs we'll as the cleverest, of the
late Queens girls.
Princess Louise learned with pleasure
CT the progress made in the oral system
for teaching deaf children in America as
compared with the sign method. Her
royal highness considers the o-al meth
cd a remarkable development, and hopes
for its further adoption in England.
Retiring Mrs. Chamberlain.
The unassuming Princess Louise has
a close second for excessive modesty in
the wife of the Colonial Secretary, Mr..
Chamberlain. When, as Miss Mary En-
dicott, the present Mrs. Chamberlain
loft har American homo m live in Eng
land, it was thought she would make
great splurge socially. On the contrary,
she is by choice seldom heard of. She
has the reputation among English peo-
pie of being very retiring The enter
taipments given at the. Chamberlain
town house and at Highbury, Birming-
ham, where are the wonderful and fam
tary's heart, lack political significance
Mrs. Chamberlain Lives private" to use
the expression of a certain vulgar Gin
cinnatian who was refusing certain wed
ding details to an unoffending newspaper
woman. Mrs. Chamberlain has never
been interviewed, and the only one of
her photographs published is the copy of
the wellknown painting.
Those who know Mrs. Chamberlain
are of the opinion that, had she her way,
society would not claim her attention
even so much as it does.
The affection existing between the
colonial secretary and his American wife
is deep. They are rarely seen apart, |
and when the right honorable gentleman
was hurt recently in a cab accident, Mrs. |
Chamberlain gave up all duties 10 act |
as her husbands nurse. She is much !
attached TO her stepchildren. of whom |
there are two sets-Austin Chamber |
lain, the younger member of Parliament, |
the secretaTy's son by his first wife; |
Neville Chamberlain. and his four sis |
ters, the children Of second wife,
There is a story to the effect that 1t |
was Austin Chamberlain who first court
ed the beautiful American girl, and
that it was he who introduced Miss /
Endicott to his father. Be that as II
may. the young man and his step
mother are excellent friends He is
unmarried and still lives in his fathers
house. The colonial secretary, hap
pening to mention his son in the Com
mons one day. laughingly referred to
him as My lodger." and the title caught
on among friends of the family II