Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-10-31
THE fADS OF QUEENS.
Most Royal Ladies Have Their Pet
Hobbies.
MANY of Their FanCies are Interesting and
Uniaue.--Some Have Serious Vacations.

lvIOlIy vi ulIOI WV s''s0'S
Uuiaue.--Some Have Serious Vacations.
To know people is a hobby of great
er necessity than to the wives OF reign
ing sovereigns, whose circumscrloed
lives render it absolutely necessary for
them to have some private engrosslng
interest.
Queen Alexandra has numerous IN
terests, but her special fad is said to De
photography. She possesses most IN
teresting collection of photographs
taken by herself. OF the members OF her
family, her favorite dogs and horses
her chickens, and of pretty country
scenes. Among the valuable posses
sions of the queen is set OF china
which is ornamented by her own photo
graphs of various scenes which nave
pleasant memories for her, and on
other china are pictures of the men,
bers of her family and of dear friends.
The queen has many other interests,
not the least of which Is her pattern
dairy at Sandringham, for she thor
oughly understands the working OF
dairy and is herself able to make ex
ceIlent butter. Her dogs and horses
give her immense pleasure, for she Is
devoted to animals of all kinds. "A
fayorite recreation of hers is cycling.
an exercise which of late has been
somewhat put aside for the superior
pleasure of driving a motor car.
HAS THE MIMETIC FACULTY.
A great deal has been written about
the young Empress of Russia, but little
is known Of her real character, except
that she is a devoted wife and mother
and somewhat reserved to the outside
world. Her majesty has many plea
sures in her private life, most OF when
are shared by her husband. Her hobpy
is-said to be caricaturing and collect
ling caricatures. The empress Is
clever mimic, and has the ready talent
of catching likeness and transmit
ing it to paper. so that even those VINO
are most caricatured cannot but laugh
at the good -natured way in which
their peculiarities are taken Off.
1t is not every one who is allowed to
lpeep into the portfolio of the czaretza.
The czar finds this talent of his wife
Ian unfalling amusement and he him
lself is not exempted, for the empress
Ihas done many a funny sketch OF hel
lord and master. and has managed &c
hit off certain characteristics OF his IL
a clever manner.
The Queen Dowager of SaxonY Ii
known far and wide for her charitable
life. and for her unselfshness ano
Thought for others. Her majesty has
many private interests and occupa
tions, and perhaps the nearest approach
to a hobby is the ardent interest sh'
takes in children of all classes. I'M
schools, orphanages, homes and santa
RUNS which have been founded by
or through her initiative are numerou
lin Saxony. The education and train
ing of children are subjects OF Whlc
the queen never tires of speaking, an
to which she has devoted a great par
of her life. She is greatly beloved b
her people, and she has done untoi
GOOD during her reign.
PHOTOGRAPHY HER HOBBY.
Like Queen Alexandra, the Germa
Empress hobby is photography. lie
collection of pictures is unique al
comprises every kind of scene; beaut
full views and curious people she MI
on her eastern travels; portraits OF D.
children. of her husband and other rel
tiens: pictures of her children's pet
and a collection of photographs OF tt
game killed by the Kaiser at HuDertu
stock and Romingthen. Her chlldr
Hook upon their mother as a Wond'
full being, and every time they recel
a new pet the first thought is to a
- mamma to photograph it. The pho
q graphs taken by the Empress durl
c her Journey to the Holy Land were
q hibited with magic lantern FOL
q charity after her return home.
Nl The favorite amusementS OF @9ue
q Wilhelmina are skating and rldl
= hut as a child her hobby was the ke
e ing of poultry. Her Majesty is de'
& ed to animals, and is averse TO sp'
y as she cannot bear to think OF the
e mails in her preserves being slaugh'
* led. Her husband, however, shoot
= much as he likes; but formerly, W
Slthe preserves we're shot oyer, the Qu
x never appeared or showed that
= took the slightest interest in the sp
Wilbelmina is beautiful needle
x man. and fond of painting, but sh
mot in the least musical.
e1l FOLLOWS RELIGION.
SI 1t may perhaps be hardly corre'
K lcall religion a hobby, but 1t is the
relaxation allowed to herself by
SlOueen of Norway and Sweden, ant
* one real interest that she has ou
her family and public life. Her
s. iesty is deeply and honestly relig
< and during her long life has de-
2levery moment that she could spa
Slforwarding the cause of religion i
x 3countries over which her husband
, y She belongs to the strictly evang
Slparty, and when in England was
q cially attracted by the work dol
the Low Church. She is grea