The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-21

coronation ring which the archbishop |
OF York places upon Alexandra's finger |
when she receives the crown typifies |
the wedding OF the lady TO the duties. /
responsibilities and privileges OF a
queen consort of England IL is said TO /
be the Identical ring which Henry v.
OF England gave as a betrothal pledge /
10 his beautiful French bride, Cath /
crime OF Valois, a betrothal immortal /
lied by Shakespeare in the inimitable
wooing scene in the play OF Henry ""
Alexandra's coronation mantle Is roy
al purple in color. and neither Napo-
Icons Josephine nor ex-Empress Euge-
ME wore the imperial tinted garment
more bravely than the British queen
consort will wear II. Standing stately
and tall beside her short, stout hus-
band. one can well discern that the
thousands of eyes In the old church will
rest with enthusiastic admiration on
her rather than on him. Perhaps that
will prove some compensation 10 her
for being in the real administration of
Britain only what the figurehead is to
the ship. At any rate no country ever
had lovelier figurehead.
Quite aside from the flattery which
attends royal folk, there is no doubt
that the queen is the most youthful
looking woman for her years of any
lady known to fame. A Danish mid
shipman who saw her Unexpectedly
when she-then aged forty-eight-was
making an informal call on a relative
records in private letter that she was
the loveliest creature he ever beheld
and that nobody could have possibly
taken her TO be over thirty. IL so
much as that Ii is said that next to
the outdoor life and general hardness
OF her youthful bringing up in Den
mark. she owes this ever girlish face to
the arts of an American woman com
plexion specialist. Well, no matter to
whom or TO what she owes IT, we re-
joice in II and thank her for it. There
are hope and announcement in IL for
others of her sex. for IL one woman OF
fifty-eight. even though she be n queen,
can look TO be only thirty-five why not
others?
The queen consort's name, not count
ing that added when she was married,
is Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte
Louise Julia, and she has been almost
able TO live up to IL. An onomancer
says kings and queens are so often in
ferior intellectually because they have
such a weight of name TO carry that It
that Alexandra was able to overcome
the hoodoo OF her awful name through
being born poor and consequently run
ming outdoors in her childhood and
being obliged to do for herself many
things which the daughters OF Ameri-
can millionaires spurn 10 do. even to
the making OF her own gowns. In her
active, merry girlhood, too, she was an
exceedingly clever amateur actress. a
passionate lover of music and a skill
full instrumental performer. Some
years ago she received the degree of
doctor of music. and English society
papers yet recall how beautiful she was
in scholars cap and gown when the
honor was conferred.
All the world knows Alexandra as a
devoted daughter, a good mother and
better wife than Albert Edward some
times deserved. Americans who go
coronationing over the sea carry with
them no warmer hearts. no more sin
cere good wish and will toward Queen
Alexandra than Americans who stay at
home.
To English people she is still the
beautiful woman who came to them
from Denmark March Z. 1868, and TO
whom Tennyson wrote welcome
which Thackeray compared 10 a fam
ing pine tree torch upon a windy head
land
Sea kings daughter from over the sea.
Alexandra,
Saxons and Normans and Danes are we.
But all of us Danes in our welcome OF
thee,
Alexandra,
Welcome her, thunders of fort and OF
fleet;
Welcome her. laundering cheer OF tho
street.
Welcome her, all things youthful and
sweet
Scatter the blossoms under her feet
LILLIAN GRAY.