The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-01-30
HOLLANDS FAIR QUEEN
Interesting Details of Wilhel-
mina's Court Life.
PAssIoNATELY LOVES rEEsE AIR.

Never Uses n Closed Carriage. 1t Is
Said. Except at Night - How She
Reprfrranded One OF Her Attend
ants-Etiquette at Court.
Some interesting notes about Queen
Nilhelmina are given III the last mum
Der of Mr.. T. P. O'Connor's Mainly
About People. which is usually relia.
bic. says the New York herald. They
were written at the time of the young
sovereign's illness and before the pub
lication of any of the sensational re-
ports that have been current more re-
Gently.
At that date the people of Holland
were anxiously looking forward to
their young queens first drive. Until
che goes out, they used to say. they
will not feel sure she is better. for her
love of fresh air amounts almost to a
passion. When In health. Queen Will
helmina never under any circum-
stances makes use of closed carriage
except at night No matter whether 1t
IL cold or hot, whether it SHOWS. rains
or storms, she invariably drives about
In an open equipage in full view OF her
subjects She is usually accompanied
by lady in waiting as sole escort.
and. although she is a very warm
hearted woman. yet she is mindful OF
the dignity Of her position.
One day while out driving she met
an officer who happened to be the
brother of her lady in waiting and re-
turned his military salute with most
gracious smile and inclination of the
head. But. noticing that her COM
panion had waved her hand in ia
miliar way to her brother, she frowned
and exclaimed coldly:
81 should be much obliged to you.
my dear -. if you would avoid these
little family effusions when you have
the honor to accompany me-"
True. after she reached home, the
queen endeavored by every means In
her power TO atone for the chasrin to
which she had subjected her attendant
and, among other things. presented her
M1-h very handsome piece Of jewel
ry. 9ut the lady. while restored to ia
vor. Is not likely to forget the lesson
which she then received or ever to
reoder herself again guilty OF such a
breach of etiquette.
The queen. in addition to her private
secretarv's department. has organized
a sort Of private political ckancellery
which is intrusted with the duty Of
making brief explanatory report Of
every document submitted to her for
signature. She absolutely declines to
sign any paper unless she has sort
OF .precis." containing the necessary
Information about the matter for which
be- sign manual Is required. II The
report appears 20 her to be inadequate.
abe saeks for further data. and, IL NEG
essary even summons ministers or ex.
perts to her presence In order to OBJ
tain the fullest kind of explanation.
This Is q lesson which she learned
from the late Queen Victoria. who, It
will be remembered made 1T strict
rule never to sign anything without
having studied it. and no matter how
large the number of documents sub
dhitted to her-they averaged about 200
q day from one years end to the other
--she at no time neglected to observe
this principle.
Before her marriage Queen Will
helmina was in the habit of invariably
taking her meals alone with her moth.
er. but since she became the wife OF
Prince Henry, writes NJ. A. P.'s CORE
spondent the three ladies and the three
gentlemen in waiting invariably lunch
and dine with the royal couple at the
same table. The prince sits opposite
to the queen. just as the Emperor Ma
poleon ILL., and the Empress Eugene
were wont to do. the etiquette in this
respect differing from some Of the old
err courts of Europe. where. in default
Of foreign guests of sovereign rank.
the monarch and consort sit side by
side. While it is the principal digni
taries OF the court who sit sis-a-vis.