The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-14
Aged Monarch Reads Much, but
Seldom Plays Cards,
THE ONLY AMERICAN DUCHESS
She OF the House Of MARLBOROUGH v.rv
Much Given to Works of Char.
''Y-The Illness of ths
Czarina.
(BY PAUL LAMBETH,

- MI LAMPETH.l
sopeoiai odoie 20 Inc Times. Copyright.
LONDON. December 1a-The venerable
emperor OF austria, who has been s,Itne
for month past, is now which better
He is an assiduous reader, BIZ. ra-s,v
plays cards.
Most European sovereigrs are card plav-
ers. King Edward, Of England, ia do.
voted to bridge whist and now and them
plays poker.
The King of Italy, however. like hi.
rather, has a horror of cards and doesn..
permit his courtiers to play. The Queen
Regent OF Spain long ago forbade all
forms OF card Playing at the Spanish
court
The King Of Portugal frowns on card
gambling. and only last week the polca
of Lisbon raided half a dozen aristocratto
CLUBS and arrested everybody found play
ing cards fos money.
The German Emperor plays cards onry
when on his Eacht There, it Is said h.
plays bridge and poker for heavy stakes,
fe doesn't. however, couutenance card
playing III Berlin, and is said to maintain
report any OF his high officers who
gamble
The Car Of Russia plays cards occa-
sional's, but finds it difficult to concen-
trate his mind on any game
King Leopold. OF Belgium, is one Of tn.
best poker players in Europe mild
game of euehre enables the age q King
OF Denmark to while svay wintsr'z
evening.
sour Duchess"
The Duchess OF Marlborough. the on,v
American Duchess in England is devoted
to'charitable enterprises. and the poor Of
rhe villages that cluster about historic
Bicnheim Palace have frequent reason
to bless the pretty American Duchess for
her henefsctiaas.
Only. the other day the Duchess vas
foremost In making successful a charity
ball held in the Oxford town hall, at
which gathered all the titled people ef
the neiGhnorhood. The Duchess danced
mefrily all the evening
One dance was spoiled bacaus the Ouch
eSs' long, clingins satin train wound It
self around her partners legs much to his
crn ba rraSsment.
The couple had to leave the ballroom,
in order that her partner might be re-
leased from the imprisening trail
The couple made their way cut OF tina
only by series Of undignified
REPS, the Duchess laughing gayIy. while
fler partner was as red and embarrassed
as q gobbef on the eve OF Thanksgiving
Dag
1ke Duchess is said to have recovered
from the affection of the ear thai threat
ansG her with deafness and which caused
her to make the long journey to Vienna
50 consult an ear specialist.
Iiress OF III Czarina-
The Czarua OF Russia, whose Illness is
of such nature that the cenSors will not
permit kilograms that mention il TO hs
sent to newspapers. practically is an Eng
shwoman, for she was raised in tha
Court of England under Queen Victaria's
eye.
She was so precocious child that thu
oval family nioknamed her Cheeky
ma it is said the nama sticks to her
It'll
This is the way, it is related IN which
he acquired the rather unusual nickname:
lEe day Queen Victoria was discoursius.
THEORETICALLY en- her disapproval of wild
us marrying q second time.
lit should be Illegal said Her Majesty
terniy, for widows to marry gain
Why. grandmamna," said the little
Xix. .'if one widow had not married
gain you would not be heret''
The Queen had forgotten fas the moment
list her mother. the Duchess Of Kent. had
eeI. a widow when she married the Duke
1t is said the Queen was stricken dumb
Of once in her life, while the King. then
riuce OF Wales. was obliged TO hurry
Ut OF the room in fits Of explosive laugh
ar.
Ever after he called his naughty little
iece ::Cheeky.''