The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-21
INTERVIEW WITH QUEEN
AMERICAN REPORTERS REMINIs-
CENCE OF PARIS EXPOSITION.
Queen Alexandra Was Present Incog-
neutrality-suspicious. Made by Her
Majesty.
New York Mail and Express.

All that is just now being written about
the King and Queen of England brings TO
mind a story that has never appeared in
print concerning the visit of the Queen,
then Princess of Wales, to the Paris expo
sition in the summer of 1900.
The writer was in Paris in the interests
of a New York newspaper published in that
city and had the honor of being presented
to the Princess under most agreeable and
informal circumstances, and the impression
left has been a lasting and delightful
one.
II was perfectly well known that the then
Prince of Wales did not honor the expo
sition with his presence, either officially or
as a private individual, and, in fact, none
of the royal family of England was sup
posed to have done so. The princess, how
ever, did make a flying trip TO the French
capital during the height of the season
and spent several days there in strict in
cognito.
Whether IL was perfectly natural femi-
nine curiosity that prompted the visit, or
whether, as was said. 1t was more con-
venient for her Royal Highness to stop on
her way to some resort in order to break
the journey, was not explained. The fact
remains that the visit was made and was
not known in Paris. except to the English
representatives Of the exposition and to
half a dozen American newspaper work.
ers.
The Princess stopped with an old friend
OF hers, a certain French baroness, who
had a simple and unpretentious residence
In the Avenue de Bots. What trips she
made from there were taken in the q~uietest
possible manner, and her only attendant
at all times was a lady in waiting. The
Princess had expressed a desire TO visit the
English exhibit of the exposition. and the
second day or her stay was the time set
aside for this purpose.
For a newspaper representative to be
given an assignment for an interview does
not usually mean much, and in Paris that
season to be assigned to interview royalty
was nothing very remarkable. There were
their Majesties" King Leopold of Belgium
and the King and Queen of Italy, the Shah
OF Persia, the Crown Prince of Siam, the
infanta Eulalia, and any number of royal
highnesses, princesses and the like. Nearly
all served their turn In the columns of the
press, with a greater or less degree of sue
cess. But to be told to get a story from
the future Queen of England seemed a diff
ferent matter.
INSPECTION MORNING.
The time chosen by the Princess of Wales
for the inspection Of the English exhibits
was the morning from 10 until IL o'clock,
and before and during these hours the
building was closed to the public. AS this
was N4tNA QOhC III IL III DulluAA
little was thought of it by outsiders. AS
the newspaper representatives and others,
some twenty persons in all, waited for the
arrival of her Riyal Highness, it was, in
the case Of one at least, with a great deal
Of curiosity, not unmixed with trepidation.
She drove up most unoStentatiously in an
unpretentious brougham, with only her
companion as an escort. At the steps she
was met by the head of the British COM
mission. and by him escorted into the build
ing. The usual formality of the red velvet
carpet was upon this occasion dispensed
With, and her arrival was made so quietly
that even the few persons in the exposition
grounds never dreamed that so distin-
guished a visitor was present.
Once inside, the necessary introductions
were made, but as quickly n as simply
as possible, and to all of them the Prin-
cess responded with a smile and a word
of greeting.
The first impression made upon one was
that OF a woman slightly above medium
height, and with the figure and carriage
of a girl of twenty. Unlike the majority
of English women. the present queen holds
herself beautifully. Her shoulders are
straight; her eyes were expressive with
finely penciled and arched brows. She
wore her hair in the regulation style, with
an deliberately frizzled and absolutely un.
naturai-looking mass brought well dowr
make any woman look hideous unless ma.
ture has been unusually kind.
Upon this occasion the Princess wa.
chidA1y oiCSScu dHQ III the latest mode
The day was warm, and her gown of black
foulard spotted in white was absolutel,
appropriate: There were touches of white
lace upon the ioose-ftting blouse, and the
hang OF the skirt and the sweep of the
train were absolutely correct. Her hat wa:
a round affair, after the fashion of 3
trimmed sailor, and was worn tilted wei
over the face. A black veil heavily dotted
loosely-fitting white suede gloves and {
bright scarlet sunshade completed tn,
toilet.
USED COMPLEXION AIDS.
The princess did not disdain to assist ma
ture a bit in the way of complexion, and
touch of carmine on the lips and a fain
tint of pink on the cheeks lent an air O
such youth as to be magical.
The manner of the princess was gay
vivacious and entirely lacking in self-con
seriousness. Her interest in people an,
things was quick, keen and direct. Whel
told that the writer was there in the in
terests of a newspaper she said at once
y course, you are an American" an,
l vii you not walk around with me an,
: talk, while we look at some of the ex
hibits?' On the tour of inspection it wa
. she who talked, and on a variety of sub
l jects. She asked several questions abou
womens work on newspapers in America
! and said she had met some writer's 70
I great dailies in that country.
, They have all been very agreeable" sh
said. land l have been told they usuall
! say nice things about me-"
She then asked If the work was easy an
agreeable for a woman, and Il hope IL pay
you well" she said by way of finish.
Then the conversation veered. and. WON
: anlike, the princess could not resist tn
] subject of clothes. She inquired il tn
smart women attending the expositio
i were not beautifully dressed, and said
. was a real joy to her simply to be I'm Pari
and watch the charming looking wome
n one met. They have all such style. the
are so chic" she said; I'VE do not see il i
London"
One noticeable characteristic of the prin
cess was the fact that she never laughed
and only seldom smiled, and that was
mere ghost of what might be called
smile. Gay and bright she seemed. but ur
smiling, which perhaps gives a slight al
Of melancholy to her face.
The visit came TO an end all too soon ar
the farewells were said with Just as. littl
formality as the greetings. The princes
stopped a moment by the writer and sait
II am afraid / must spoil your story. b,
cause this is a lark and nobody is to kno'
/ am paying a visit here. However. SON
other time perhaps you may write abo,
d me-" She gave a gentle smile to the con
t, pany. stepped into her carriage with N
light movement of a girl. and In a momer
was whirled away and ont of the prorrpd