The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

childhood, and was reared in a thoroughly
domestic manner by her wise and clever
mother. who was also very artistic and &C
compished The Guile Palais was filled
with her paintings and embroideries. The
young princess was strictly and system
atically educated along with her brothers
and sisters-Frederick (crown prince OF
Denmark. Dagmar (dowager Empress of
RUSSIA, George (King of Greece, Thyra
Duchess of Cumberland) and Prince Val
demar who married Princess Marie of
Orleans and to-day occupies the old Guile
Palais. Masters for special studies at
tended daily at the palais to instruct the
young people, and all studies were super
vised by the parents. Alexandra, with her
eyes OF deep Scandinavian blue, glossy
brown hair and brilliant complexion, was
the Acknowledged beauty of the family.
and early showed a taste for personal
adornment. The story is told that the
music master one day gave ring-a mere
toy ornament of no value-to the little
Alexandra, and for the succeeding days
she was discovered by her brothers and
sisters trying it on her pretty hand in quiet
corners, and was well leased for this bit
of vanity.
The ever-youthful grace and beauty of
our beloved Queen are largely attributable
to the natural training of her youth. She
was not pampered by luxury. and her SOL
der father insisted that his daughters
should share the gymnastic exercises OF
their brothers, be equally well trained in
the saddle and have large share of out
door exercise in the early morning. We
may picture the young princess passing her
early years between the Guile Palais, Copen-
hagen. and her fathers country house OF
Bernstorf, seven miles distant, on the
sound. I have seldom seen a more beautiful
spot than this childhood's home of Queen
Alexandra, and to which she yet returns
year after year. 1t is white chateau, en-
powered in woods and having a deer park
adjacent. There as a girl, she galloped
about on her pony, boated, picnicked in the
woods and lived a merry, happy outdoor
life She was early trained to deeds of
charity amongst the people of the neighbor-
ing village Of Gjentofiie-which struck me
as very Observation-Disclosures attended the
rustic church without formality each Sun
day. She was piously reared in the Luther
an Protestant faith, and at the age of six
teen was confirmed along with her eldest
brother, in the presence Of the royal family,
at the Chapel Royal (Slotskrken). Copen-
hagen, by Pastor Paulli.
Her life was varied by visits to the pal
ace of Rumpenheim, near Frankfort, the
old seat of her mothers family, and where,
amongst other Hessian cousins, she fire.
quently met Princess Mary of Cambridge
dhe late Duchess of Teck), and began a
a cd
union of their respective children. There
was practically no court life in Copenhagen
during the Queens girlhood, owing to the
mesalliance of the then reigning King Fred
erick VII with the Countess Danner, and
the little experience which she had of the
kind was gained in occasional visits to the
Belgian court. She had only reached the
age of seventeen when the meeting with
the Prince of Wales took place
BETROTHAL AND MARRIAGE.
The courtship, begun so auspiciousy in
the autumn of 1861, was clouded by the
death of the prince consort in the following
December, and the sorrowing Queen could
not enter into marriage arrangements for
her son, who now proceeded on an educative
tour to the Holy Land under the guidance
of Dr-afterwards Dean-Stanley. After the
return of the Prince of Wales he Joined his
mother, who was visiting on the continent;
and at the palace of Laeken, near Brussels,
he was formally betrothed to the Princess
Alexandra i'm the presence of Queen Vic
toria. Leopold 1 of Belgium. and the par
ents of the intended bride. Sept. 9, 1862.
The news of the betrothal was received in
this country with universal delight, and the
sentiments expressed privately by Lady
Palmerston convey the feeling of many peo-
pie at the time. II like the idea of Dan
ish connection" she wrote: 1--WE have had
too much of Germany and Berlin and Co.
burgs, and this is returning to our old
friends and a few honest people" Lord
Palmerston was then prime minister, and
made the interesting announcement o: the
approaching nuptials to Parliament.
There are doubtless many people who
might be lacking in memory if suddenly
asked the date of their own marriage, but
there are few, we fancy, who cannot give
on the instant the date of the marriage of
our King and Queen. That memorable
March TO- 1863, has sunk deep into the ma
TONS mind and heart. The bride, accom-
panied by her parents and all her brothers
and sisters, left Copenhagen, followed by
the affectionate good wishes of her COM
patriots, and after a brief visit to the Bel
gian court embarked for England in the
Victoria and Albert. despatched to meet
her. and. escorted by a hotilla of British
men-of-war, crossed the channel-truly a
sea-king's daughter magnifcently at
tended
A MEMORABLE SCENE.
Early on the morning of March the
booming of guns greeted her entry into
Margate Roads, and few hours later peo-
pie in boats on steamers and standing in
| crowds about the pier gave true British
| cheers for Denmark's daughter as she stood
in a simple white frock on deck beside her
mother. looking pleased, yet timid at the
uproarious welcome accorded her. The
| prince steamed out in his yatcht and. GO
ing on board the Victoria and Albert
| greeted his bride with a lovers kiss ere he
| conducted her on shore. A bevy of fair
maidens strewed flowers on their path,
while the pier was festooned with orange
| blossoms. The princess wore long cloak
| of purple velvet bordered with sable, and
| her fair face looked archly out Of a white
poke bonnet trimmed with rosebuds. From
| Gravesend the royal party proceeded by
| train to the Bricklayers' Arms Station
where a halt was made for luncheon; and
! then. entering open carriages, they began