The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-25
SOVEREIGN AT HEAD
Edward Is Leader of Society
in Practice.
IT is SOMETHING NEW
Queen Victoria's Mourning
Always Retired Her.

London, Oct 24-The actual head OF
English society is the sovereign. DurLng
the lifetime of Queen Victoria this was
| true only in theory, a sthe long seclusion
| OF the late good Queen since the loss OF
the beloved husband she lamented for so
many years plunged the whole English
royal family into gloom and mourning to
such an extent that every grade of smart
! society was more or less depressed and
! dull
| Now things, from a Social standpoint
have changed in every respect for the bet
! ter. There is at last an actual leader of
English society. King Edward is doing
his full share Of social entertainment to
an extent that has been unknown in Eng
| land for many decades, and Queen Alex
andra is doing her share as well, and has
at last thrown OF the mantle of sorrow
that threatened to envelop her. The en-
tertaining is done by the sisters OF King
Edward during the last year was also
considerable.
The most amazing hostess OF all the
royal family. perhaps. is Princess Bea-
trice, the widow of handsome Prince
Henry OF Battenberg.
Queen Victeria's aversion to widow re-
marrying was responsible for the Duchess
of Albany refusing TO marry a second
time, although it was known tlrat dis
tinguished English nobleman for some
time aspired 10 her royal. hand. Princess
Beatrice was no longer very young when
she married the handsomest OF all the
handsome Battenbergs,' but the few
years Of her brief married felicity made
her widow still carly in life. Her mourn
for Prince Henry was long and sorrow-
full, but she would have emerged sooner
from the gloom that enshrouded her life
for so many years had she been less the
principal companion of her aged mother
during her early widowhood and been al |
lowed to follow the natural bent of her |
years, Cor of all the children of the late |
Queen there are none that seemingly love |
the pleasant things of this world more |
than her eldest son and her youngest |
daughter
When Princess eBatrice gave a dinner /
part ythe other night followed by a
charming ball. at her pretty home in the |
Isle of Wight, the neighbors who had /
known her since childhood among the |
smart colony of English people who re- |
side most Of the year near Osborne were
greatly surprised at receiving their invi-
tations. I am told that Princess Beatrice
not only appeared with charming distin-
ton at her first ball as a hostess. but she
was particularly gracious and friendly to |
every one. She is far more attractive
than some OF the younger members OF the
royal family in manner and appearance,
prone to stoutness. like Princess
Christian, her eldest sister no wiiving
and also of late the dispenser of consid-
cradle hospitality at her new, beautiful
town house in Pail Mall
The most attractive Of King Edwards
sisters in appearance and manner is Prin-
cess Louise, otherwise the Duchess OF Ar
gyll, whose London residence is Kenslng-
ton Palace. where her youneeste sister,
Princess cBatrice, has also had willed 10
her for life a suite Of spacious apart
ments. Princess Louise has never acted
as hostess TO any great extent, and even
since the accession Of her husband as the
sixth Duke OF Argyll (who has nearly
iozen other hereditary titles In addition.
and innumerable posts that increase his
ncome), the expenditure Of Princess Lou
Sc for purely social hospitality is very
United both in London and at her Scot
and seats.