The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-19
ROYAL WOMEN
STAGE-STRUCK
Queen Alexandra Wanted to
Become a Popular
Actress.

The great fascination which the stage
has for all classes of people is UNI
doubtedly one of the most peculiar
features of the theatrical profession,
The ambitions of not a few present.
day celebrities have at some time in
their lives turned towards the NAV
mousse and there are quite a number of
royal personages who, had they been
OF more humble birth, would probably
nave tried to win histrionic honors.
A notable example is the case of Eng
lands present queen, who, MANY readers
Will doubtless be surprised to learn.
did not escape being stage struck when
growing into womanhood. Her maies-
tvs greatest ambition when a girl was
TO become a popular actress. All her
spare time was spent in studying act
ing and practicing it with her two row.
al sisters, in theatricals they Jointly
arranged. In fact, to such an alarm
ing extent did the passion absorb the
three sisters that at last their mother
the queen had to forbid them taking
part in any theatricals at ali.
Queen Alexandra's passion for the
stage was evidently inherited by her
daughter. Princess Maud, now, of
course, Princess Charles of Denmark.
whose chief delight previous to her
marriage was to orga nize amateur per
formances at Sandringham The king
always took the keenest interest in am
ateur theatricals, and consequently
Princess Maud performed several times
before her royal father. On these oc-
casions she showed remarkable talent
as an actress, which would undoubtedly
have won much success for her on the
professional stage.
AT one time the stage fever obtained
a very great hold upon Princess Bea-
trice princess Henry of Battenberg),
who would probably have liked much
greater scope for her marked ability as
an actress than was afforded by the
rather rigid regime of the late court,
Probably her royal higness' most nota-
bic performance was in January, 1893,
when she took part, together with the
Marchioness of Lorne. in Oliver Gold
smiths comedy, "She Stops to Con-
quer."
The. performance took place before
Queen Victoria in the India room at
Osborne, which had been transformed
for the occasion into a theater Prin-
cess Beatrice took the part of Miss
Neville, While her royal sister gave an
excellent performance in the character
of Miss Hardcastle. The Marquis Of
Lorne, by the by, also took part in the
performance, and gave a faithful i'm
personation of Tom Tickle.
1t is doubtful, however, if any royal
lady mas exhibited her passion for the
stage In such a marked degree as the
Grand Duchess Serge, of Russia. the
eldest sister Of the czarina The duch-
ess possesses many accomplishments
amongst which is a great talent for
acting. Her salon is one of the most
brilliant in Europe, and private the
atrlcals, often for charitable purposes,
are the leading feature of the seasons
pleasures Apropos of the duchess abil-
1ty behind the foctlights the following
remarkable story is told:
A few winters ago a famous actress.
with whom the duchess was particular
~ friendly, was playing at one of the
moscow theaters, and one evening was
suddenly taken i'll a few minutes be-
fore the beginning of the performance.
It was absolutely impossible for the
actress TO appear and the management
was in despair. AT that moment the
Grand Duchess Serge arrived and was
told of her friends illness, and that
there would be no performance that
evening.
Fastening to the stage she visited
her friend, and after brief consul
tatton announced her readiness to take
the leading part upon the manager
pledging himself that herfdentity should
be concealed. Needless to say, this was
done, and the result was that the audi
ence went away perfectly satisfied with
the evenings performance without be-
ing made aware Of the exalted posi-
ton of the famous actress understudy.
study.
Singularly enough, the brother of the
Grand Duchess Serge, the grand duke
OF Hesse, possesses a great passion for
the stage, and has often acted with
his sister in amateur theatricals at
the New Palace, Darmstadt. The duke
is of particularly artistic nature, and
much prefers music, dancing and act
ing to more active pursuits.
Queen Wilhelmina, of Holland, often
confessed that if she were obliged to
choose a profession it would be that
Of an actress. Like Princess Charles
of Denmark, the queen of Holland took
the greatest delight in amateur the
atricals before her marriage, and q few
years ago had a perfect little theater
built for her own use at Loo, where
the royal palace is situated. Here
plays were performed under her direc-
ton, with herself and friends in the
leading roles.