Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-24
Letters of a Diplomats Wife.

The diplomats wife is Madame Wad-
dington. Her husband. William Henry
Waddington, who died in 1894 was of
English descent, born in France. educated
in part at Cambridge. England. where
he rowed in the Cambridge crew. in one
of the big oxford Cambridge boat races
Entering public life he won high dis
tinction as member Of the National
Assembly of France, senator, minister
of public instruction and later of foreign
fairs, premier, ambassador extraordi-
nary TO Russia and ambassador to the
Court of St. James. His wife, the writer
of these most entertaining letters, was
Mary A. King, an American girl, daugh-
ter of President Charles King of Column
bia college. New York, and granddaugh-
ter of Rufus King, who was the United
States minister to England soon after
the adoption of the constitution of the
United States. After her fathers death
she went to live in France with her
mother and sisters, and there met and
married Monsieur Waddngton.
Most of the letters were written to her
sisters. Gertrude who was the wife of
| Eugene Schuyler (who was secretary Of
legation at St. Petersburgh. and at
Cons tantinorle. United States minister
to Greece, and consul-general at Moscow
and Cairo, Egypt and the Misses Henri
eta and Anne King. They are the let
ters of an exceedingly bright American
woman, moving in but not spoiled
Of high life in European courts, possessed
of an observant eye, and gift of vivid
description and setting down in familiar
correspondence the things she saw, and
the impressions made upon her by men
and women of rank and high distinction
in court and camp and hall, across the
Atlantic.
The first part of the handsome volume
in which her letters are given TO the
public, is devoted to her experiences in
Russia in the summer of 1883. when NJ.
Washington represented his government
at the cornoraton of the Car Alex
ander III, and we do not know where
a better idea of the gorgeous displays
and festivities, attending such an event,
can be obtained, than from these letters.
band was the French ambassador there,
covered the period during which our late
townsman, Hon. Z. ]. Phelps, was United
States minister at the Court of st. James.
and she makes repeated mention of Mr..
; ana Mrs. Phelps in her letters. In one,
written soon after Mr.. Phelps arrival
in London, she asks; do you know any
| raI] rcyfr lie
ious to have your opinion? He says yot
ought to know about Vermont man
: He Phelps) will have a difficult sue
| cession'. Mr.. Lowell is much liked ant
admired. She came to know wei
> and much admire both Mr. and Mrs
l Phelps. Describing a visit to Windsor
Castle, upon invitation of Queen Vic
tora, she says: THE party was a small
one--no other diplomats but Mr.. and Mrs
n Phelps, both charming, Washington tool
$ Princess Beatrice into the dining room
n and Mr. Phelps me. so I was quite happy
; Mr.. Phelps says Amer
e can women are not made for courts
f and convenances. They lose all thei
e charm IL not natural, and I think he /!
i right" In another letter there is a de
e scription of the great State Jubilee cele
d bration of the fftieth anniversary of thu
coronation of Queen Victoria, at West
s minister Abbey. Madame Waddingto
e and Mrs Phelps attended this grand func
n ton together, and by applying (agains
# the remonstrances of their husbands) t.
y the Duke of Cambridge, commander o
e the army, and Sir Charles Warren chic
o OF police, obtained special passes throug
l. the lines of troops and policemen I
N guard them through the crowds, and s
y had much better views OF the royal cor
j. tege and the parade than their husband
lie did. For this and many other most en
ia PERTAINING descriptions of great OCCASION
l. and splendid palaces, and distinguish
l. people. and fine dresses we must refe
RS our readers to the printed volume.
* 1t is book of APO pages, handsomel
f. printed and illustrated by Charles Scrit
lp ners Sons, New York, and Is certainl
L. one of the most vivacious and readabl
+; books Of the year.