New-York tribune., 1906-06-30

mas oeen largely influenced by the enthusiasm
"hicn she developed for her feathered favoritea
y. siie Royal Pigeon Racing Stud at sandringham
-He rlseon Derby is very interesting contest and
invariably starts from IerwIck only those rsseons
oens allowed to compete whose homes are over four
unoieo miles from the starting point. The race
cecioeo on the velocity system. The precise
instance OF each loft from the starting point is
measured. and then the time is taken from the
moment that the bird is liberated from Lerwiek TIL
II reaches Its own home A simple calculation gives
lhe number OF yards minute which the bird has
oNn ana the distance. and the prizes go TO those
oiros OF the highest OF velocity Thus Queen
Alexandra has a magnificent bird, which far
holds the record. having accomplished its task at
the rate Of 1907 yards minute the distance being
OF miles
QUEENS ANGI.o-AMERICAN GODCHILDREN
European royalty has Just given another illus
traton OF its indifference 10 questions of and
OF class distinction in the United States Since the
latter. throughout its existence nearly 14o years
has always been a republic, the anointed of the
Lord in the Old World hnd Il difficult understand
that there should be any OF those social ineQuar-
ties which are condemned by the spirit IL not by
the letter of the Constitution. and persist in ignor
ing the prejudices and jealousies of the various
clques OF American fashion in that is
inconcetvable 10 the latter.
Some OF the best American friends OF the Kaiser
and of the English royalties are people who
in no sense belong to the smart sets OF their
tive cities over here King Edward and Queen
Alexandra fer instance. have an American friend
who halls from Boston who is often their guest at
Sandringham, and yet who belongs TO neither the
Somerset nor the Union there. while Princess
Christians closest American friend. with whom
she frequently corresponds Is q New York woman
who is entirely ignored by the so-caled -Four
Hundred.
Thus Queen Alexandra is not much given TO &C
ceding TO requests assume the duties of sponsor
shit han fSr,S hefr1 -~,Se eyfF
sve. Yet the only two >nstances where she has
/ consented to become godmother to children born
( Of Anglo-American marriages have been cases
where the mothers Of the infants cannot be said
hare figured in the most fashionable society over
here. One OF Queen Alexandra's Anglo-American
godchidren is the little of the young Duchess
of Manchester. who Miss Helen Zimmerman
Of Cincinnati while the other infant thus favored
is the little boy Of Mrs. George Montagu' who was
Miss Alberta Sturgis stepdaughter OF Francis
Ieggett the wealthy and much respected whole
sale grocer of New York
Queen Alexandras willingness to become sponsor
for Mrs. George Montagus little boy, who Is des-
tined one day TO succeed 20 the earldom of Sand
wich, is by reason of her respect for the mem
ory Of the gallant and chivalrous Colonel Oliver
Montagu, a younge" brother OF Lord Sandwich and
uncle OF young George Montagu. Oliver Mon
tag may be said 70 have fairly worshipped the
g. troiden by Queen Alexandra, and she in
! tu- entertained the warmest friendship for him.
according him her fullest confidence and appre
cisting in its loftest sense the chivalrous, high
minded nature of his devotion for her. Indeed
there few names that held in more kindly
and affectionate memory by King Edward, by his
and daughters. and in particular by Queen
Alexandra, than that of Oliver Montagu. He died
about ten years ago. nowhere more deeply mourned
than at Sandringham. That IS why the Queen
! consented 10 act as godmother TO his nephew's IN
FAINT when he christened the other day in
the Faith Chapel of Westminster Abbey.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.