New-York tribune., 1906-11-03

This is OF the pleasantly written biog-
-,nhies % the preparation OF which many fem
,,tne authors in the last decade have turned
With zest Done without any profound research.
with easy rehearsal OF the more obvious phases
q, the political history OF a given period, these
st,r have certain value-they offer suggestive
,,,ctures of past times to women who mostly
-aad novels and who might not be tempted to
historical study by anything more substantial
,ban such brief sketches of character and Of
dramatic experience.
The author of this volume has sought to make
rlatn the projections Of that good and lovable
woman Louise of Prussia. 1t is a conventional
nortrait painted with the usual little feminine
touches The story Of Queen Louise is not
long one, for she died at the age of thirty-four,
end until the shadow Of Napoleon darkened
over Prussia her life was a comparatively happy
one This Mecklenburg princess. the niece of
nrim Charlotte. Queen of England. was born in
the gloomy Hanoverian palace wherein K0nigs-
,narck had been murdered. However tragic the
associations OF her first dwelling place, there
was nothing but joyousness in the nature of
Prince Charless little girl She was charming
incarnation Of spring, with an apple-blossom
face and fair hair that seemed to gather the
sunshine. She brought up in an atmosphere
Of simplicity and affection unusual in the eigh
teenth century. and was, at sixteen. natural,
bltthe and intelligent maiden with n nearly
taste for dancing. There is pretty story Of her
failure 10 be ready at the time appointed by her
grandmother 10 take her to a ball Not ready
The indignant old princess climbed into her car
riage and drove off without the cuprit. This
did not trouble the young Louise-she gathered
IN her silkep skirts, dashed past the palace
gentry and, running down the street reached
the ballroom IN time to enter with irate Grand
mamma. If she loved dancing, she also loved
hooks and had a habit of thinking for herse!f
Her relatives. proud of her prettness. her sweet
ness and her cIeverness cast about for Prince
Charming. If only the impressionable king OF
Prussia could her, they thought that ne
oould desire no other daughter-in-law The
meeting took place soon after the celebration or
her seventeenth birthday and Frederick Will
lam II found Louise and her younger sister
Frederica as beautiful angels" Il was so
overcome with admiration he wrote to Berlin.
that hardly knew what I doing or saying
when their grandmother presented them to me.
I only wished that my sons could see them and
fall in love with them. Next day, however, the
young people were introduced at ball The
princes were simply fascinated. AS far
as I can judge the two angels are as good as
they are beautiful. When we found that the
princes were very much in love, we just settled
the matter cut of hand. The princesses gave
their consent. and the betrothal will take place
In due course"
Louise had twice the strength Of character
that her young lord possessed. and from the 11rst
she tried 10 instiH in him courage and self-con-
hdence "You are upright in character, she
wrote to him You are truthful and no fat
terer. These qualities have an ineXpreSslole
valuo for me. Thanks to them. We know just
where we are at once. without any needless cir
cunlocutIon." In the summer of 1893 the girl
and the boy wandered together beside the Rhine
and the bright Louise strove 10 cheer the dull
heavy well meaning Frederick William. 1t was
typical Of their whole married life. She would
have made far more competent, responsible
sovereign than he. AS far she could she in
spired him wise and right political action;
she better judge of men than was he; and
her tact her courtesy and her ready responsive
ness did much to cover his deficiencies after
they came TO the throne. What she in
those days before misfortune fell upon her is
shown in a private letter written by the British
Ambassador, Sir George Jackson In society,
amongst the younger men, especially. there pre-
walls q feeling OF chlvalrous devotion to her
majesty; ana a sunny smile q glance of her
bright, laughing eyes Is mark Of favor eagerly
sought for. Sucn loveliness as hers few women
are endowed with, and she is arlable and
gracious as she is beautiful full Of YiyaCity and
enters with much Spirit and such apparent
enjoyment INTO every amusement. MOST WIN
ming Of all was her warm heart her genuine
human sympathy, which brought about the be-
stowsl upon the girlish Queen Of tie title OF
Mother OF Her Country" The life Of the roya
Prusslans in the last years of the eighteenth
century was not comfortable though it might be
imposing:
When guests had to be entertained the. court
tsC@ly %tAl mo teslaeIee - az io'Saanl Inns wa
Pheasant enough arrangement IN summer ~
other seasons Louisa dreaded the all-peryading
prevailing fashion FOR women's garments. she wore
l2w-cut dresses, which afforded her no protection
nearly perished from cold" Il really thought the
blood was going to freeze in NV ve3ns TEess and
many similar announcements occur Ia her letters
from Potsdam- II vas an exceptional occasion on
has produced a fire Of terrific aerceness Thank
10 thls am warm at last, In wintry weather her
shivertng Naturally she suffered much from Sc
dency 10 throat weakness, which has unfortunately
been transmitted 70 certain Of her descendants.
waich enated her to make light Of physical pain
merely Suggests nev wa2 of teasgg , -iI.5o
e aeT ae iTTs s q ne aousehSd always
nfr &C., 6eauty OF feature ana conpieNoa, the mis-
7 have been turned into \ monster - ri5ao,,s
monster. My left eye has disappeared behind the
properly. Every who comes into nv room bnrsfS
CUT laughing Ny woes and suforings fail to
ugly 10 be pited." 1t another time Cueen foUis9
Is writing imnediaeiS after meai a5d mat t5f 5lf
royal nose is red --'--'''' anu Inc
These mlrthful letters throw an engaging side
light on a nature which was strong to bear
misfortune. It was CHEEKY under discomfort
The later chapters Of this volume deal with the
niseries that she had TO face when NapoIcon
played with Prussia as cat with mouse: when
her husband proved himself unable to cone with
brains and ruthlessness; when the Car the
friend she trusted. failed them; when the con