New-York tribune., 1907-10-26
Literary Nes0.s and Criticism.

Lodge. Aunt Gloucester was theTe at the same
King By the hand saying y9 0% ve Gase nae your
little paw He was large and gouty. but with
the wig which was 50 much worn ia those days.
was naturally very passionate. out always
first to beg my maids pardon for any naughtiness
tanned and think any one should own their fault
II IN KIND nd way & to any one be he or she the owest m
deed especially those below you.
There are some interesting pages early in the
first volume, on the education of the Princess.
When she was approaching her fifth year her
mother began to take steps with view to fitting
her ito be either the Sovereign of these realms
or to fill junior station in the Royal Family
until the Will of Providence should shew at a
later period what Her destiny was to be" In
her letter the subject, written in 1880, to the
Bishops of London and Lincoln, whose advice
she desired, the Duchess of Kent thus speaks Of
her daughter: "The general bent OF Her char
acter is strength of intellect, capable of receiv-
ing with ease, information, and with a peculiar
readiness in coming to a very just and be-
nignant decision any point Her opinion is
asked on. Her adherence to truth is of so
marked a character that feel apprehension
of that Bulwarll being broken down by any cir
cumstance I must conclude by observing that
as yet the Princess is not aware OF the station
that she is likely to fill. She is aware of its
duties and that q Sovereign should live for
others" When the question of her education
was submitted a little later to the Archbishop
Of Canterbury he, like the Bishops of London
and Lincoln. approved all the details of the
Duchess of Kents system. In his report he
noted that the Princess was gradually and
watchfully introduced to public life, and was
never allowed to lose sight of the fact that her
exalted position carried with it definite and OBJ
yious duties" Years after, the Queen, writing
to her half-sister. the Princess Feodore, who had
shared her discipline recalled that a girl
Kensington Palace had been for her place OF
tears. When I look back upon those years,
she says. which ought TO have been the hap
riest in my life from fourteen TO twenty, | can
not help pitying myself But she came 10 ad-
nit. as she remarks in the same letter, that
those years of trial were useful though not pleas
ant. The editors give this note on the charac-
ter and temperament disclosed in her girlhood:
She was high-sprited and wilful. but devotedly
had strong sense of duty and dignity. and strong
personal prejudces Confident in sense as 5.I she
was. she had the feminine instinct strongly deEei-
oped of dependence upon some manly adviser she
life TO the full She liked the stir of London. was
fond of dancing of concerts plays and operas. and
trait in her character must be noted. she had
strong monarchical views and dynastic sympathies.
time. She had no democratic principles but believed
firmly in the due subordination of classes.
The young Princess was fortunate not only
in the discretion of her mother, but in the
sagacity Of her Uncle Leopold, who, throughout
her earliest years, when he living in Eng
land and afterward, from his kingdom in Bel
GUM, constantly gave her affectionate advice.
She was helped, too, by his old physician and
friend. Baron Stockmar who on the accession
Of Queen Victoria was much about her court.
The letters of Leopold dating from the few
years Immediately preceding the death of
William ", abound in good counsel preparing
her for what would ensue upon the occurrence
Of that event. He directs her reading and does
everything to foster her virtues Let your
dear character always be true and loyal" he
says. This does not exclude prudence-worldly
concerns are now unfortunately so organized
that you must be cautious or you may infure
yourself and Others-but it does not prevent
the being sterling and true. Nothing in per
sons gives greater reliance, greater weight than
when they are known to be true" Elsewhere
he begins to warn her to how she must carry
herself in her high place which may so soon be
higher. Speaking of her intercourse with peo-
pie he says Never permit yourself to be in
duced TO tell them any opinion or sentiment Of
yours which is beyond the sphere of common
conversation and its ordinary topics. Bad use
would be made of it against yourself, and you
cannot in that subject be too much guarded "
he urges her to preserve and express whenever
occasion offers, sincere interest for the Estab-
lshed Church
She thanks him for all his advice. thanks him
IN way that makes the reader feel she is going
10 follow 1t, as, indeed the event showed that
she was quick 10 do save when with increa sim,
years OF experience, she found il wiser TO fol-
10" course Of her own. Her sound Judgment
comes out early in the correspondence She
'ouches frequently enough upon lighter mat
Iers' ahe tells the King of the singing lessons
given to her by Lablache. or she reminds him
that her Operate and Terpsichorean feelings
are pretty strong" but again she foresha dov,s
her keen interest in politics and her firm prn
ciples In all matters Of that sort In one Of her
letters she says
at our dIpndT i5iend Mr. Mr. Hume made violent speech
Drury Lane last week Go iin "a and old George Byng at
r9tber ~ ro dorlGs the coven foot" which I think
'r etri'ir Srohs' hs' think that great violence and
!IIing @ such PITY, on both sides don't you dear
calling one ey TPitatc one another useessly by
f0fLn t3r no purpose. think violence so bad in
10 tAs period belong the first intinations Of
her romance. Prince Albert came IN ErqIand
IN 1886 The King Of the Belgians even then
dreamed OF the match which was ultimately TO
be arranged but the Princess was as vet in the
Dark. She took at once, however. to her cousin.
"hom she found extremely handsome" and
"hen he and his brother Ernest went away. she
wrote to Leopold that there could not be two
more good and sensible young men" But
sraVer thoughts were soon to trouble that some
""d' curious little soul" to her Uncle's
phrase she can still be light in hand and even
PidyIuIy indignant, when she alludes for ex-
ample, to the fact that about year after the