The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-16

July z. entirely without dramatic Incl
dent of any kind. Indeed, as a wedding,
nothing could have been more quiet
or simple. Most girls in America, in
very humble circumstances, make more
of an affair of such an event than did
Princess Anna, and to woman who
loves excitement and impressive display
as she does, it must have been bitter
disappointment 10 be deprived of the
satisfaction of a brilliant and spectacu-
lar scene on this the occasion of her
second venture into the realm of matri-
mony. About noon on the morning of
the wedding she and Prince Relle drove
to a registrars office in London, stop
ping their carriage at the back door, so
to speak, to avoid the eyes of the Curl
Gus, boiling out of the door of the car
riage and into the building as quickly
as possible. There, in that dingy office,
dusty papers and ponderous law books
around everywhere, with no one pres
ent except three witnesses. the civil
ceremony was performed, and from
there the couple were driven to little
French Protestant church. A small
group of her friends awaited her in the
otherwise empty building, who gathered
with her about the ctancel, while the
little organ played the sweet old relig-
ious hymn, Abide with Me- A hard
hearted and unsympathetic public,
which has looked upon this alliance
from the first with Misrepresentation and
distrust. might be inclined to comment
upon the selection of this hymn as
singularly appropriate 20 the occasion.
If ever woman needed support. spirit
Gaf and otherwise, that woman would
seem to be Princess Anna. Apparently
she has most conspicuously flung down
the glove to Trouble, challenging il to
do its worst, but who can tell? 1t is
the unexpected that happens in this
world and no rule is without its eX-
captions. If happiness follows this mar
rage, and Anna Could from henceforth
keeps out of the white light of publi-
city, everyone will be very thankful, but
very largely on her sister Helen's ac-
count.
There was little hitch in the civil
ceremony when the bride was required
TO repeat the many names of her pros
pective husband. She got them terri
bly, mixed up and came TO a dead stop
before half thru, but the Prince
Strengthened her out and she managed
to reach the end with more or less sue
cess. To the practical Anglo Saxon
mind the reason why the nobility of the
Latin countries particularly should be
started out in life with such an endless
string of names has never been quite
clear. But this is wandering from our
subject. While Princess Anna was de-
prived of the satisfaction of large and
brilliant wedding, she at least made
herself as stunning as possible. There
may be those who would say she was
everdressed for an occasion so extreme
" quiet and simple. yet no one can
deny that she must have looked very
fine in her empire gown of cream satin
with its rich overdress of lace embroid-
cred with gold, her charming white hat
covered with soft plumes, the rich rope
of pearls around her neck, the last
l,.,-,
of gold and white by the little gold
gemmed bag she carried in her hand.
Brother George was not present at
either ceremony, nor any other member
of her family.
According to that most interesting
authority, the Marquise De Fontenoy,
the wife of the British Premier, Mr..
Asquith, forms one of the principal top
les of conversation in those cosy little
chats around the five o'clock tea-table,
and at London's social gatherings gen.
orally. This lady, it seems, has sharp,
sarcastic tongue which she uses merci-
lessly and without the least diplomacy,
making enemies for herself everywhere.
AS handsome, brilliant Margot Tenant
this sort of thing was considered
sprightly and entertaining, and tho
even then no one felt exempt from her
cutting criticisms, yet her youth, good
Hooks, and wit made her presence de-
sirable. Now, as a rather plain woman
of so the case is different, and what
was once considered brilliant and anus
ing is now felt to be merely shrewdish
and yixenish. 1t is well known that
Queen Alexandria, who is usually so
sweet and gracious to everyone, disap-
proves OF Mrs. Asquith most decidedly,
and has had occasion several times to
rebuke her seriously for remarks made,
av
hearing of the person she was SO freely
criticising. King Edward makes no
bones OF not hiding his feelings towards
his Premier's unpopular wife. and os-
tentatiously avoids talking to her on
all occasions.
Mrs. Asquith takes all the credit of
her husbands distinguished position to
herself Like many English women she
has always dabbled in politics, and be-
ing unusually brilliant and clever be-
came more or less of a power among
politicians. Her husbands rise in poll
tics dates from his marriage, and that
his wife is responsible, in a measure, for
this is undoubtedly true, tho there are
others who say that she has really re-
tarded his progress by her manuvers
and the free use of her brilliant but sar-
castle tongue, and that he has reached
his high Office in spite of her. 1t seems
passing strange that anyone with Mrs.
Asquith's brains should be so short
sighted and should conduct herself in
a manner SO inimical to her own inter
ests. BY her aggressiveness and arbi-
trary assumption of power she is adding
greatly TO the troubles of the present
administration. and If she keeps on will
bring the Cabinet, of which her hus-
band is the head, to grief. English
women, as rule, are most conserva-
tive, and the wives of former Premiers
hfS a nd Ix
making friends IN. the social and politi-
cal world. Mrs. Asquith has shown her
self more American than English in her
disregard of conventions, being much
of a free lance always, but she lacks
the American tact. II is difficult to un-
derstand why her husband does not
see the necessity of reiegating her To
the background for a while, but, evi.
IDENTIFY. he has either little influence
upon her. or is in sympathy with hel
general line of conduct. Political ruin
IS predicted for him unless Mrs AS.
quith can be kept out of things.
Since it is no longer considered fash
ionable TO return from ones Summer
outing with thick coat of tan on face
and hands, girls are making every eff
fort to protect themselves from OLE
Sofs too ardent caresses. Hats havi
been found somewhat inadequate, ever
the big, fioppy kind that cover the fac
pretty well, and the dear oId-fashionet
sunbonnet, celebrated in song and stor,
from time immemorial, has been dis
covered by these up-to-date Twentieth
Century maidens to do the business a
nothing else can, and has. therefore
been dragged from its modest and oh
scure position to the front ranks o
fashion. When one comes TO think o
IT, there is nothing like the sunbonne
% fynr n