The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-28
ROYALTY'S HOBBIES
AMUSE PICCADILLY

One OF the Quaintest hobbies on rec
ord Ia that OF the King of Siam. who,
during his leisure moments makes a
collection Of the labels or match boxes.
He started this hobby during a visit
some years ago 10 England. Soon at
ter he began collecting he happened
to be walking incognito down Piccadil-
/ lys when he saw passenger on the
top of an omnibus throw away match
box. Hoping II might be one he did not
possess, the King. to the horror of his
attendant, dashed out into the middle
of the road TO pick up the treasure. A
policeman. thinking from the excite
ment Of the attendant, that some one
was killed, stopped the traffic. Fer a
prevailed. Then the King emerged,
muddy but smiling, with the match box
in his hand.
King Edward and Queen Alexandra
interest themselves by keeping books
containing photographs of the places
they have visited, all of which they
have taken themselves The King is
very fond OF readins. and his fine
dealing with the Crimean expedition
and the campaigns Of Nelson ard
Wellington have special fascination
TO-. him. His majesty also has a fine
collection of watkins sticks, to which
he is constantly adding. His collier
uon numbers about 1000, all Of which
have some special association.
One of Queen Alexandras favorite
occupations when she is at home at
SandTlngham or any other of the royal
palaces is that OF arranging cut
/ flowers in vases for the tables Of the
different apartments. In this mat
| ter her majesty has quite exceptional
skill and taste. The Queen also col
lects autographs of her friends, and
has whole museum OF little gifts
made by the fingers of her childran
and grandchildren.
The Prince Of Wales has a fire col
lection of foreign STAMPS and quite a
/ NCr hH4 % q rf-
ed when but a small boy, and is now
recognized as an authority on the sub
ject- His royal lhghness also has a
very interesting collection of posters.
many of which have been especially
printed for him in miniature TO paste
into n book, the large originals being
kept carefully rolled up.
Amateur acting is the Queen OF Hoi-
lands chief pastime. She takes q great
Interest IN dramatic art. and never falls
TO attend the first hight at the theaters,
Her majesty mas had a theater built
at Los, where plays are performed I'M
der her direction.
One OF the most studiOus queens IN
Europe is the German Empress, who,
, unlike her husband, cares very little,
indeed. Cor pOnp and ceremony. Her
majesty's favOrite occupation is the
study of medicine. and she E2s In
structed herself so well in the art OF
! healing that she rs regarded as quite
an efficient adviser Ia cases of ordf-
nary, illness. Ths German Empress also
makes hobby Of collecting fans, and
very beautiful is her collection
The Queen OK ROumania, Carmen
sylvia" has a sympathetic view of
life, and turns hes leisure moments to
account to make the lives OF less for
tunate folk happier. Her ma iesty has
had recently installed in the palace at
Bucharest q special equipment Cor the
purpose of printing a large proportion
OF her works in raised type for tie
blind. which she intends 10 present 70
the blind asylums.-Detroit News
Tribune.