Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-18
TRUE wOMANLY SYMPATHY
QUEENS THOUGHTS AND ACTS
ARE FOR HER PEOPLE.
Alexandra Doffs Her Queenly State
and Becomes Lady Bountiful Of
Handful of Villages.

The queen In London is q beautiful and
gracious lady, who imparts an indescrib-
able charm to royal and society functions,
who thinks and works for the benefit of
the people. and who, when need exists.
grapples with that need with unerring
tact and true womanly sympathy.
In London the queen thinks for the
people more or less collectively: at SAM
orngham more or less individually; for
as Tar as possible her majesty doffs her
queenly state, dispenses with its insepa-
rable formality and becomes-one says 1t
with all respect-the wife of a country
gentleman. the lady bountiful of hand
1ul or villages. In the houses Of which she
Is a familiar and welcome figure and
Where her presence ever denotes the kind
nest interest in the doings and happenings
OF the occupants.
That these are we'll cared for goes with
OUT saying. and this is partly due to
ner malesty's womanly instinct of Wom-
amy requirements. Who does not re-
member the prompt inquiry for cupboards
when the queen visited some county coun-
eli dwellings and found these useful fix
lures altogether omitted?
Evidences of Royal Visits.
The necessity of detail is a strong point
In her majestys plans for the comfort
or others, and when the cottages on the
oandrlngham estate were rebuilt she had
large share in the suggestions which
were carried out with such happy effect.
be 1t said. moreover, that this rebuild
ing took place before even that of Sand
ilnsham house, for when the queen came
mere as a young bride she was most ear
nest IN her efforts and most anxious to
hurry forward the wishes of her husband
that all the old cottages should be de-
NJ <J&J
place Of thatch, bad ventilation and gem
eral inconvenience and discomfort.
Cottages sprang up containing four or
nVe rooms, fitted with cooking ranges and
cupooards galore: surrounding them a
quarter of an acre of ground for the
cultivation of fruit and vegetables. with
an clubhouse for coal and wood storage,
Whlch also serves as a washhouse for
the women and q workshop for the men.
In nearly every cottage evidences of
Iui' perhaps tea service which the
queen has given as a marriage present or
little gifts bestowed upon special occa-
slons, either connected with the royal fam
ily or that of the cottager. Should there
De illness in any of these homes the
queen is always ready with her sympa-
thetfc help and kindness Many a time
has she sat by the bedside of an invalid
and quietly read or chatted brightly-in
accordance with the condition of the
patient-and often with her own hands
mas administered little delicacies which
she herself has provided, and generally
taken with her. too.
1t Is not only in the bestowal of gifts
SELF to the people surrounding her gates.
TOT she has entered very truly into their
Joys and afflictionS-the common lot of
al. ANA the queens fondness for chill
dren is proverbial. Her majesty has often
taken child upon her knee to nurse and
amuse it, and has been known to enter
house and take crying infant from it's
cradle and Soothe and hush it until its
mothers return.
Her Majesty's Birthday.
Her majesty's birthday is a day of high
FESTIVAL for the children, for in celebra-
ton of it she sends out invitations to tea
TO all of them. 1t is a red letter day. one
or the landmarks of a child's life
Time was when the queen made It q
point TO be present throughout, handing
around plates of cakes and replenishine
cups with a business-like air. Now. how
ever, her majesty "looks in" taking dine
thought-in the midst OF her pressing
dutles-of the fact that her presence gives
ment
No one needs to be told that her mai
esty Is among the friendliest and home
Hest ladies In the land, and while, nat
urally, she has not now the time she
formerly. had for visiting the cottages.
yet the Inhabitants are by no means lost
sight Of Many have been known from
their birth up; the queen has watched
their educat ton in the splendid schools
which she and the king have been instru-
mental in providing.
To the aged around Sandringham the
queen has always been a special friend,
and many time she has sat and lis
tened to an auld wife's tales, doing a bit
OF the old souls knitting to occupy the
time-for If there is one thing the queen
cannot endure it is idleness.
II rather pride myself on the way
knit" said her majesty one day to one
such old woman; Il have just made a
pair for my husband. and"-here the
queen was interrupted with "Deary
me: and do you knit his stockings? Well,
we'll. ma'am. it's only me and you who
makes the things as knows the 'orrible
holes the men do make in the 'eels''
In joy and sorrow she has been and
is one with them all. and not only at
Sandringham, but throughout the domin-
ions.