Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-04
IS A DEBUTANTE
London Welcomes King Edwards
Granddaughter.
PRINCESS ALEXANDRA IS PRETTY
Until a Few Weeks Ago Her Life Wa
of the Quietest-No wv Society
IL Very Eager 10 Enter
tain Her.

LONDON, July 2A-Among the debu-
tantes OF this London season the ono whose
presentation In society has caused the
greatest interest is the young lady who
figures In who's Who" as Alexandra
Victoria Edwina liberia Louisa Duff, in
short Princess Alexandra. daughter of the
Duke, OF Fife and granddaughter of Klng
Edward.
She has Just passed her eighteenth birth
day. In appearance she is like her grand
mother, having the same clear skim, deli
cate features and soft blue eyes. Like the
Queen, too. she In gentle in voice and
manner. And IL her debut has been . mat
ter of general interest, II is not only be-
cause she is royalty. but also because she
is an exceptionally pretty girl.
The Duke and Duchess of Fife are both
quiet in their tastes and retiring In dis
position. Indeed the Duchess has suffered
ALI her life from an abnormal form of shy
ness which makes It impossible for her to
20 into society to any great extent without
having acute nervous attacks, and she has
therefore for years been excused from At
tendance at courts and practically from III
state functions. =,
In consequence, Princess Alexandra and
her sister. princess Maud, have led the
ouietest Of lives. only a few months ago
Princess Alexandra was In short sklrts ana
wore her hair boating over her shoulders
lust as her younger sister does now
London Life simple.
Her DAYS when she was In London were
spent at her lessons, or In simple enter
tainments. In the winter season the Duke
and Duchess took their two daughters TO
Egypt, Italy or France. For weeks At a
time they remained quietly at theli
Brighton home, spending whole days pic
nicking on the sands, or having q -FOUR
some at golf. Then all at once came an
intimation from the King that 1t was time
Princess Alexandra put away childish
things and took her place in the world as
a royal Princess.
In the last ten weeks the life Of Princess
Alexandra has been changed. Lessons
have been put aside. Short skirts have
been exchanged for trailing draperies' her
hair has been lone up after the prevailing
mode and instead Of having only the so
ciety OF her family she has met hundreds
of persons who ave wished to entertain
her In some way
Her first appearance In society was at
Lady, Farquhar's bell given on Derby
niSht for the king and queen. She MADE
her debut In the simplest OF soft white
dresses out a little low, In the neck and
without any jewels. but she was charm
ingly pretty and an Ideal type OF English
Eirlhood. rosy. healthy, slender and sweet
select Their own Partners.
The procedure when ladies Of the royal
family dance. whether they are debutantes
or matrons, IL laid DOWN by strict rules
Of etiquette. No gentleman can request
the honor OF a waltz or quadrille with
-, On eha contrary fkaV select their
own partners. An eQusrry informs the
gentleman on whom tbs royal ehoies has
fallen. and he repairs to the dais and leads
out his partner. taking her back on the
conclusion OF the dance
Under these conditions Princess Alex
andra could have none OF the misgivings
OF the ordinary debutante As to whether
OF not she would have plenty OF partners.
Still this method OF dancing must lack ex-
eme Princess Alexandra was a
tractable d~ebutsnte. guided entirely by her
mothers choice OF partners, and II they
were not the best dancers, they were men
whose names figure In English history for
many centuries back.
After Lady Farquhar's ball followed
luncheons. dinners, receptions and dances
for the royal debutante. and last week she
was formally presented at court To gc
TO the palace on a certain evening TO mee'
your own grandfather and grandmother
may seem a little humorous, but It must
be said that Princess Alexandra did not
really make the courtesy before the king
and queen. She merely Joined the royal
procession. entered the throne room with
the royal family and took her place on the
dais behind the king and queen. Her
gown at court was of white chiffon with
a train OF tulle over white satin and she
wore q tulie veil fastened on her hair with
the three white feathers.
All this month and part OF next the
princess win continue to be feted. The
duchess OF Fife. who no doubt longs for
the close OF the season, is doing her duty
toward her daughter, faithfully attending
ali social functions with her and ever
planning q ball for her.
Her Marriage ih View.
After this season, or at the latest. at tn,
BEGINNING OF the next season viii oom,
the question Of . desirable marriage fol
the princess. Bligtble young royalties ar,
not very plentiful just now and the matter
VIII require careful consideration. Tn,
King OF Portugal has been mentioned many
Osnss e. = p0asible husband for Alex