The Washington herald., 1909-05-09
TRAINING a FUTURE QUEEN.
WiIheimina's GoverneSs Tells of
Her MajeSty's GirIhood.

An article-the first OF a series-in The
Girls Own Paper gives an account Of
the way in which wfhelrnina of Holland
was trained 10 be a queen These art
ieles are being written b. her governess.
who was with the little princess from
her fifth year until she grew TO woman
hood The writer says:
"A love OF animals and birds has been
marked feature Of Queen Wlhelmina's s
character from an early age. and there
were every means OF gratifying it, since
she has a large feathered family which
was considered her exclusive property
and which expected 10 be fed each day
BY their mistress hands
The King had built for his child a
charming Swiss chalet, forming the
nucleus Of q small estate, over which the
princess was allowed 10 exercise GER
tain amount Of independent control It
was pretty little property calculated
TO bring infinite JOY 20 the heart OF its
possessor. and afforded a happy COM
bination for the requirement of general
knowledge and childish amusement.
The chalet itself contained several
rooms and a large balcony. In front Of
il was q well kept garden. IN which fruit
trees OF every description abounded as
well as large quantities OF vegetables and
flowers A hothcuse had been built for
the cultivation OF vines and peach trees.
and later a second forcing house was
added for flowers and ferns. Dotted
around the boundary oG the garden were
the various little buildings for chickens.
pigeons. rabbits and bees. To the right
of the house there was a famous swing,
A.
Il found that my education on nature
products had 10 be started anew, and was
Initiated according 10 the season OF the
year, into the art OF participating and
digging. sowing OF seeds, thinning carrot
beds. picking lettuce and endless other
details connected with garden culture.
We were most energetic in our under
takings. and quite as proud Of our
achievements as though We had been
paid laborers. On Sunday mornings
special treat was always the order of the
day. We used TO pull a large quantity
Of the biggest carrots 20 be found. and
after washing them al the pump, trUn-
died them of 70 the stables. where Il
was an immense pleasure to the princess
(who has always had a marked affection
for horses TO enter the stalls and feed
the favorites.
The Queen Mother attached great i'm
pOrtance to the manner IN which her
child played with her dolls. believing
rightly that the element OF protective
tenderness 50 essentially necessary 10
mature womsnhoOd might be gradually
developed IN little girls by encouraging
them To handle. treat and think Of their
dolls as though they were morsels OF
humanity To this end a young French
girl had spent some time IN the royal
household. who. besides teaching the
princess To speak French. had Instituted
a style OF play with the dolls which was
exceedingly charming and absolutely rep
.resentative Of real life
The so-called children were always
spoken of by their proper names. they
had a large establishment OF their own,
furnished with every possible convent
ence. and on such a scale that the grown
ups who happened 10 be IN charge Of
them could. without discomfort, move
about and use the pvettily proportioned
furniture. The little FAMILY consisted Or
BOYS and girls OF ali sizes and baby in
long clothes. The care OF them occupied
q great portion OF each day. as they were
put 20 bed and got up. taken out for
drives or walks, played games. listened
70 stories. and had their regular meals
with as much seriousness as though they
were really expected 10 consume what
was placed before them
To the princess her dolls certainly
meant a very great deal. and there is no
doubt whatever that they called forth
wealth Of tender. protective love.
thought and care. which were great fac
tors in her early education.
Queen Emma OF Holland herself
taught her daughter 10 handle a needle
and thimble. Her majesty was exceed
iagly anxious that a taste for artistic
needIewOrk should be developed in her
child. and she proved particularly mag
NATIVE IN devising ali kinds Of pretty.
useful things made in perforated leather.
which she could tunder her mothers
guidance stitch in silk. Cutting out pic
lures and paSting them into scrapbOoks
for the children's hospital was another
favoTite pastime."