Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-11

THE SUNDAY
arranged to lay out the money ! had
earned in the royal service in q course
OF nursing and Midwifery. In due time
won my diploma in both branches.
and nursed among the noble and the
great of Great Britain for thirty five
years.
Nursed Many Notables.
Mrs. Roberts old friend, Mrs. Jones,
was again able to help her by securing
for her the appointment to nurse and
foster the first born of the Princess
Christian, at Cumberland Lodge, Wind
sor. The popularity of Mrs. Roberts was
at once securely established through her
connection with the royal nursery. In
the years that followed she nursed the
Duchess of Abercorn. the Duchess OF ms
killen, the Countess LutzOw, Lady VIVIAN
(now Lady Swansea). the Lady Church
and many other among the noble DANES
OF Britain. She has served at Windsor
Castle. where to Welsh people of few
centuries ago entrance was far easier
than exit; at Marlborough House. Bal
moral Castle. Buckingham Palace, Os-
bourne, Sandringham and Cumberland
Lodge In the discharge of her professional
duties.
After this long tenure of service Mrs.
Roberts at last became so deaf that she
did not feel longer competent for the
work and declined to take on any new
cases. She was then appointed to the
Royal Maternities Charities Society, an
institution organized by the then Princess
Alexandra, now the beloved Dowager
Queen of England. and controlled by her
and n committee of London ladies. This
position Mrs. Roberts held for several
years. when. owing to her advanced age
and the dangers and hardships of obey
ing calls in the poorer districts of Lon
don at all hours of the night. she resigned
OF her own accord. the secretary saying
to her that she was leaving with an ex-
ceptional record of success and that her
name should always remain on the roll
call Of the society. 1t is a source of great
pleasure to Mrs. Roberts now to know
that her name remains living and green
in the heart Of the field wherein she la
bored SO long and so diligently.
Longs for Native Land.
Your United States is a great coun-
try" continued Mrs. Roberts. but, after
all, you will not blame me when / say
that / prefer my native land, and it
seems to me that there should be a
place for me over there. i cannot feel
as my brother does here. He has been
here for many years; his children have
grown UP here. and his family and all
of his ties are here. But my heart is
over there, where now -reigns the young
prince whom I nursed. Were l over there
now / would be entitled to the old folks
pension, but don't you think she who
nursed the reigning king is entitled to
something more than such a pittance?
You have possibly read how truly noble
and generous the young King Of Spain is
acting toward his old nurse. He provides
for her every comfort, and she is made
much of by court and people. Do you
think my Prince George would do less for
his old nurse? 1 refuse to believe it."
Mrs. Roberts wears a heavy gold
brooch that was personally presented to
her by the then Princess Alexandra upon
the occasion Of her leaving the royal
nursery The princess told her upon that
occasion that she would be privileged to
my boy King Edward, then Prince
Of Wales presented her at the same time
with heavy gold watch. which she also
now has. There Is an inscription on the
inside of the back cover which reads
ITO Mrs Roberts, in remembrance of
ii. R. H. Prince George"
Has Brooch From Victoria.
She also has another brooch, presented
to her by the late Queen Victoria upon
the christening Of Prince George. On be-
Mrs. Roberts was presented by the queen
with two beautiful photographs. with her
signature, one of herself and one Of the
deceased prince consort, informing her at
the same time that they were the best
photos ever taken of both. These Mrs.
Roberts left with relative on the other
side. She says that as poor as she is
their weight in gold would not buy them
She did not care to subject them to the
hazards of travel.
Mrs. Roberts states that when Sir Ar
thur Bigg is appointed keeper Of the privy
purse she intends to appeal to him for a
statement Of her case to the king. She
this position under the late lamented
King Edward. would never allow her pro-
tests and supplications to reach his royal
master Mrs. Roberts believes that IL her
petitions had been presented some action
would have been taken on her case long
ago. She claims to have some of Sir
Probyns official letters now in her pos
session. in which he is alleged to state
that nothing could be done for her. Mrs.
Roberts gives 1t as her belief that these
are solely the words of a mercenary. She
says that King Edward had ever a kind
and grateful heart, and was always good
to old servitors.
Faith in Lloyd George.
Il have served in Sir Arthur Bigg's
family" Mrs. Roberts states. He
knows me, and am sure he will desire
to help me. The Right Hon. Lloyd
George would also interfere in my be-
half IL / appealed to him. The great
est Welshman of us all would not suf-
fer an old country woman who has
served the same crown for which he
labors SO energetically to be utterly dis
regarded. There is only one burden to
my poor old song: l want to go back
to spend my few remaining years in
my native land, and to be allowed to
go to my long rest in that sacred old
spot where my father sleeps"
Mrs. Roberts was treated with every
consideration by the royal household.
She was several times invited upon the
royal carpet. She enjoyed many pleas
ant chats with the late Queen Victoria.
Sometimes, upon receiving Welsh news
papers. the queen would send for her
from the nursery and request her to
read selections from them and to trans
late them. She would ask Mrs. Roberts
to pronounce some Welsh words and
sayings, and she would utter them
after her. doing IL far better, Mrs.
Roberts says. than some of the young
Welsh Americans whom she has met
since being in this country.
Mrs. Roberts saw the queen I'm her
grief for her beloved prince consort.
On one occasion she invited Mrs. Rob
erts to visit the grand mausoleum
wherein restss his remains. She gave
Mrs. Roberts the golden KEY which
opens the door thereto. and sent her
headdresser to accompany her. gracious
ly saying that she would meet her
there at a certain time. Mrs. Roberts
says she will never forget the hour
she spent there with the widowed
queen and the mortal remains of the
consort and husband whom she had
L.. nax.ly