The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-05
DOMESTIC LIFE OF.
ENGLANDS NEW QUEEN
Bred in the Tradition of Victo-
rian Court
RETAINS ALL OF BEST
Queen Mary VIII Affect Tendency of
English Toward simplicity-Pre-
fers Quiet of Home to Glare
of Public Life
BY WELLINGTON HOPE


now know that in public affairs the
Queen never played a mere passive part
| and that in times of crises her power
was used eourageously and widely. But
the personal influence was, perhaps, of
even greater Importance. The example
/ of the Queen nodded the life of her peo-
pie.
Queen Mary will have no direct con-
| nectlon with matters of politics AMI
craftsmanship She will not be called
upon to rule. But she will reign with
her husband, and it is certain that shs
will materially affect the tendency OF
English life toward simplicity.
Her majesty Victoria Mary Augusta
Loise Olga Pauline Claudne was born
in kensngton palace on May &c, 1867
being ushered into the world in the room
which had formerly been the nursery
of QueeniV Gloria. The first years of
her majesty's life were passed in the
palace In which she was born and at
White Lodge, Richmond
| Queen Mary was bred in the tradition
of the Victorian court, and she retains
all that is best of that tradition. Her
|
| cation was none too complete. But this
she has herself enteirely counterbal-
| anced by a continuous course of self
education, which began when she went
to Florence at the age of Is and has
continued ever since. The Queen speaks
French, Italian and German fluently and
she is voracious reader.
| The Queen is practical rather than i'm
| aginative. She never makes a promise
that she is not sure she can keep. She
is punctilious and careful In all money
matters. She is keenly interested in the
everyday circumstances of her life. Con-
! versely she has no wide artistic knowl-
edge or appreciation. She is fond of
music. but the music of Mendelssohn
rather than of Wagner. She herself has
pleasant contralto voice, which was
| trained by Signor Tosti Her favorite
amusement is the theatre.
| She is, indeed naturally inclined to be
| shy and retiring, preferring the quiet OF
home to the glare of public life She Is
a wise and devoted mother. Her chill
| dren are being brought up on the wIsest
| possible plan. Work comes before play,
but play Is never forgotten. Obedience
and discipline are enforced, but there Is
no absurd severity and medieval disre-
gard of the fact that children have both
| judgment and character.
Her friends are women of truth and
character and generally of her own sim
| pie British tastes. Indeed, 1t might be
! said of Queen Mary that she Is 'victo-
| rian without the wax flowers and the an
timacassers. There is, indeed. much that
was splendid and virile in the Victorian
| spirit. It's incidental STIFFNESS was not
essential
Queen Mary is deeply religious, retain
ing the evangelical faith In which she
was brought up. Her religion is more
concerned with morals than with mag
| nation, and with conduct more than
with belief. Here again the practical
note of her character is evidenced.
| She Is a shrewd judge of men, but
careful in the expression of her opin-
Ions. 1t may be, indeed, that she car
ries her reticence too far. Certain it Is
| that there will be no indiscretions in her
comments on men and affairs.
She is generous to the point of incco
venience. and the plight of poor and suf-
| fering childhood is a constant concern
| to her. No case Is ever brought to her
without speedy aid being forthcoming
The King and Queen are on terms OF
/ peculiarly close affection. Partly on ac-
count of the dominating personality of
| his father, partly owing to his own dis
| like to push himself. the King as Prince
OF Wales was comparatively little in the
| public eye He has never needed en-
coura cement to duty when it has pre-
| sented itself, but his wife has always
urged him to seize every occasion of
public service. 1t is good for the coun-
| try to know that in these early days OF
difficulty and sorrow he has by his side
a counselor on whose opinion and affec-
| ton he can absolutely rely
| Both the King and Queen loathe gam
bling. The Queen dislikes cards. The
King plays bridge sometimes, and for
small points. but without any enthusi-
asm. The King is interested in athletics
but the Queen cares little or nothing for
| sports of any kind She is keen walker
and an enthusiastic needlewoman.
! She is all respects the mistress of her
household The details of the clothes
and food of her children are all submit
| ted to her. She is methodical and order
| ly even in small matters. She is in
| tensely patriotic and she has never Civ
| en- up her custom of buying clothes
made by British workers of British mate
| rial
In this connection it is interesting to
know that her majesty has much inter-
ested herself in the servant problem
She has stated that to her mind the real
root of the unsatisfactory state of things
Is that mstresses are too little concern
ed about the comfort of those whom they
employ. Iney ought, S0e says, 10 DO
everything they can to make the leisure
hours of the servants agreeable as
possible. and her majesty has practice1'
what she preached.
When the King and Queen move from
Marlborough house, Buckingham palace
will be filled with children for the first
time since the death of the prince con-
sort, 40 years ago. Children will indeed
be the note of the new court. The Queen
is above all things mother, and she
will appeal to the heart of the nation
as the mother ruling her home in wis
dom and love.
The royal children are as typically
English as their father and mother, well
hammered unaffected fond of outdoor
games Prince Edward, now Duke of
Cornwall, is perhaps the cleverest. Prin-
cess Mary, the only daughter, has the
most character and was when she was
Younger something of a pickle. Between
parents and children there Is the most
perfect affection, and the King is never
so happy as when spending a holiday
with his boys.
The character of his wife and the conf
pleteness of his family life are the great
possessions which King George carries
to his throne. They will stay with him
in times of perpexity They will endear
him to his people.
Put the Leading Question
From the Chicago Tribune.
| One of the bright young men employed