The Detroit times., 1910-08-22
BRITISH QUEEN
IS LOVER OF HOME
She Is a Woman With Victorian
Principles-Is Practical Rather
Than Imaginative.


character of Queen Victoria was the
most potent influence In shaping the
social life of Great Britain during the
last half OF the nineteenth century.
We now know that in public AFFAIRS
the queen never played mere pas
sive part, and that In times OF crisis
her power was used courageously
and wisely. But the personal infiu-
ence was perhaps OF even greater I'M
portence. The example OF the queen
nodded the life oil fler people.
Queen Mary Will have no direct con-
nection with matters of politics and
craftsmanship. She will not be call
ed upon TO rule. But she will reign
with her husband. and 1t is certain
that she will materially affect the
tendency of English life toward SIM
plicity.
ia Louise Olga Pauline Claudine was
born In Kensington palace on May 26.
1867, being ushered into the world
In the room which had formerly been
the nursery Of Queen Victoria. The
first years Of her majesty's life were
passed in the palace in which she
was born and at White Lodge, Rich
moId.
Queen Mary was bred in the tradi-
ton OF the Victorian court. and she
retains all that is best of that tradi-
ton. Her childhood was quiet and
her early education was none too
complete. But this she has herself
entirely counterbalanced by a con-
tinuous course of self-education,
which began when she went to Flor
ence at the age OF 10, and has con-
tinued ever since. The queen speaks
French, Italian and German fiuently.
and she is a voracious reader
The queen is practical rather than
imaginative. She never makes a
promise that she is not sure she can
keep. She Is punctilious and care
full in all money matters. She is keen
ly interested in the everyday circum-
stances Of her life. Conversely she
has no wide artistic knowledge or ap-
probation. She is fond of music, but
the music OF Mendelssohn rather than
OF Wagner. She herself has a pleas
ant contfalto voice which was trained
by Signor Tosti. Her favorite amuse-
ment is the theater.
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 children 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 no medieval
o. 49, 1I4
have both Judgment and character.
Her friends are women of truth and
character and generally of her own
simple British tastes. indeed, 1t might
be said OF Queen Mary that she is
Victorian without the wax flowers and
the antimacassars. There is, indeed,
much that was splendid and virile in
the Victorian spirit Its incidental
STIFFNESS was not essential.
Queen Mary is deeply religious, re-
tanning the evangelical faith In which
she was brought up. Her religion is
more concerned with morals than
with imagination, with conduct more
than with belief. Here again the prac-
tical note of her character is EVIL
denced.
She is a shrewd Judge of men, but
careful in the expression of her opin.
ion II may be, indeed. that she car
ries her reticence too far. Certain II
is that there will he no indiscretions
in her comments on men or affairs.
She is generous to the point of con-
siderable personal inconvenience, and
the plight Of poor and suffering child
hood is a constant concern to her. No
case was ever brought to her without
speedy aid being forthcoming.
The king and queen are on terms Of
peculiarly close affection. Partly IN
account of the dominating personality
of his father. partly owing to his own
dislike to push himself. the king as
prince Of Wales has been compare
lively little in the public eye. He has
never needed encouragement to duty
when 1t has occurred. but his wife
has always urged him to seize every
occasion of public service. 1t is good