The Washington herald., 1910-11-06
LATE GOSSIP OF
FOREIGN CAPITALS

FOREIGN CAPITALS
King George Of England win not require
new design for his book plate. but
Queen Mary IS having a fresh one pre-
pared. His majestys design, in the main,
viii follow the one made years ago for
Queen Victoria for use in her library at
Windsor This shows the lion and the
crown surmounted by the letters c. r.
in place of E. r.. just as the latter in
seription replaced the V. r l. when
King Edward ascended the British throne
There are, of course, "a number of plates,
large ones for folio and smaller ones for
quartos but the old Edwardian and Vic
torian designs will remain except Cor this
altered lettering.
Prince Edward, perhaps, will adopt the
fine but simple heraidlc design used by
his father as Prince OF Wales. showing
the lion and unicorn. as We'll as the
Prince of Wales feathers Here again
the only alteration required would be the
Princes name at the foot There is an
anchor in the plate, symbolzng King
Georges connection with the navy but
this would be applicable equally to the
career OF Prince Edward
The book plate which is used at pres
ent by Queen Mary is said to be too
simple for her exalted position, the de-
sign consisting merely Of coronet, mon
ogram, and wreath.
The Queen mother has no intention OF
disregarding the beautiful plate she now
possesses. In this is depicted the
stormy steep OF Elsinore the first
home OF the Danish princess, also the
walls and towers OF Windsor, the en-
tire design framed in a delicate border
of oak and Towering roses entwined in
English beech.
America is not the only country where
States and statesmen treasure pens With
which important acts have been signed.
The South African government asked for
the pen which King Edward used 10
sign the South African union act. and
King George has granted the request.
There are q number Of similar
mementos treasured in various parts OF
the world. The last historic British pen
was the quill which one of the Colonial
premiers, Sir Robert Bond took home
with him as a souvenir OF the Colonial
conference. and some years previous
there was quite a big competition for
the pens which were used IN signing the
peace treaty between Russia and Japan.
The pen used by the fourteen pleni-
potentiaries who signed the treaty OF
Paris, in 1856, now Is IN the possession Of
eX-Empress Eugene. II is made OF the
quill OF the wing of a golden eagle and is
richly mounted With diamonds and gold
quili used by the contracting powers
In signing the treaty OF Vienna IS pre-
served in Lord Bangor's family pen
with which Napolean marked the To-
callties of coming battles during the
Austrian campaign is owned by Baron
Won Roller. of Vienna. In the Berlin
Museum may be seen the pen with
which Queen Louise, OF Prussia, signed
her last viii. side by side with the pen
used by William /. OF Prussia, In his
famous letter TO his Queen Augusta. in
forming her Of the great victory Of
Sedan. A pen used by George Washing
ton. Lincoln. and Grant is in the pos
session Of a Mr.. Isaac 3. Reid. Of New
York. who refused recently to part with
II for 5000
Two other historic pens are those of
the great German poets. Schiller and
Goethe. which were purchased by the
museum of Welmer for $50 each end
are kept in hansomely ornamented
cases.
The Queen OF Roumania has so far re-
covered from her serious illness that
recently she was able again to take part
in a series Of shakespearean tableaux. in
which she represented the character OF
Lady Macbeth The story OF how her
majesty adopted her nom de guerre Of
Carmen sylvia is rather interesting
While paying visit 20 the elementary
school az Jassy, she asked a little girl
II she knew who Carmen sylvia was.
Yes" replied the child 1T is the
name Of car Queen when she writes
books"
And what does II mean?" persisted the
Queen. The little one remained silent,
whereupon the Queen answered her own
question. when ] was a little child
Ike you are now I loved 10 ramble
through the forests and used 10 wish I
could sing Ike the birds That is why
I adopted the name, because Carmen
means song and sylvia a forest"
This Queen is passionately fond Of all
kinds of animals, and one Of her palaces
ltA AkNAlAA.t tiet ttAAlttsst tN1t4AlRlf1 n &AANA-
agerie in the number Of cats, dogs, and
other pets II contains. But It is of her
eats that. perhaps. she is most fond
She studies them IN every way Recent
~ she said:
MY insufferable typewriter makes too
much noise for my cats, and since the
machine is altogether unmusical, I have
not been willing TO aCcustom my kittens
@ il. / feared il might injure their little
brains, for they are exceedingly nervous
and sensitive and are easily upset One
cannot be too careful not TO irritate or
offend them"
Sir George Master Byng. ninth Wis
count Torrlngton, Baron Byng of Southill
and a baronet. page of honor to Queen
Victoria from 1899 TO 1901, and TO King
Edward from 1901 10 1893 who married
Miss Souray the other day. is the TWEEN
tieth British peer TO wed an actress since
the beginning OF the peeTage. Eleven Of
these marriages have taken place within
the past twenty-six years, the remaining
nine having covered a period Of l24 years,
namely, from 1924 20 1877. Therefore.
either the British peerage is less par
tieuiar than formerly, or the destinations
of stage beauties are getting 10 be less
and less Irresistible.
The fashion was set in the eighteenth
century by the Duke of Bolton and the