The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02
AMERICAN NOTIONS
TRANSFORM COUNTRY

himself at court, with Queen victoria'a
good VIII than II he restricted himself
10 mere military duties, as an artillery
subaltern. with no fortune or family
influence.
Bgge was particularly favored by
Princess Beatrice. who had been deeply
statute debarrine members OF the
reignng house OF England from con-
tract!ng any legal marriage with
Roman Catholic constituting the only
obstacle TO what would have been an
exceedingly popular match. For the
prince Imperial was . thoroughly Eng
lish boy. FAR more English than his
father. Napoleon ILL.,, and to this day
Empress Eugenis looks upon Princess
Beatrice, who subsequently, married rho
late Prince Henry OF Battenberg, in
The Eight OF sort OF daughtcr-in-law.
Before nc had been year at court.
young B!gge was made assistant prl-
vate secretary. and 1t was his duty to
help General Sir Henry Ponsonby AZ
the latter always took holiday in the
autumn, when Queen Victoria was at
Belmoral II came about that Arthur
Bisge was always OH duty at this
perlod, and so was brought into close
intercourse with the aged sovereign
at the time when her household was
cut down TO the smallest limits, and
the ceremonial OF the court was re.
duced as much as possible. The queen
herself has shown us the extent of this
simplicity and privacy. in her Lie
in the Highlands"
II was natural. under these clrcuni.
stances. that closer degree OF friend
snip should arise between the sovereign
and her Immediate dependents than the
mere relation OF superior and subordi-
nate empioye When six years before
Queen Nictoria's death General sir
Henry Ponsonby was compelled BY iii.
health 10 retire from the Office OF
private secretary, Sir Arthur, who had
meanwhile been created Knight Com
mander OF the Order OF the Bath was
appointed to succeed him. and from
thenceforth played an important part
H. IL, political affairs. being intrusted
With the duty of Interviewing outgo-
Ing ministers and OF conveying hi.
royal mistresss views. approximations
and prcJu6!ces concerning their sue
cessors. For neither MIR. Gladstone nor
with Queen Victoria, and she preferred
TO conduct negotiations with them as
far as possible through her private
When she died, the new King. Ed
ward VII, retained his own private
secretary in that office. and Sir Arthur
Bigge became the private secretary of
the heir apparent that is TO saw. OF
the present King: and while Lord
knollys has been retained in office
until now, for the purpose OF assisting
IN the settlement OF certain matters
left open on the demise OF Edward
VII. II is understood that from hence
forth General Sir Arthur Bigge viii be
the e., sole chief private secretary.
oHiihe most OF the other dignitaries
OF the royal household, he does not be-
long to any OF the so-called court
Families, that is to say. to those houses
of the British arlstocracy which for
generations. and even centuries, have
held sort OF species of monopoly OF
the offices In the encourage of the
King and Queen, and OF the princes
and princesses of the blood. He is the
younger son OF country parson. name
ly. the Rev. ]. Z. Bigge. Vicar OF
Stamfordham, northumberland. and is
only remotely allied 10 the peerage by
ms marriage with q distance COUSIN
of Lord Braybrooke.
Copyright. 1911. by the Brentwood
Company.l