The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-06-25
SEVEN
WOMEN
NO. ANNA OF SAXONY.

When the accomplishments Of
Princess Ann of Saxony are sum
med up, although she lived in the
sixteenth century, she seems to have
been possessed Of ideas progressive
enough to have lived in this enlight-
ened twentieth century. This accom-
plished Danish woman was the only
child Of the popular Christian III
and his lovely wife Dorothea, and
few princesses were SO thoroughly
educated to fill the high positions
certain to come to them.
Like most Danish mothers Dor
othea took especial pride not only
to make her daughter a noble wOm-
an but d domestic one as we'll. There
was no details of the duties Of a
housewife with which Anna was not
entirely familiar and she was able to
perform any portion of domestic serv-
ice that might be demanded.
Like all anxious mothers, Dorothea
waited with the keenest anxiety for
the marriage proposals thai should
be made for Anna. When an alliance
was proposed that she marry Au-
gustus, the elector of Saxony. the
mother felt that this would be a
suitable match. Augustus was five
years the senior of the princess, and
at the age of 90 showed unusual
o'lellS'H u character DIS We'll as aO-
mirable principles. When the mar
riage took place in 1554, the bride
was only i years of age. but she
had a mature sense of what her life
ought to be.
The elector of Saxony found his
wife a noble companion, WI had
closely at heart the prosperity sand
happiness of their subjects. While
she was yet but a girl in years her
q n u cd rn,1rfrx- oil ~ p,al hn- -
mother of the country"
1t was Mother Anna who looked
after the establishment Of schools Of
all sorts and urged upon the people
the Importance Of education. 1t was
she who had churches built in com
munitieS where they We're needed.
and it was one Of her happiest
duties TO see that the people We're
able to cultivate the lands and keep
their homes comfortable and in a
sanitary condition.
There is a story still told in Sax
n of how Anna carried through
a measure TO nave some waste lands
cultivated. Unemployed persons were
formed into bands Of pioneers to be-
gin and to carry on the work, anG
as they We're not familiar with aeri-
cultural labor, she led the band her
self, carrying a spade like the rest.
tIl Stuuitu tlic!fllSlIN ana DOT
any. the better to teach her people
how the land could be improved
and made productive: and she en-.
cOuraged her husband to invite the
SaxOny Dutch wool and cotton Neav
ers to give them hearty support.
Augustus, at her request. made i
a law that each newly married couple
should plant and graft two fruit tree:
during the tirst year of their unio1
and in this way all Saxony began t.
appear as a garden.
Once when Augustus stopped q
one Of their royal pleasure place.
he asked a maid-servant for a slaS
of milk. She was newly in Anna;
service and did not know the cleo
tor by sight. When she gave hin
most carefully skinned milk h,
asked for some Of better quality. ant
she replied. This is all I can Civ,
You. Mother Anna uses the crean
Tor butter and for the use of he
family
s. Fifteen children were born I,
Augustus and Anna. but eleven z
them died in childhood. It was tn
plague that brought death To 1hi
beloved princess.
MISUNDERSTANDING Norton