Evening star., 1919-03-23

u luxurious palace, ruling.
with her husband, over their
small kingdom. She was generally
acknowledged to be the most beautiful
queen in the whole wide world.
Everywhere she went she charmed
the people she met by her personality,
ana her court. although in a small
country. was visited by distinguished
persons from all corners Of the globe.
Nor was she beloved only by per-
sons Of rank, but by the poorest peo-
pie In her kingdom. Coming from
another much larger and more i'm
portant nation, she first learned the
language of the country which was
to be hers and adopted its religion.
she visited the huts OF humble peas
ants and often would stop overnight
IN some out f-the-way cottage, where
she would have the opportunity to
make real friends of her subjects.
She was as brilliant in mind as in
person. Although social advancement
OF her kingdom interested her, she
wanted also to further culture in the
form or literature, music and art She
wrote poetry and books, which were
or real merit. She brought about a
revival OF the art which had once
existed in the country and attracted
the attention of the world to its
achievements. Her castle was beauti-
ful and luxurious as one could wish
for queen, and she had one room
which was known as the golden
chamher, where everything was
wrought in exquisite gilt. But this
luxury does not mean that she op-
pressed the people nor wrung from
them the money which they needed
for necessities in order to nav for
luXuries, as certain other queens have
done. No; she brought with her great
wealth from the two large countries
Of her father and mother and she
spent this money freely in her little
adopted kingdom.
She was not, however. SO absorbed in
the public duties of her position that
she forgot her personal duties as
mother. To her six children she gave
her love, her time and all the
thoughtful care which her more hum
BILE subjects might devote to their
children, that they might grow up to
be fine men and women. She super
vised with great care the education
OF each one and taught them the spirit
of love and service to their people.
That they might know the value of
work and industry, and that they
might have understanding of the life
and problem of the worlIingman, she
had each one taught n trade.
Then came great war, when the
very existence of the little nation was
threatened. The queen threw herself
heart and soul into the struggle of
her people. She nursed tho wounded
soldiers, she organized the women,
rich and poor alike. for war work. She
wrote appealing articles to be sent to
other countries, which brought help
to the suffering people, who were
fighting against overwhelming odds.
but they were not vanquished, and
when their mighty enemy was finally
downed by the little country's allies
war was again declared.
The story has all the earmarks Of a
wonderful fairy tale, which would de-
light any small girl and many a
grown-up girl rs well, for whom the
glamour Of queens life and power
still holds a fascinat tion.
Il X
But the much-used and oft-abused
phrase that truth is stranger than
fiction" here pokes in it's appearance
and announces that the logical end
does not follow. The logical end, as
one need not tell any ono who has
ever delved into the delights of fairy
book land. is that the queen and her
family "live happily ever after" ana
that the realm Is blessed under her
sweet guiding hand.
But this is not fiction, II. il fact.