MUSICAL TASTES OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1520, 30 March 1887, Page 2

MUSICAL TASTES OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.

In a new book entitled (> Music m the Land of Dogs," the author, M. Remt», a Frenchman, gossips as follows on the musical tastes of the Queen's children ; The Prince of Wales plays chiefly on the rifle; but still it Is raid that he occasionally improvises a little m the banjo, and that he naed, when he wan a jounger man, to bo very fond of a collection of nigger songs. But his wife— the sympathetic Princess, with whom all England Is In love, as Belgium was m love with the beautiful Duobees of Brabant, now the Queen — tho Princess Is a really good musician, and one day, when she little thought it, I had the pleasure of hearing her play, with exquisite taste, the pretty caprice m F which Mdme. Napoleon Voarine had dedicated to her by her permission. The Princeßs has also token lessons on the guitar from M. CurtSob ultz. In the Prince of Walea's domestic circle many a pleasant evening Is devoted to light musio. Bat the true minstrel of the Court ia the Duke of Edinburgh, who tortures a fine Stradivarius m public concerts. Born with a trident m one hand and a bow m tho other, he is at once a violinist and a sailor. The Princesses are also more or Übs musical. Princess Christian accompanies on the piano the Dnoheßs of Connaught, who made her first appearance m public at a concert at Asoot m 1883. PrinoeßS Beatrice plays the piano, takes singing lesßons with Slgnor Tostl, and has composed a Kyrie. The Dake of Oonnnught, to boep up the traditions of the family, also playa an instrument, a very humble ono, it is true, but iv keeping wi<h his military profession— uamely, the drum — the drum with its noisy joliity the drum <vhioh hia only one note, Hard and dull, but a -noto which can Btir the populace, and call forth heroen, which oan be mournful at a funeral solemnity, and irresistibly catching at the head of An army on the match. Ie has only one note, but this Is the note of the flag, which summons round ita standard the patriotism of a nation,