A ROYAL SCHOOL OF COOKERY.

Evening Star, Issue 4158, 24 June 1876, Page 4

A ROYAL SCHOOL OF COOKERY.

An incident in the early life of tie I Grand Duohess Marie, who died the Other day, is narrated in the German papers in illustration of the great simplicity of mariners which used to characterise th§ : Russian and Prussian Courts. Her parents—Czar Nicholas and Empress Alexandra used annually to visit tie Prussian King, taking their children with them. So regularly, says the 1 London 'Globe,' was! this visit paid that in Berlin "and Potsdam it used to excite no further remark than '" The Russians are here again." Oh one occasion, while they were at Potsdam, the autumn manoeuvres were going on in the I neighborhood, and the whole party j went out to see the soldiers. The latter were at the time preparing dinner. . The ory, " The King and the Russians are coming" did not, however, disturb them, for the King had long before given orders, that his informal appearance in their midst was to be attended by no ceremony. " Keep your places," he had said, "you are hungry—enjoy rest—take no notice —I do not like fuss." The two young Grand Duchesses, Marie and Olga, went up to a group of soldiers who were peeling potatoes and admired the skill with which they performed the operation. ".Can you do that, children]" asked the King. "No; they had never tried," How? not yefc tried ? The sooner the better ; no one can be a clever housewife without learning to peel potatoes. Let us see how you could do it." The two Princesses at once knelt before the fire, receiving ; a couple of knives, and began their task, the King, the Czar and Empress, Prince William of Prussia (the present German Emperor), and Prince Alexander (the present Czar) all standing around. A Pomeranian, who had given up his knife, soon interrupted, "But young ladies you mustn't cut so deep; you cut away most of the potato, and 'we shall have nothing left to eat. Do all Russians cut potatoes in that way 1 ?" " Right, Ahlmann," said the king—he had before spoken to the man, and never forgot a soldier's name—" teach them how to do it in the Prussian way." Ahlmann accordingly showed them how to hold the potatoe and how to hold the knife, and exactly how much ought to be taken off; "and soon," the story goes, " the potato skins really fell more delicately from th« delicate hands of the princesses." We are not told what use was afterwards: made of this humble but laudable accomplishment.