“ LITTLE DUCHESS.”

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1927, Page 4

“ LITTLE DUCHESS.”

AMIIItKD AND J.OVKJV

(By an Australian in the “Svdnov Herald.”)

“Tall women are made to lie admired: little women to he loved.’’ So runs the old adage. The Duchess of York—the 'Tittle Duchess” as she is affectionately named in England—is both admired and loved. “Little Queen .Eliza,belli.” the Prime of Will os bnntcringly calls her.

Now. wherein lie s the ‘ Kupei lat ive charm of the DuchessF Not in her good looks, though they are above the ordinary; nor in her exquisite daintiness; nor, yet in her pleasing personality. It is the soul shining through here eyes which makes her presence felt wherever she mhy be. If one may define a spiritual quality so, she lias a stamina of soul. The glamour of Royally ,Lhe fact that she is “the second lady in Enghuid,” means comparatively little to her. Her transparent sincerity shows her above all else to lie anxious to do her duty in the position in. which Providence has placed her.

The Duchess shares her Royal husband’s keen interest in industry and its problems, ll is well known l.kal the Duke spends a considerable amount of his time finding out for himself the conditions under which labour works and lives. The real knowledge of the correlation between labour and industry which the Duchess has teamed from him . will surprise and delight dcmacif.itic Australia. One of the Duchess’s last acts before leaving England was to enrol her eight months’ old daughter in the Fellowship of the British Empire. Little Princess Elizabeth is thus the youngest, of the -10.000 Fellows of this organisation which aims at t oping trade' within the Empire. On the occasion of m “at home” given by the Duke and Duchess ot/ York at the exhibition at AYentbloy, the Duchess, in conversation with an Australian said that it was her ambition .some d.iy .to visit the great Commonwealth of which she had heard so much from the Prince of A\n!es. But little Princess Elizabeth had not arrived then. Though her Royal Highness was naturally sad at leaving her child, she is. of course, delighted to have the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about the Empire | overseas. After she had taken what was intended to he the final leavetaking of the little Princess, slie repeatedly returned to the nursery, and in. a voice choked .with emotion, exclaimed, “God bless iiiv p.iby.” Dancing is the Duchess’s favouriie amusement. Since her marriage to the Duke it has been the order of the day for the Royal parties to ho enlivened by impromptu dances. This, out of compliment, to the Duchess, who is what Australians ((ill a ‘‘good sport.” Her merriment is quite infectious. fn her company no .one could bo dull for long. She laughs heartily, as she recalls when, as a very young girl she once disguised herself as a housemaid, shewed some tourists over her father’s rustle, and took their tip. Australians will surely give the winsome little Duchess a prominent place in “the sun.”