The Duchess of Cambridge.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 372, 29 May 1889, Page 3

The Duchess of Cambridge.

It may not be generally known that the present Duke of Cambridge married an Australian lady. When I say married I, of course, refer to that strange " morganatic " function whereby royal persons are privileged to commit what to the vulgar would be bigamy." In other words, the com ; mander-in- chief, who could not confer the State of a Royal Duchess upon any woman not of royal blood, took unto himself a morganatic wife or legalised mistress, one Miss Smith, 'who at one time lived with her parents in a, fine house— now demolished — near Newtoivn, Sydney, last occupied by Mr District Court Judge Josephson. The union was, however, based on affection, and the Duke ne\er contracted a royal marriage. He and Mrs FitzGeorgre — her legal title by the marriage — had ever lived upon terms of virtuous happiness, which seem quite common place beside the vicissitudes which usually beset matrimony in high life. Mrs FitzGeorge was also very popular with the Duke's late mother, and with other members of the Royal family. The Duke is extremely fond of his three sons — the Hon. FitzGeorges — two of whom are in the army and one in a large commercial affair in the city. They are handsome young fellows, much sought after in society and clubland. A younger sister of Mrs FitzGeorge was born in Lyons Terrace, Liverpool-street, Sydney, She was possessed of singular beauty and talent, and, under the name of Miss Farebrother, achieved some fame on the London stage. She subsequently married Dr. Ambler, presiding genius of the Soho Square Hospital, a kind-hearted though eccentric practitioner, who, through his sister-in-law's iniluence, became physician to the Duke of Cambridge. The Duke extended his friendship so far as to become godfather to his nephews, the doctor's sons.

Civilian : " Whafc do you think of the new dynamite cruiser, the Vesuvius?" Naval Officer (dubiously) : '* Well, she's a pretty fair sort of a vessel." Civilian (testilyi : •' Why, what's the matter with her." Naval Officer : " The cruiser is swift enough and all that sort of thing, but I give my word as a gentleman, that her dancing 1 accommodations are simply j wretched, shamefully inadequate." First Sweet Girl — Oh, did you hear the news ? Mr Nicefellow, who is engaged to Clara Vere de Vere, hugged her so last night he broke one of her ribs? Second Sweet Girl ? — Just my luck. I might- have had him myself. Theatrical Dressmaker — What ! This dress too low in the neck ? Why, it isn't half so low as the dresses of ladies who occupy the boxes. Great Actress - True, but an actress must pay come regard to the proprieties, you know. Minister (dining with the family)— Bobby, I suppose when you grow up to be a man you will want to be an earnest Christian, won't you ? " Yes, sir, if it dosen't interfere with being a drum-major." An inter-section — The cemetery. Time out of mind— A forgotten date. A case of self-denial — The man who travels under an alias. It is a wise child that goes out of the room to laugh when the old. man mashes his thumb. The park commissioners have put up signs to prevent the wearing of the green. They read " Keep off the grass." Sick man — "Am I to take all that medicine ?" Wife—" Yes, all of it." Sick man— "There's enough in that bottle to kill a donkey." Wife— "No there isn't, John, or the doctor wouldn't have prescribed it."