COSMOPOLITAN GOSSIP. ANECDOTES OF ROYAL PERSONAGES. Interesting Extracts. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) London, May 10.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 387, 24 July 1889, Page 6

COSMOPOLITAN GOSSIP. ANECDOTES OF ROYAL PERSONAGES. Interesting Extracts. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. ) London, May 10.

iib anonymous author of " Recollections of Court and Society " (a book which was less successful than itdescvred to be) isagain to the fore, and this time looks like making a subetantial hit. " Cosmopolitan Gossip,' as his now volume of anecdotes and reminiseeucos is called, has been very favourably noticed by the " Times" and other dailies, moat of which give voluminous extracts. It is greatly to the author's credit that he has contrived to make his tittle-tatfcle about courts and royal peisonagea interesting without introducing a singlo unkind reflection or ungenerous allusion. Cynical he often is, but malevolent never. Attached aro some extracts.

Tun Empress of Germany. Tho third Empi-ess of Germany, Augusta Victoria, diflers in almost every inspect from tho two predecessors, whose names are united in her own. She has no political ambitions, and claims no other privilege than to be a faithful, loving, and unexacting wife :: — ■ In her elevation she remembers without /nutse hoy teiho days when she was a modest, almost penurious little Princess. Thus, when tho Court was plunged in deepest mourning by the death of two Emperois, she declined to hold a "Court." because, according to etiquette, all the ladies would have to attend in entirely white gala robes and trains, and she knew enough ot tho thrifty German ways to realise bow gladly most of the ladies would be exempted from the onerou.s expenses of the costume de rigtieur, especially after the equally heavy outlay for black garments a few months before.

A Love Romance ov Royalty. The Princess Dagmar, before she became the wife of the Czar, and relinquished her own name in favour of that of Maria Feodorovna, had also had her girlish romance :—: — She was engaged to his elder brother, the Czarevitch, a tall handsome man, with line, clear-cut features, closely resembling his beautiful mother, and she loved him with all the fervour of a young ardent heart. In 1865, at Nice, the Grand Duke Nicholas fell from his horse and was so badly injured that his life was despaired of. Hi&jiancec hastened to him, and never left his side till he breathed his last. The succession to the throne devolved on the Grand Duke Alexander. He stood by the deathbed of the Czarevitch, who, in presence of the Emperor and Empress, placed the hand ot the weepinsc Dagniar moo his, saying to her with almost his last words : "Marry ray brother ; he is true as crystal, and I wish it. ' Enforced by political reasons, this bequest was law to the bereaved girl.

Printl 1 Bismarck at Home. Prince Bismarck, whether aO Wilhelm" strasse, Varzin, or Friedrichsruhe, is a veryplain man indeed, and is utterly careless ot appearance?. His servants are all ancient and indifferently dressed, and his equipages are said to be "plainer and uglier than those of a provincial gentleman never leaving his native city.'" The Prince has his own way of getting 1 rid of visitors who outstay their welcome. An Ambassador once asked him how he managed to end an interview. " Peifectly easy," answered Bismarck. "My wife knows pretty accurately when people prolong their visit beyond the pioper time, and then sho sends me a message that 1 am wanted." He had barely finished speaking when a footman knocked at the door, and informed his master that the Princess wished to speak to him. The diplomat, blushing and confused, beat a hasty refcrsab, without stopping for the ordinary formalities of leave-taking.

The Due d'Aujiale axjd Mdmjs de Clixcuahv. Of the relations of the Due d'Aumale with Mdme. de ClinchamD, a lady whom rumour has several times mentioned as about to become his wife, and who has been his constant companion for several years, the water pays :—: — At meals the Duke sits, after the Continental fashion, in the centre of the table ; the place opposite to him, which would have been that of the Duchess, is left un- j occupied, and jMdme. de Clinchamp takes hers a little at the left of that scarcely perceptible vacancy, facing the host and the guests bidden to the more informal luncheons and dinners. There certainly could bo nothing strange or incongruous if, aft pi* ten years of widowhood, a man of sixty-eight sanctioned by the closest of ties an intimacy in which he has found unfailing sympathy and comfort, and if he married the companion of his prosperity and reverses ; but among his friends nothing lias transpired of any such intention, nor do they seem to believe in the suspicion that such a denouement has already taken place. Tho Duke has changed nothing in his habits : the lady is serenely impenetrable. Montaigne would say, ' Who knows ?' and the modern philosopher, 'Why not?'

Tile Empress Eugenie at Faknuokodgjx. The e\ -Em press Eugenie has few companions ab Farnborough, and those who du'ell there ha\o accepted the melancholy austerities of her life. She carried away with her from Camdon House to Farn borough all that she held dear by association in the former place. When she assumed her mourning 1 robes, the Empress laid aside for ever thesplendour of dtess and luxury of attire she once loved &o woll. In leaving behind her fche jewels that set ofT her beauty, she seems bo have abandoned all the habits and ceremonial of Court life. Her establishment is comparatively modest ; the stables contain but; a small number of horses, including the ponies she drives herself ; four or five carriages stand in fche coach-houses, wibh the imperial escutcheon and crown emblazoned on their panels ; the servants and attendants are not many, bub they have all been in her employment for a long- time and are devoted to her.

! Queen Marje Christine and the Spanish Pojet. ' . Tho Queen-Regent of Spain has nob only the tacb that comes with the teachings of royalty, but the truer quality that springs from kindness of heart, as may be gathered from the following incidenc :—: — A well-known Spanish poeb, deservedly famous for the harmony of his verse, waged war against the Regency with such bitter i and unmeasured denunciations, thab he was at last arrested, tried and exiled. He was far from wealthy, being dependent on his pen for his livelihood, so that the wife and children he left behind were soon reduced to ab&olute poverty. For their sake the banished poet solicited the QueenRegent's pardon ; for their sake it was granted at once, and the order signed which authorised his return to Spain — a free man. Touched, by this promptgenerosiby, the poeb begged for the favour ot an audience. She received him more as a future adheient than a past foe, and after a few gracious words fehe said suddenly, with warm-hearted impetuosity which ever and, anon breaks

through Her sad reserve: "You are not , very rich, Senor ; literary men o£ genius* rarely are; and you 'have a large family." "I have six children, your Majesty." " Six !" said the Queen. " Well, there are ' three for you and three for me." From that day the three daughters of the poefe were educated at the .Regent's expense, ' under her own personal supervision, and monarchy counts bne loyal subject more. With this anecdote we must conclude our\ extracts from a book that is full ofgood stories and interesting gossip.