SOCIETY MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 66, 7 March 1908, Page 4

SOCIETY MATTERS.

o I'EUSOXAI, XOTES FIWJI LOXDUX. Ixmdon, January IX. Only those who are brought iii close connection with the Court, ami with what may be called the business side ol Royalty, arc aware that our Sovereign might give points and a beating to Iho shrewdest commercial intellects of the day. In these democratic limes even Kings have to lie very much alive to (he value of money, and to their own just interests; this fact was ever prosent to the mind of IJueen Victoria's asltite uncle and meuolr. Leopold I. of llelginm. and each of the late f-ou-reigii's children received what mav be called a sound business education. This, of course, does n,,t menu that our Kin/. his brother, o,- Us sislers know much about business technicalities; but:'on Ihe other hand, il does mean that they each anil all know a great deal more concerning the practical value of money anil the importance of making judicious investments than do many men and women clocely connected with the business world. The Prince Consort, even when little more than a buy—that is, (luring the tiist years of his married life—made a careful study of English invcstiucn's. Fortunately for nis descendants, he had the foreign love of land and the belie! in its acquirement, and it is a matter oi common knowledge that, acting under his advice, the- yuccn mvcsleu tue greater pari oi the large stun lelt her

Ny an eccentric old gentleman in Uiuilon land which, at the time on the outskirts of urban civilisation, has since become a fashionable neighbourhood. Royal personages, like humbler mortals, sometimes indulge in a "gamble," and some years ago a group of investors belonging to the highest caste formed a syndicate for the exploitation of a pearl fishery, which proved anything but a success! The wonder is that this so.l of episode is not more frequent than it is, for every inventor with a crazy notion lo exploit, every adventurer aimon* to obtain influential backers, after he has failed with the millionaires, tri-s lo gel into touch with some good-

natural Royal personage (Perhaps the most businesslike younger member of our lloval Family is Hit' Princess of Wales. Her Royal Uighlii'ss received an admirable business (raining apropos of the work which she did in conneclion with her mother's many philanthropic schemes. This was further increased by the fact, never concealed for a moment by the late Duchess of Teek. that the future Quoth of England and her brothers had to be very careful with regard to their personal expenditure. This early training has stood the wife of the Heir Apparent in good stead, and so highly is her opinion valued concerning money matters, that even her private friends often venture to ask her advice concerning such important questions as marriage settlements and the granting of dowries. This business ability makes Her Royal Highness far more than a figure-head or kindly advisory consultant to the many important philanthropic societies with which she is in constant touch, for she is quick to detect any foolish extravagance, or equally foolish economy. Following the touching example set by the Kmpress Frederick, the KmprcsDowager of Russia has caused it to l.e known that her ollicial title is to be the Kmpress Alexander, and so she is styled in all Court documents and circulars. Her Imperial Ma jest v is said to have observed to a friend that she ciijov.ml every minute of her stay at Windsor last year, and it is believed that, not content with sharing a holidav home in Denmark with her sister, she will acquire a country house in England, large enough, should occasion arise, to shelter her eldest son and his Empress should they be compelled to lly from Russia. Captain llamer has' just arrived in England with a line specimen of the Chinese Chow dog. which is to be presented to the Queen by Sir Harry Knollys. the King's Equerry. Captain ITainer, who undertook the'task of securing this novel addition to the Queen s pets, travelled twelve thousand miles in performing his friendlv mission. The new dog will find himself well looked after at (he palatial kennels at Sandringham, and lie will have the companionship of several dogs of his own breed. The Queen is pnsisonntely fond of dogs, as can lie seen from her photo graphs, for she has probably posed with one or another of her canine pets more often than in any other ivav.

Her Majescty's love of dogs and horses is inherited from her father, the late late King Christian of Denmark, who could mount his horse without assistance when he was well over eighty years old, and used to say that he fell like a boy again directly he was in the saddle. The Queen specialises nowadays in IWzois, but she has also some line (hows and a number of very valuable Pekinese spaniels. ]n fact, at one time or other she has made a pet of almost every known variety of dog. Two years ago she secured two first prizes at Cruft's Show with her young liorzoi •' Saiidringham Moscow," which was bred from "(iatcliina,'' a beautiful white animal sent to her from St. Petersburg some years previously 'iv the Empress Dagmar of Russia. "

Tln> King's Siberian sludge dog " r.uska " has taken prizes on every occasion on which he has Iktu shown, and the Queen'* Russian Saiuoyedo •■•larfco" is the ln-at white Arctic'd:iL' which has been seen, in this country. '■Luskd" created great interest on his first arrival B t Sandringham owing to his refusal to touch meat of any sort. Every sort of tempting dish in the shape of meat, bones, biscuit, and grave was put before him, but lie would have none of it. At last it was discovered that his special fancy in dinners took the shape of fish and rice.