WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 238, 13 February 1911, Page 6

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen"). j THE QUEEN AS A WOMAN. INTIMATE PJC'TUIIE OF 11 Eli DAILY, LIFE. HOME IDEALS. "The Queen of England" is the title of an article ill the -North American lieview, by Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke, M.P. And it would be difficult to lind a more typical picture of an Englishwoman than is contained in the twelve pages which he. has written.

From the time of her Majesty's birth until her marriage her life was just that of the fairly well-to-do English girl; hardly that of the modern English £irl, perhaps, but nearer the old-iashiuned ideal, the loss of which many parents deplore. This was her .mother's plan:— "A child." she said, "has quite enough to do to learn obedience and attend to her lessons and to grow without many parties and late hours, which take the freshness of childhood away and the brightness and beauty from girlhood — and then children become intolerable There are too many grown-up children in the present day." The article tells how the Queen's many high qualities were developed—her interest .in charity by the frequent visits made in her mother's company to the J poor around her Richmond home at White Lodge; her religious convictions, bred by the daily life of her home; her musical accomplishments and her artistic talents, fostered by her stay in Florence, where her parents lived for two years. ROYAL ARTIST. "The Queen has a sweet voice," says Sir Clement Kinlook-Cooke, "a soft soprano, which greatly matured under the skilful guidance of Signor (now Sir Paolo) Tosti. .... She is a good

judge of a picture and an excellent critic, and while at Florence made several pretty sketches of landscape scenery. She rarely misses any good exhibition of pictures in London, is particularly fond of the old masters, and prefers their more finished style of painting to the impressionist school.

"Dramatic art of every kind appeals to her, and there are few plays of importance or that have attracted public attention during the last two decades she has not seen. Like her mother, she quickly seizes upon the humorous .side of a question. Thus she has a keen appreciation for a sparkling comedy or a farce.

"The Queen is greatly attached to the historical part oi her country. Ancient monuments of every kind have a fascination for her, and her acquaintance with different kinds of architecture must have entailed much study and close observance.

"She is particularly fond of visiting cathedrals, and ilcnows the interiors of most of the old city churches) besides being well versed in the countless treasures contained in the other historic buildings of our great metropolis. "Iler Majesty follows events attentively. She reads the newspapers daily, and as Princess of Wales attended the more important Parliamentary debates.

"Punctuality is a household word in the Royal establishment, and when the Queen makes an appointment it is always kept. BUSINESS METHODS. "In business matters her Majesty is clear and expeditious, methodical, and systematic. Her mornings are generally taken up with attending to the voluminous correspondence that arrives by every post. "Her secretary and lady-in-waiting submit their letters, and the Queen gives instructions concerning them. She quickly grasps the inain issue of a question and soon makes up her mind, and has never been known to lay aside a matter on the ground that to express an opinion thereon is irksome or difficult. Every consideration is shown to those privileged to serve the Queen, and before signifying her pleasure as to the personal attendance of members of her household, her Majesty will often enquire whether they may not have some other engagement, the breaking of which would be inconvenient to them."

The Queen as a mother is a picture ever present to the minds of her people. One need only quote this passage: "That the Queen's married life has' more than fulfilled all expectations needs no demonstration. The education and daily occupations oi the Royal children are under the direct supervision of their Majesties, and they are frequently with them during the day. "The King joins with his sons in their amusements and sports and closely concerns himself with their school work, while the Queen personally superintends the education of her daughter and that of the younger Princes." SECRET CHARITY. The details of the Queen's charitable works are shorter than one might expect. Only a tithe of her work for her people is described, for the simple reason that only a tithe of it is known, save to the recipients. But one sketch shows luiw, despite all the other calls on her time, her Majesty ensures that charity shall never be forgotten. "The Queen makes crochet wolleu garments for poor children at the rate of sixty a year, and on being asked how she could possibly make so large a number, replied: '1 have always one of the little petticoats on hand in each of my sitting-rooms, and 1 take it up whenever 1 have a few spare moments; then in the evenings iny husband reads to me and I work and get through a great deal.'

"No Queen of England," says Sir Clement Kinloch-Gooke, "ever entered upon her queenly state better qualified to fill that exalted position than Queen Mary. No Queen ever had a greater hold on the affection of the people."

10 CIRCLE THE GLOBE. TO WIX A WAGER. V New York, Fcbrury 5. With 110 more than £4O in lier possession, .Mrs. Gilbert, well known in the United States as authoress, musician and dramatist, started from Xew York today with the intention of circling tile globe.

She had arrived here the previous day from her home at Glenellen, in California. and this morning sailed for Gibraltar.

The remarkable journey on which the lady has entered is being undertaken as tin' result of a wager with .lack London, the famous novelist, that .she makes her own way round the world.

Mrs. Gilbert is Uie daughter of a wealthy manufacturer in Buffalo, and could, if she desired, indulge in the most luxurious travel. She intends to visit Australia/ and during 1 her joiirneyings she will give mandolin and guitar concerts at the different places at which she calls. In this way Mrs. (iilbert hopes to provide herseif with all the lunds of which she is likely to have any need.

THE GAY ALFONSO. SPAIN'S GIDDY YOUNG MONARCH. London, February 5. Court circles are busy with gossip concerning some gay doings of King Alfonso, Spain's young and impetuous ruler. The scandal in which "the charming Alfonso," as he was once dubbed, is dec! iMil to have involved himself, is l>r< > ..•>< i similar to that which brought abi.iu ili,! downfall of that other youth!fnl imm-rch, King Miinuel. Like Portugal's erstwhile Sovereign, Alfonso is said to lie desperately in love with a pretty little French dancer, Mile. liieotti. one of the most popular of all I the vaudeville stars in Paris.

His .Majesty, as the stories that are being told go, has accompanied mademoiselle to several places. Quite recently he visited his inamorata in Paris, and after his return to Madrid he sent her a number of costly presents.

It is all this, of course, that is at the bottom of the stories regarding <the domestic trouble in the Spanish Royal household, and the estrangement between King Alfonso and Queen Ena,

One of the London papers to-day declares that for some time past the Que<;n has been prevented from leaving Spain only through political pressure by England, and the fear that by doing so she might lose the custody of "her child, little Dora Alfonso, the Crown Prince.

LIKES THE LADIES. GERMAN CROWN PRINCE. London, February 5. The fondness for feminine society manifested by the German Crown Prince threatens to get that young gentleman into domestic difficulties. Reynolds' newspaper to-day hints at trouble as having already occurred 'between the Prince and the Princess because of the former's partiality for ladies, especially those of the young and beautiful variety.

ft is said that during his late Eastern tour Prince William, who is now in his 20th year, was particularly enamored of an Amcricafi girl of about 17, whom he met aboard the steamer Prince Ludwig on the outward trip. Reynolds' declares that the Crown Princess is curtailing the number of fancy dress balls given at the heir-ap-parent's palace, simply because the Prince is a little too attentive to his lady guests. (This story is a slight amplification pf one published some weeks ago. In the version previously given reference was made to the Prince's having acted as a judge at a beauty show, anil to the matrimonial discord that has been caused by his giddiness on that interesting occasion).

TOO MUCH TALK. HOW WIVES MAY BE CRUEL. Denying a wife a decree of separation from her husband because she had nagged her spouse, Supreme Court Justice Crane, of Brooklyn, expresses some views on domestic conduct which gave great comfort to Brooklyn men who always find their better halves sitting up and ready to go into action as a reception committee when they return from lodge meetings, uiistice Crane, in denying the wife the relief she asked for, said:—

"When the wife tantalises the huband into a temper the resulting hasty words and violent deeds may not amount to cruel and inhuman conduct, as the law uses these words, although men agree that insults and violence to a wife are inhuman. Otherwise she would bo permitted when seeking relief in court to profit by her own acts, in find that plaintiff's charges arc in the main true, and likewise that the provocation alleged the defence is substantiated by the evidence. The law docs not say that a man is ever justified in losing his temper and swearing at his wife, but it does say that when she comes into a court asking for a separation, with support, because of such conduct, the husband may show in defence that he was nagged at and provoked by her constant aggravating and exasperating treatment until he lost his temper and said and did things he never meant or intended. The defendant was extremely jealous. Jealousy often thrives oil mere trifles, inflamed by suspicion and imagination. Love, not hatred, is at the base of it, so that it brings an excruciating mental suffering equal to, if not surpassing, that of physical pain. If the defendant, through jealous, hasty temper, struck the plaintiff, had she caused him no injury bv rousing and goading? Jealousy and suspicion have been the only cause of trouble between this couple. Therefore, I have decided that while the defendant struck the plaintiff' and used offensive language, yet I will refuse her a decree, because of her treatment, of him. The complaint I do not dismiss, but refuse the relief asked, directing, however, that the defendant .support his wife and child by proper allowance."