PRINCESS MARY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 134, 13 July 1914, Page 5

PRINCESS MARY.

EXPERT AND FEARLESS LIDER.

FOND OF OPEN-AIR SPORTS.

It is understood that another twelvemonth is likely to elapse before Princess Mary is seen at court, says the English correspondent of the *' Chicago Tribune."

So far Princess Mary is known to rery few outside her own family, and a few of her intimate friends, but it may be said that she possesses a character and disposition that can only be described as lovable. She is her mother's constant companion and is literally adored by each of her brothers, while she invariably has a kind word and a smile for all with whom she is brought into contact or who are called upon to render her any service. She is some* what shy and retiring, and it is only when with a few friends of her own age and tastes that she really shows herself in her true light. The late Sir Richard Holmes, for many years the Royal librarian at Windsor Castle, once wrote of Princess Mary in the following terms: — "Prank and open in countenance, high spirited in character -and affectionate in disposition, Princess Mary will, when she leaves schoolroom and comes out in the social world, take all hearts by storm. She is so natural, so jolly, and so brimming over with the energy and joy of life. An old man, I hope I may be pardoned for trying to look into the future, and I must admit that I often wonder who will win the hand of our Princess. What an immensely lucky man' he will be! "

RIDING HER FAVOURITE PASTIME

Of late years Princess Mary has developed a great liking for the open air and riding is her favourite pastime. This is largely due to the influence of the King, whose constant companion she is when the court is staying either at Buckingham Palace or York Cottage. So far she has not yet made her appearance in the Row, but it is expected that this will be done when King George resumes his morning rides later in the season. She is rapidly developing into a first rate horsewoman and during the past hunting season rode to hounds upon more than one occasion. The Queen, curiously enough, has a great fear of horses, and it is now some years since she took a ride, while she confesses a feeling of nervousness whenever her daughter is out riding and until she returns. Princess Mary, on the other hand, shows no fear at all when out riding, and has often outpaced the whole of her brothers in a sharp gallop through the Great Park at Windsor.

When the court is at Windsor and her elder brothers are passing their holidays there Princess Mary is often to be seen on the Thames steering a skiff pulled by the young Princes, and in this she shows considerable dexterity, the favourite haunts of the royal party being either Virginia Water or the "Old Cut" near Datchett. Next to riding, boating is her favourite outdoor pastime. She swims well, but does this rather more as a matter of duty and for the sake of her health than from any real liking for the sport. MAY NOW CHOOSE HER OWN DEESSES. The Princess is now advanced to the dignity of being allowed to choose her own dress, within certain limits of course, and usually under the advice of the Queen. She prefers a very simple style of dress and is not permitted to wear much jev.ellery. Such ornaments as she is to be seen wearing from time to time are quite simple in their character and are for the most part presents that have been made to her by the members of her family. Curiously like the Queen, both in face, figure and many of her likes and dislikes, Princess Mary shows this no more conspicuously than she does in her liking for having an umbrella with her no matter where she may be going nor what the weather conditions may be. Prom her earliest years Princess Mary has been carefully trained by her mother in what may be perhaps described as the domestic arts, and was taught how to cook simple dishes at quite an early age. She is, too, an excellent needlewoman, and is of great assistance to her mother in this direction, iu the manufacture of the thousands of warm and useful garments that the Queen makes year by year for distribution every Christmas. MADE MANY GARMENTS FOR POOR. During the summer and the early autumn the two work constantly together in the grounds at Windsor or Balmoral when the weather permits. Last year Queen Mary sent a greater number of. garments made by her own hands to the annual display of the London Needlework Guild than has ever previously been the case, and this year she Hopes to be able to send even more.

It is also of interest to recall that Princess Mary was the first of the royal ladies to open an account in the Post Office savings bank, and to this she adds some sum of varying amount every week. This was undertaken in the first place by the direction of the Queen, who desired that each of her children should have the principles of thrift inculcated in them as soon as they reached a suitable age. Therefore she insisted that each in turn should open a savings bank account, and Princess Mary now has quite a substantial sum standing to her account. This represents the balance of her pocket money, a certain proportion of which the Queen insists that she shall save.