PRINCESS ORANGE NASSAU.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 497, 3 May 1909, Page 3

PRINCESS ORANGE NASSAU.

The announcement of the' "birtli of an heir to tho throne of Holland will have caused extraordinary delight throughout that country,and though, no doubt, tho. people would have been still more glad had the'child been a boy, they will probably'be quite content to remain for an extended period under feminino ■riilo. They are well accustomed to it by this time,; for: the pfeSent''.'Queen's '^father'died when she was.a small child, I ,and during her minority her'mother'admihister^''tho r alfairs of. the', kingdom. ■ It' is' early '-jet"., to" tlunk about a baby's education, though one may feel pretty sure that no time will bo lost'in considering how- the new princess can best.be trained for her future responsibilities; Queen Wilhelmina herself was very carefully brought -up. ' From' the time she-was five' years old she had an English governess. At that time sho spoke French as well as Dutch, and was quickly taught to speak English. She was allowed to;live a very happy childlife, playing for hours each day with a, huge family of dolls,; which she regarded as very live. a:nd. important',people. ■ As an only child, and with a ; view ,to the public -life which would necessarily be hers' later, the' Queen-Mother considered' it verv desirable;for the Princess to bo accustomed to the society of children of her own age. Hence one or more afternoons of each week were devoted to tho entertainment of the children of .Court officials, Dutch aristocracy and diplomatists, when unrestricted romping and l fun were the order of tho day. Since"no distinction of. persons was allowed' and free scope given to all the guests for playing with any particular toy which ■ happened to attract their fancy,' it . was'an excellent and perfectly natural method for inculcating the desire to give pleasure to others'which Queen Emma wished: her child; to' possess. - '. . A large suite of rooms sparingly furnished made blind man's' buff, hide-and-seek, rounders, and endless .other games quite practical, and tho intense happiness of tho whole party,' the ease of intercourse arid the screams of delight could not fail to impress' an onlooker that Eoyal children have just as good a time as do other children. The many absurd stories .which had: been'.circulated, by ignorant' people, of / "tlie Princess's lonely childhood, her stately and stilted upbringing and pathetic isolation, • often brought a smile to the faces of. thoso' who were "behind the scones." '. i _ Her education for the tirst two years was devoted almost!entirely to acquiring a facility for' reading, .writing, and elementary grammar, interspersed with .au introduction to figures and calculations. Her master also instituted the custom of relating'stories," which tho Princess,;in-her turn, was expected, to recapitulate, two. days later to her. tutor. This proved a most excellent method for cultivating and strengthening tho memory, and one which was pursued with great success until other and more advanced work had to bo taken up. ,In tho process' of educating the young Princess a peculiar problem;was over confronting tho,Queen-Mother in her gonoral scheme, namely, the fact that her daughter had a fewer number of years to devote to study than'the majority of girls, and a much widor range of subjects to acquire within a certain and limited period. It is . the custom in most Royal families to considor the girls "grown-up" at seventeen or oightoen, and sinco the Princess 'Wilhelmina would probably form 110 exception on this point it was evident that a heavy task awaited professors aiid masters. ' ' ■ ■ -