MEASURING THE QUEEN'S MOUTH.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

MEASURING THE QUEEN'S MOUTH.

'• Mr. Gibson, R.A., told us, ' relates iJr. Macdulay, in his Victoria, R.1., "of his visits to Wiuddor, when honoured with sittings for his admirable bust of the young Queen. On first getting the commission and the command to attend at the Castle, he was in much anxiety and trepidation concerning his interview wtih royalty. The very first half-hour put him perfectly at ease. He was charmed by the gracious and affable demeanour both of the Queen and the Prince, and he wa3 surprised and delighted by the wide and varied knowledge shown by the Queen in conversation, for she talked frankly on many subjects. At one of the sittings he said he wished to measure the mouth, if her Majesty would allow him. ' Oh, certainly,' said the Queen, ' if I only keep it still and uot laugh ! ' The proposal was apparently unexpected, and so droll that it was some time before theQueen could compose herself, and only after repeatedly laughing. Another day he said that he wished to see her Majesty, in evening-dress, She came down stairs with the Prince,, who accompanied her, having, like a fond young husbaud, his arm round his wife's neck, and said, pointing to the shoulder, ' Mr. Gibson, you must give me this dimple.' The only drawback in the artist's pleasant recollections of those days was the disturbing presence of a dear, bright, restless child of about three, who kept dodging about with her doll. J his was the Princess Alice. Whether the Queen divined the sculptor's thoughts or merely desired a diversion, she said to the child, 'go and give Mr. Gibson your hand.' The little thing toddled up and held up her hand, which the artist took and kissed, after which there was stillness for a long time, and the artist's attention was not disturbed. After the last sitting the Queen said, ' Now Mr. Gibson I shall have pleasure iv showing you what is worth seeing in the castle ;' and tho Queen and Prince took trouble to bring to his notice all thut they thought would ! most interest a a artist. Mr. Gibson . seemed pleased to tell all these details, aud laughed in recalliug the Queen's amusement on first being asked perj mission to measure her mouth, adding, ' I measured also her height to a line, | and it was exactly five feet.' " Canon Wilberforce says it costs England more to keep its paupers than is required for the army and navy.