A Pretty Anecdote.

Evening Star, Issue 7658, 7 July 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Pretty Anecdote.

A nice little anecdote illustrates the habit the Dowager-Empress Victoria has of going about so simply and unreservedly as she does at Potsdam, where the following took place, which is perfectly true :—One day as the then "Kronprinzesse" and her eldest daughter, Charlotte—now Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen—were walking in the streets of Potsdam, attended by one lady-in-waiting, they came to a little sort of alley, which they had never yet seen, and in the window of a very small house they saw an inscription to the effect that cobbling as well as bootmaking was carried on in there, cheap and clean, etc. Down into the cellar-like abode went the party, to the no small astonishment of the worthy cobbler, who hastily dusted a chair for them with his apron and asked what they required. The Kronprinzesse said she wished apairofshoesfor herdaughter, and requested him to take hermeasure. The worthy fellow did so with delight, assuring her "that his work was better than in the dearer shops, and she was sure to be pleased with the shoes, and would recommend him to her friends and relations," etc., etc. One of the ladies then placed a gold piece on the table, which the poor fellow, being unable to change, was to his great joy told to keep, and also told to send the shoes, when finished, to the New Palace, and address them direct to the Kronprinzesse herself. You may judge of the astonishment of the poor shoemaker when ho heard this. "To the Kronprinzesse!" he repeated, utterly confounded. " Heir des Himmels! It cant be you yourself!" he exclaimed, too astonished for anything else. A nod answered him as the ladies left the place. The work, however, was, as everyone may guess, as well and cleanly done as the man knew. how. Whether tho Empress Victoria really did recommend him to her friends is not known, but we hope the cobbler prospered after that.