"THE FIRST LADY IN THE LAND."

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1584, 8 April 1887, Page 3

"THE FIRST LADY IN THE LAND."

The Queen's life at Balmoral is very rir>ple and qniet. Her snite is not large. Her Majesty is slways accompanied to the Highlands bj H.B.H. the Pru-eees Beatrice, whose devotion to her mother is a splendid example to every English, or, as the Qoeen would banalf say, every M British " daughter. Since the Princess's marriage she is, of oonrse, frequently accompanied by her husband, I •rince Henry of Battonbnrg, whose pleasant frankness of manner and genuine kindliness of nature hare won him ft high place in the regard of the Highlanders. Occasionally other memben of the Boy al Family visit the Quean. The Prince and Princess of Wales often come to Abergeldie, which it quits naar Balmoral, and this maon

the young widowed Duobess of Albany has been staying at Birkhall. Frequently Her Majesty invites come of her ftienda to reside at Abergeldie Mains, and a visit to them there for an afternoon call makes a pleasant drive. A lady-in-waiting, two young ladiesmaids of honour —a Cabinet Minister, an equerry, one of the Queen's secretaries, and the doctor, may be said to make up the suite ; and the Qaeen's able and indefatigable commissioner, Dr Profeit, is always at hand. Her Majesty here, as everywhere, works very haid, and gives much of her time to the business of the nation, the management of her own estate, and the welfare of the people among whom she livea. She spends as much as possible of her time in the open air, reading and writing outside when the weather permits, and sometimes breakfasting and taking tea in one of the summerhouses; in walking about the lovely grounds, with a single attendant, and one or more of her fine collie dogs, and in taking long drives to places of interest and beauty in the neighbourhood, and frequently honouring some of the neighbouring gentry with a visit The Queen also visits a great deal in the homes of the cottars, in many of which there are tokens, in the shape pictures, books, and other valuable presents, of Her Majesty's affection and regard for her humble subjects and friends. It is most touching to hear them speak of the Qaeen's kindness, and the interest they take in all the members of all the Boyai Family is very great, and almost intimately personal in its character. She frequently shares in their domestic joys by attending in their homes the " kirstnin" (christening) of a baby, and in their sorrows by being present at the short religious ceremonies performed by the ministes on the occasion of a funeral—The Bev. W. W. Tulloch, in The Lady's World.