QUEEN MARY OF ENGLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 22 June 1911, Page 2

QUEEN MARY OF ENGLAND.

iA CHARACTER SKETCH OF THE FIRST LADY OF THE EMPIRE. In some quarter® an idea is rife thai the wife of the ipreseint Kin# is ;i stronger type of character thrf.n His Majesty. and that sihe will unduly influence him. Those wlio know both the King aiul Queen feel that this idea is wrcyi-gi. and: th-ey aire. asisiu-e-di that Queen Mary's influence will, be felt only iLn matters pertaining to a woman's "rovinee.

Our new Queen-Consort. Queen Mary, as. she desires to be known, is undoubtedly a woman of strong- personality and tenacity of purpose. And 'to this she adds a dignity andi reserve- which, to those who do not know her way. conveys an erroneous idea of hauteur. The Queen had, as most Royal chil-dii-en have, a careful upbringing and a good 1 , sensible education. She greatly benefited by being the constant companion of her mother, the late Princess Mary," Duchess of Teck. As a child, although living a caredfor life, the Queen was not cribbed, cabined, and' confined, nor was the precluded' from indulging in the. tomboyisb pranks for which she had a predilection ; and' as sine was blessed' with three brothers, this fondness for boyish, games is not s-uirprising.

Among the gift for which the Queen has to thank' Heaven is a very keen sense of humour. Here she shares a gift in common with her countrywomen.

She is. an intensely modern,, woman, and makes it her business to keep abreast of current affairs. She believes, as so many women do nowadays, that the way in which a woman can- prove an interesting companion and' chum to her husbandi is by taking an intelligent and understanding interest in" the questions Which affect him. Thus', knowing Kin? Georg© to be a keen politician bad neairly written -Imperialist—'the Queen takes eaire to study 'European politics to an extent of having .'as complete grasp of the intricacies of the political: situation as any woman alive. As well as a kee.ni sense of humour, the Queen has am excellent memory. This will go far to help her in her now arduous life. Any woman. who has a "good', memory for faces" has in her. power the ability to be popular. This. ■memory of Queen/ Mary's' has already stood her in great stead, particularly when, as Duchess of York, and' afterwards a& Princess of Wales, she travelfed' with her Royal husband to our Dominions overseas. Before taking these Empire tripsl she made it her business to acquaint herself with any and every fact "of interest about the olace she 'intended visiting. The. conditions of life, the customs, and the religions of the people all came in for a share of her attention; and! when she reached _ the places, she had nob forgotten the information gleaned beforehand. The women in India were particularly flattered, by this delicate compliment which was oaid them by an English Princess. They found that throughout her tour she was ■not guilty of even the most pardonable "betise," either in matters of religion or caste; and this fact is .remembered in her favour to-day, now that she is Queen. Queen Mary has inherited a Lady Bountiful disposition from, her mother. She is frankly fond of niinisterin-e to people who are humbly placed, but she is not an indiscriminate giver, as so many women are.. The woman question fascinates her Majesty. And the betterment of workers generally is. .one of her pet themes. Social and economic problems take up a great part of her' time: .she has room in hor heart for all children, and she believes- that tho technical education of the little ones in our elementary will be of great value to the community at large. I said just now that the Queen inherited her mother's love of social work. .In similar fashion, hor own chUdren, have in part inherited her social-servico k proclivities, andvin. part been trained to. render service t8 others. All tho Royalj children can do knitting and crocheting, and Princess Mary does a great deal of, needlework ; -am-di the work of these little, people goes to gladden the hearts of, : their mother's pensioners in- squalid,; parts of London. Princess Ma>y has. been promoted to the dignity of YieePresidency of one. of her mother's needlework guilds. She "is emulating her mother, who has a needlework bag in every room. and. who has. evon been known to do "charity work'' between' the courses at dinner or luncheon when' dining alone. The Queen is often on house-wifely, { thoughts intent She vies with Gorman women hi the art of home-making. Her horuseholdi is ordered as naturally and simply as that of any other gentlewoman, and no detail of domestic economy is too small to command her interest and. attention. When she expects guests, the Queen gives a last look round to see that their rooms are arranged as she thinks they will like them. Very often a personal touch is given, a vase of flowers, a packet of the guest's pet stationery, a favourite book. or something that proves her memory of their small fancies to be strong. Queen Mary dislikes children, to bq pampered and petted to the extent, of spoiling, and she has seen to it that her own children shall not suffer in this respect. She hasi been a Spartan mother,

andhas insisted: that they shall cultivata a .spirit of independence. As soon rs their small fingers, can wrestle with tipes and buttons, the youngsters are made to dir©?s themselves*. Prineessi Mary, however, now has'a maid of her own. and, in consequence, feels "grown up." But this maidi was not. allowed until' the small lady had 1 mastered the art of managing without, one. ; _ . Queen. Mary i&, like King George, intensely British.. When she first came out, she insisted upon being called "Princess Mary of England." Queen. Victoria \va& probably the first to notice her yoiJing kinswoman'.s intense .patriotism, and she did' all in her now or to foster it. Englishwomen at la.rge did not perhaps: realise 'how John Bullish (or should w 7 e say "Jean" Bullish ) the Princess was. until her marriage, wJien" she Insisted; that all her trousseau .should bo English, even, to the dainty white satin boots, with their hand-embroider-ed sprays, of May. Since then, particularly of late years, Queen Mary has done •alii ini her power, by example and precept, to encourage home manufactui'e. She supports home industries in every .and she see® tliat her women friend® dto the same.

As a business woman the new Queen proves her regard! for essential "principles so lamentably lacking in many women. She settles all her accounts every six weeks. If she orders a diress . she first obtains an- estimate. One dressmaker made an estimate, and then, when the dress was sent home, added' some extras on to the bill. The Queen .paid it. But she has mot since given that dressmaker an order ! As most women know, Queen Mary's taste in dress is simple. She does not indulge an extravagant or extreme styles.- Perhaps for this reason, no one lias.ever seen her in a. picture-hat or a s'kin-t'i.ght frock.. She has mastered' the art of dressing to suit- • her style. She wears wihat suit her,' and not necessarily what is being worn.' Her clothes belong to her. not 'herself . to her clothes. Small, neat toques-. '. arid dresses of the "Princesse" variety, suit her well. Pale blue, ma.uve, and lavender are her pet colours. ~ In spite of her reserve, the* Queen hasa host of personal friends. Her friend - ships are sane and' healthy', and no v b morbidly sentimental'. 'Her. love for .her husband and children keeps her free from' the mawkish demonstration of affection that some women give to other women'. Queen Mary is very conscious of her own personality—too conscious, ■ pi.'rhn.ps. for her -to merge her individuality lin that of any other person, too conscious of her own ego. to fuse very well with a.n\- .other .person. _..;. She is su(ficioiic.lv well-contained-, if'nfefd be, to depend for happiness' .upon ' 'herself.', Therefore her ladiois-in-wji.ft'ing ha»vo an: : v easy time. Their comi'Sa.niorisihip ~ i&-..,' not sought incessantly. They have;=;therr v .-: : . own. are not constantly'!, being sent for Queen,. ', If the-; Queen were a pobfr •.wpmaiii they \vould- ; not be in her household'. ,'c•■'■■■..

Constancy and. fidelity are too; '.'strong characteristics of King GcorgeyS ladyShe has a .pretty and of remembering people she 'as "a phitd—old' fiucnds,.of her .mother's, for instance—to whom she.' sends cards at Christmas. Her knack -of herself with the lives of othei'i (people is seen in the-interest shown h"' : hor in working wom.r.n the- world'over. Asi<aii instance of this, she. was, when Princess • of Wales, visiting Vienna, arid-,: although very full of official engagements, '''she found' time to seek out a lady who was managing . a Queen Victoria ' j"u.bil'3*o Home. It was not merely a ten-minute-, regulation call that she- 'paid/. She re-*.;. mained about a-n hour, and dis.eusscd the;[ Home and its workings in detail. _j ■•'.!■; No one would) call our new Queen an . outTof-door woman, though she -rides- aiwl. drives creditably. S'h,e has ;no .pjreat'' amount of 'sympathy for ■the woman-. She is foiid -of seeino- a. race, but violent .sports do not claim \ much' time or sympathy dn her case;. .:■ ■ l ' 7', The 'dignity and power of the-Throne' i? in no d'anger, and Englishwoinen. may well feel that the new reign opens out a. vista which promises'-as 'glorious an"' epoch as any in our long Island histoiy. —"N.Z. Graphic." . '