PRINCESS MAUD OF WALES.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8508, 30 June 1896, Page 4

PRINCESS MAUD OF WALES.

(Sarah A, Tooley, iv Woman ab Home. The announcement of bbc engagement of Princess Maud of W*ries to her cousin, Prince Charles of Denmark, came rather aa a surprise l*at vubumn, for there bad been a lull m the speculation regarding bhe future hnebande of the ■ young princesses of Wales,- whpm gossip has m burn bestowed upon almost every eligible foreign prince, aa well as upon several leading noblemep ab home, ib being though b that, the youDger sisbers might follow bhe example of the Duchess of Fifei The Princess Mand is the yonngeab daughter and youngest surviving child ol bheir Royal Highoesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and was born November 26, 1869. Some months .before , . she was born her mobher bad accompanied bhe Prince on a prolonged tour m bbc East, visiting bhe land of the Pharaobß, the gorgeous palaces of bhe Sultan, and the classic spots of Greece, and possibly the influence.' of this npon her mobher may account for bhe apirib of adventure which distinguishes Princess Maud from her sis tore.' Albhough ebe has always enjoyed the privilege o< baing the '■ baby" of the family, she has shared with bhe others bhe wholesome discipline which bhe Prince__ of Wales has always exercised over ber ohil_n.O,< fond and genble mother though she be. Ib waa her habit) at Sandringham bo h*ve her children around her at bhe breakfast table, and Prinoess Maud, being the yon'ogest, was priviledged to have her libble chair close teside bhab of ber mobher, and occasionally received tib-bits from her plate. One morning, when Bhe bad been given a covebed morsel, oi bread and marmalade, the little Princess noticed that a lady visitor waa looking inbenb'y at it,- and afber a few minutes hesitation, and ao evident Btruggle againsb inclinabi n, said, '* Well, you may have ib if you wanb ib." : The guest very naburally was about bo refuse the offer, which was ooabing the little one such a hard sacrifice, bnb ber mobher quickly whispered, " Please take it - she must; learn bo be though' ful about others." The bame careful braining was exercised m the nursery ab Marlborough House, the attendants being fully aware bhat there was to be no pampering or indulgeica of bhe royil children. They were simply addressed *s "Prince" and '• Princess," bbc more ceremonious tible of Royal Highness never being applied bo bhem. This avoidance of pomp and ceremony forms a marked contrast to the atmosphere of Bbabsly dignity io whioh the miniabure King of Spain has been reared; and wh cb must surely be robbing his young life of the happy uno -<nscioußne_s of ihildhood. The education of Princess Maud has from her earliesb years been under the sup9rintendauce of Miss Knollys, tbe daughter of Sir Francis Koollys, who ac'ed as English governea*. This lady has for many ye»rs enjoyed the confidence of bhe Princess of Waleß, and still remains m attendance npon bhe young Princesses to advise them m bheir reading and more mature stud es. Mademoiselle Yaubhier . aoted . as French governess, and Fraulein Noedel as German instructress, the latter being now io charge of bbc Girls' T-ohnioal Schools at Sandringham. She bad bhe honor of inebraeting Hsr Royal Highness and her daughters m bbc great'grandmotherly, thongh charming art of spinning, m which tbe Princess of Wales is almosb an adepb. But sibbing down to spin, after the eedate manner of bhe Puritan maiden Priacilla is nob to bhe baste . of the Princess Maud. She bakes a burn at the wheel for fun occasionally, but infinitely prefers a spin on her bicycle, or a canter on her thoroughbred. Her love of outdoor life, and of emulating the accomplishments of her brothers, brought npon ber bhe name of " The Little Tom Boy" from bhe Queen, when she heard of her childish escapades, although Her Majesty was fond of her lively grand daughter of Wales. Among her brothers and sisters she is still called -« Harri-?." The whole family, excepting the more ebaid Prince "Eddie," were distinguished for bheir love of fun, and bbc old folks aboub Sandringham, who simply worship bhem, will give you to-day a comical look, more eloquent than words, as they aay, •"«' Yes, they were uncommon lively when they were children." Was there a house m building or were painters ab work at the Hail, ib was nob unlikely bbab bhe workmen wonld rebnrn f-oni a temporary absence bo find bhab Prince George had re-mixed their painb for them and m sundry ways assisted operations.