HOW ROYALTIES AMUSE THEMSELVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10836, 20 August 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW ROYALTIES AMUSE THEMSELVES.

<, The German Emperor, by his restlessness and activity, which lie imports even into his pastimes, is entitled to first place among "kings who amuse themselves." He has st one time and another tried every form of recreation which human ingenuity has dovised— painting to tent-pegging, and from preaching to posturing in a hundred uniforms. During the last few months tennis has claimed his enthusiasm, and he spends an hour or two every day on the courts at Morbijon, Potsdam, or wherever his mercurial Majesty may be, His passion for surprise visits to garrisons and for reviews ho is still constant to; and his milder delights are found in painting and authorship. His eldest son, the young Crown Prince, is already an expert painter and violinist, in both of which arts he promises to excel. The King of Italy is an enthusiastic sportsman, and spends his leisure days in hunting the chamois and dividing the spoil among the peasants with whom he makes his temporary home. Queen Marguerite shares her husband's love of mountains; and there aro few peaks in' Northern Italy or Switzerland which she has not scaled. Clothed in the simplest and most serviceable of costumes, with her alpenstock in hand, the hardy Queen leaves her Court panting impotently in the rear. , . . The venerable King of Denmark, who is the oldest secular Sovereign in the world, still indulges in long rambles in the company of a couple of shaggy dogs. His delight is to mix with his people and to chat informally with them. The Queen of Denmark, in spite of her years, retains her lifelong devotion to art. 'She spends a cortain portion of every day in her studio in the pious .work of painting Scriptural pictures and altar-pieces. The Czar of Russia is an expert cyclist and shot; and a favourite pastime is to ride out mi his bicycle, rook rifle in hand, and take flying 'shots at the birds. He is a skilful player of Russian whist, and is said, during recent months, to have cultivated quite a passion for mechanical toys, an innocent diversion which might be commended to the notice of other monarchs. The Czar too, like his brother and late father, is a boxer with some pretence to science. The Empress of Austria is no longer the dashing horsewoman of 20 years ago, who was among the first over the fences in the Midlands. Her recreation now takes the form of long walks in company with her daughter, the Archduchess Elizabeth. The young Queen of Holland is an expert in many outdoor sport*. She is reputed to be one of the most graceful skaters even in Holland. She dances and cycles .well, plays badminton; and has a weakness for theatres and for travelling incognita with her mother. The King of the Belgians is a born speculator, and his passion for any form of gambling has .mado very, serious drains on his purse.'' He loves to put off the trappings of Royalty and travel unknown from one gay capital to another. His daughter, Princess Clementine, has been brought up so strictly, that at the age of 28 she has never known the delights of a waltz. Her wildest dissipation is to drive a pair of ponies into Brussels, in the company of a lady-in-waiting. . ..The Queen of Spain 'is one of the most expert lady fencers in Europe, and is a noted piquet player. ..: Her son, the young King, still retains a boyish love of kites, and drills his regiment of boy-soldiers with the firmness of a martinet. .'■'., \ -""-..-■•'• •//•■' .: The recreations of our own Royal Family are too, well-known to call for description. Not many, possibly, know that the Queen's favourite game- is Brett-Spiel, which closely resembles backgammon; that Princess Beatrice is an expert golf player; and that the j Princess Victoria of Wales is equally skilful; at hockey. J