A MIDGET'S LOVING REVERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4301, 9 March 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

A MIDGET'S LOVING REVERENCE

The Countess Magri, formerly the wife of Tom Thumb, and herself a midget, is writing her reminiscences in an American journal. This is her description of a visit which she and Tom Thumb paid to Queen Victoria; In 186-1 my husband and myself, being in London, were summoned to appear before the Queen at Windsor Castle. This my first appearance at Court, and I looked forward to it with a degree of interest that amuses mo now. But my memories of “The Good Queen” are vivid, and I am glad, too, that they are of a dear, gracious woman rather than the tar-away impressions of a reigning sovereign. ■ Her Majesty had invited quite an audience of distinguished people, together with, the lloyal Princesses and Prince Leopold. We wont through the programme which we were 'giving the general public, and elicited much applause. This was in the superb room known as the “Ileubons ’Boom,” After wc wore through, tho Queen signalled the General and myself to approach her. We did so, and her gentle, homelike manner immediately relieved my mind of any lingering feeling of dread or awe I may have had, and I felt at ease with her. She took my hand, and laying it on her palmi smiled as she called! attention to the difference m size, remarking, “It is smaller than an infant’s.” All the lords and ladies acquiesced, and one of them exclaiming, "OJi,_ seo her tiny feet!” Her Majesty continued to hold my band, and patted it in her dear, motherly way as she talked. For she did talk directly with us, without any royal nonsense of Speaking ’ through tho “lord-in-waiting.” Somehow this very tlung has always made me admire her more. It was as if ihcsr womanly, m'othorly self were superior to all the laws of Court etiquette which govern a Queen. . She asked mo about my family, and tho simple New England home-life I necessarily described may have had interest for this representative of tho Oul England from which it sprang. Site laughed as she recalled the General’s first visit, and asked him if he remembered how he had taken his cane to punish the unapproving demonstration of ’her poodle. Tho General answered her promptly, and assured her he could never forgot his first vi-.it to Her Majesty. She continued the conversation for some little time, then kindly dismissed us into- another room, whore' refreshments wore served us.

The Queen was dressed in. mourning, and her quiet black, while eminently becoming, was so little in accord with my childhood’s ideal of tho royal wardrobe tnat I smile now to think of it. And I kept my own counsel in the mat ter, too. I wasn’t going to betray my ignorance by expressing, wonderment, but my girlish mind couldn’t quickly take iu the idea of a Queen without a crown, and dressed more plainly than some of hor attendants.

I have seen other Queens since then, and met Kings and. potentates of all nations and all sorts of costumes, but for none of them do I hold the same loving reverence that I do for this Empress and Queen —Victoria.