Portugal's Queen.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 8683, 7 January 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

Portugal's Queen.

The Westminster gives a character sketch of the Queen of Portugal, who wa.-i recently in Kuglaiid. The chief and must salient trail of. Queen Aim-lie \s character is the extreme, almost I'uritanii.al, simplicity shown in every act ~f her life as a lady and as a. qivcen. Her exceptiona.lly tall 'and l>caaitile.l lig'.ire is always quietly and simply clad, hut tie. ;.evens: tailor-made costumvs —which she prefers, -aiways bear tin- indefinable stamp ol elegance and ebic that. ehiiraet-eris.es tiie well-dressed French woman. She does not care (or jewels, and only wears them when oblige.il to do so on ollicial occasions. Tile inevita.ble pomp and publicity of a. <|iiccu's life weary her, and these- she tries to escape from a.s often a« possible. It. in quite a usual sight U> sco the tall, cmiiiii,Hiding ligure of the. queon, accompanied only by a, lady-in-wait-ing, walking along i he'ldislum streets, her quick, nbserwiiit glance in|.ere-stedl.y scanning the faces of the passers-by as if taking notes or gathering fresh impressions. Tine poor of 1,i.-.!i.,. : lock upon her an tln-ir guardian-angel. She U assaulted in her way by doz-uni of petitions, and she accepts thorn all. .'u night, in th« )\alaee, she looks them o\--r herself, orders inquiries to Ik- nude, and organises lists of those sho wishes to a.-sisl.

Early in the morning, when fa.shio.n.a.hlo Lisbon i« still dreaming over iaat night's ball or opera, the qui en, a t|iiiet figure ill black with an attendant, may be seen ill the poverty-stricken quarters of Upper Lisbon, goinjg from ili.it to door, climbing up to dingy fourth lUirs, carrying to llm sick and miser,,l,!,. the. comfort of her words, the beauty of her smile, and tho contents of her purse. She upends hours thus in the slums.

Many ta.lm were |,,|,| in the jxist of tlm surprise, and tfr.ihiir.it ion of the povertystricken wretches whom the gracious unknown lady visile] when her identity was discovered. Now. I lure is no hole or corner, however 01-seuiv, where «lie call •inter unrocogiikxd and unblessed. ISIIO patronises all the charitable iiicdilutions, and Portugal nv.o; 1., i(. H queen the colossal work which has hern effected in ft U'.w years by the Tul- re ilosis League. In spitu of its natural liyga-nic. conditions, it is a sad fact lliat three-fourths of tin-, insulation of Port i.;;, I are ronrnmiptive. It is a. ca6o of [Hurt'!;, .and privation versus sum and a.ir, in whieii ih.> former .are tho winners. This in.-,! it ill ion, founded by tho queen, has done wonders. On it for'years she ha.s especially concentrated her powerful inlluenee. and given herself up to it heart, and soul. It. is Qmvn Ann-lie's greatest- work and triumph, and her name is indis-sohihly linked to it. Sanatoria have iieeu erected in the most modern lincH and under her direct supervision in different high [mints of Port iig.ai. To these tho poor consumptive suD'erers throng in thousands, and not only medicine and care arts given thei.-u, but food and war lothing. It is a. sad sight, outside the great Lisbon institution, from 10 to 11 in the. morning, to watch the haggard, stricken crowds enter the great doors, where by the queen's bounty health, or at least relief, is douird to none, lier Majesty, accompanied by her medical adviser, l)r Sen cast-re, visits somo of the. sanatoria and the Lisbon Hospital at least once a. week, talcing an intense interest in eases and cures brought before her. The. notable decrease shown by the statistics of the, last four years in death by tuberculosis proves that, the league against the terrible microbe has obtained wonderful results.

Quo™ Anu>lit>, unlike tin* king, is not especially fond of sport of any description. She is, however, a splendid horsewoman and a. good whip. At Cintivi and Oaseacs, during tho summer months, her graceful figure on horseback, followed by her favorite Great Dane, may ho, seen every morning. Tlio English tourists who throng these resorts aro particularly enthusiast icover the queen's exlivnm amiability a.mi graciousness, which she carries to the extent of slopping her hor»e or carriage to allow lierself to he caught by tho übiquitous British kodak.

It is, Indeed, not iivahle that her Majesty showis a marked preference for Knglish -Hople and Knglish ways', aequircd, doubtless, during her lung residence in England, where site was lioni.. Like (lio king, she is an early riser. Her home. life, is that of any other gentlewoman. A devoted mother, she- personally superintends the education of her children, an<l it in said she constantly mourns the death oC Uio little daughter who was taken, from her. She roads a great deal, and is inwrested in art of every description,. ]ler wa'.er-color sketches are charming, and quite, -a sensation, was caused lately in aristocratic circles hy the appearance of a Ixiok on 111" Did Palace, of Cintni. hy her gent .lonian-/.! waiting, the Conde do Sabugosii, exquisitely-illustrated in. water-colors liy her Majesty. ,\lusic is, however, her favorite jvist.inio, and kliin in never happier than when able to pass a. (|uiet: evening at home wild a few musical friends chosen from her entourage, or some clever artists whose talent is l the password la the. queen's society.

She takes a. deep interest in. theatrical ;;rt, and passing celebrities or keal "stars" who win her approval aro summoned to, the Royal box that she may personally congratulate them. She. also limls 1 . time to keep herself thoroughly acquainted with tho internal and external affairs'of State, and closely i|uestions her Ministers as to the smallest detail of matters u/'.der dincuss ion.