PORTUGAL'S QUEEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 65

PORTUGAL'S QUEEN.

MARIE AMELIE. M.D

Queens and Princesses born to the purple ihave on many occasions distinguished themselves iv connection with nursing work, as well as with the organisation and management of institutions for the sick, but Marie Amelie of Portugal is the first Sovereign lady to become actually a fullfledged doctor of medicine, and acquire the right to add the letters M.D to the Regina that follows her name.

SHE nECKIYES HKlt DKGREK

After a couple of years of hard and eerious study, pursued under disadvantages of no ordinary character, since every moment of a Queen's time is supposed to belong to the nation, and to be taken up by the nuxnifold duties pertaining to her lofty station, she passed with flying colours the difficult examination which entitles her to practise as a physician. She received her degree from the Eschola Polytechnica, the college of the highest reputation in Lisbon ; and to be worthy of it, she worked as few Queens work at a profession, giving up every moment of her spare time to the Btudy which exercised so powerful an interest for her.

It is said that the Queen's wish to become qualified originated on the King's account, for his Majesty was becoming veiy stout, and this tendency to embonpoint showed no signs of yielding to ordinary precautions and prescriptions. Consequently Queen Amelie entered on a course of medical training, and when she was sufficiently experienced, began to treat the King. His Majesty laughed at the Queen's little whim at first, but was quite willimr

to humour her, and with the utmost goodnature became her patient. She insisted, as only she had the power to do. on a certain Spartan regime, putting before the King only what she considered he might safely take without aggravating the inclination to stoutness. She succeeded where others had failed, and for a time the King was very much benefited by following his lady doctor's advice. After Queen Araelie had treated the King, she exercised her skill on many other people. One of her fiist patients outside her own domestic circle was an old soldier. His wife was dead, and his daughter was unable, for one cause or another, to nurse him. When the Queen heard of the case, her first impulse was to drive to the narrow little street where the soldier lived, aiid see what she could do for him. Picking up her skirts, she climbed the creaking stairs that led to the sick man's room, and. aided by her lady-in-waiting, performed the part of a ministering angel, and left orders for comforts of various sorts to be supplied to the veteran. Queen Amelie makes good use of her hobby, and loves nothing better than to act the role of the practitioner.

A P.OMAVTIC I.OVK STORY

Her Majesty is the only Frenchwoman actually in po«seision of a throne She is the eldest daughter of the late Comte de Paris, and was named after her greatgrandmother, Louis Philippe" s wife, Marie Amelie. One of a large and' happy family, the Queen's girlhood was idyllic. The young Orleans Princess was a light-hearted, charming girl of brilliant character and fascinating appearance when the Duke of Braganza carried her off from Eu as his bride.

There wa.<. a dash of romance in their courtship which is worth repeating. One afternoon the Crown Prince of Portugal, as the King then was, while calling on the French Ambassadress, was attracted by the portrait of a lovely young girl which stood upon the mantelpiece. He looked at it closely, and spoke a few words of admiration on the subject to his hostess.

"Your friend must be very charming.'' he remaiked, '"if she is like her pictuie. I never saw a fairer face."

The Ambassadress smiled

"You are right." she said ; "my young friend is as charming and a? good as she is pretty." "Her name?" questioned the Prince. "Princess Amelie of Orleans, your Royal Highness."' The Prince ra^ad his eyebiows, but only remarked, "Indeed?"

The subject of the picture evidently remained in his thoughts, for he took the first opportunity to visit Paris and become acquainted with Princess Amelie. A few weeks later his betrothal to her wa.s announced, the wedding being a lovematch on both ?>ide&.

The Crown Prince was a handsome, fearless young fellow, charming enough to win any girl's heart, apart from his position ; and it is doubtful if a better-looking young couple ever went to the altar than the Duke and Duchess of Braganza. The wedding took pkee in 1886, and the reception accorded the bride on hfcr public entry into Lisbon was both toaching and impiessive. It is recorded that "All the splendour of the ancient days, when Portugal took high rank among nations, glorious in her brave and learned men, seemed revised in the magnificent pageants, whose picturesqueness was enhanced by the beauty of the town of Lisbon itself. 1 '

Touched by the youth and beauty of the Orleans Princess, Lisbon gave her a tender and hearty welcome ; and ever since that day Marie Amelie has awakened an the hearts of the Portuguese a feeling of devout admiration, love, and respect for her. She has fulfilled all the high expectations that her advent aroused.

A PORTRAIT.

Tlie great j-orrow of Queen Amelie"*. life has been the exile of the Orleans famih . iSlir was devoted to her parents, and in her father's lifetime was in the habit of writing to him constantly. She has many English friend** w ith whom she communicates, and is very English in her love of horieriding and sports. She looks magnificent on horseb.iek ; but, on the whole, she is never seen to better advantage than w ' en in evening clres^. fTer fluffy brown hair waving round her forehead, and her beautiful white throat rising like a column from her blue-veined nec-L She :s one of tLe prettiest and most fascinating of the Sovereign ladies of Europe. Tall and giaceful of figure, she bears herself with unobtrusive dignity, but with perfect poise. Her face is charmingly expressive and arch, brimming over with the brightness of gond health and good spirits, and lit up by a pail" of the merriest eye- Her ew ami hands are sm.ill and exquisitely shaped. The Spaniards have a proverb. "Small ears, great o>ind," which might with truth be appropriated by the Queen. With all the cares of Royalty she has lost nonr- of the sweptness of disposition which marked her as a child. In her dress she displays the true taste of the Frenchwoman without excessive extravagance. She holds the reputation of being one of the best-dressed women in the world. Her cycling costumes — for she has been a great cyclist — are always so charming that they are immediately copied. She wears her skirt* conveniently short, and chooses the most artistic colouring and styles. Her Majesty is a thorough Parisienne in being able to cut out and make underclothing and simple gowns. Like most French girls she was taught how to do this in her youth. It is even fcaid that she made, with her own hands, a great many of the dainty little camisoles, etc.. that were included in the layette of her first baby, work that, of course, necessitated the finest stitchery. Queen Amelie works exquisitely She has also a taste for painting, and is passionately fond of music. After hei engagement the began at once to study the Portuguese tongue, and can now speak foui or five languages fluently. At first bhe felt the rigid etiquette of the Portuguese Court somewhat oppressive, and the Court ceremonies worTvinjj, but ehe entered on her An+iee

with the determination to please the people, and that she has succeeded is unquestionable. The bright French Princess threw her whole heart into working for the people of her new country, and aiding her husband in every way in her power. Her liveliness charmed the (Jourt and those with whom s-he came in contact, and her amiability soon became publicly known. But although she is amiable, she is by no means weak. She can, if needs be, reprove with cutting sarcasm.

THE KING S PAKE.VTACE.

Before the Duke and Duchess of Braganzi had ended their honeymoon the Duke was called upon to serve his apprenticeship as ruler, during the temporary absence of his father. This gave him the opportunity of coming into close touch with the people, and of eaily becoming popular with them.

King Chaiies, who was born in 1863, is the son of the late Dom Luis I and his vife Mar- a- Pij. the second daughter of King Victor Emmanuel of Italy. Dom L'lb succeeded his brother. Dom Pedro "V , who manied, in 1856. the youthful Princess Stephanie of Hohenzollem-Sigmarin^en. A year later she died The King, who devoted his life to good deeds, caught a malignant fever, from which he died, and his brother Dom Luis came to the throne. Queen Maria was a girl of 15 when she married. As a Queen, she was extremely fond of expensive dresses, and used to spend a great deal of money on her wardrobe. She was one of the few royal ladies who excelled in pottery-work. Her taste for modelling was cultivated when she was staying at a watering-place near which was an important pottery factory. She became so interested in the work going on there that she took lessons in the whole process of manufacture, and was soon able to turn out artistic bowls and vases, which to plea&ed her that she continued her studies and produced some really beautiful work.

A>' ANECDOTE.

The King and Queen of Portugal have two sons, both of whom are very goodlooking. The oldest, the Crown Prince, was, as a small boy, perfectly lovely, with a wealth of fair, curly hair. On one occasion a barbei- who was cutting the little Prince's hair asked permission to take .iway with him the cuttings. "Why, yes," replied the Queen, coolly, "by all means take the hair. Surely it is of no more value when it comes from the head of a little boy than when it is cut from the back of a little dog." Queen Amelie had no intention of fostering vanity in her children, and as the boys attracted a good deal of attention on account of their good looks, she made a point of passing no comments on their personal appearance in their hearing. She adored her children, but was very particular when bringing them up that they should not be spoilt.

A BRAVE SPIBIP,

She is very brave, and shrinks from nothing, however unpleasant, that hei husband has to go through. Rome years ago, when trouble threatened Portugal, the King remarked : "If I were ever put to the test, I should prove to Europe th?t, though the King of a email nation could not hope to be victorious over a powerful enemy, he could be brave and loyal, and could die for the honour of his flag." The Queen immediately said, "And I should not let the King go alone." A certain Marquis who happened to be present remarked. "Madame, a woman's place is not on the battlefield. You have your children to think of." "Marquis," was the response, "a woman's place and a Queen's is by her husband's side, through good report and ill, through rough times aud fair.' No wonder the Portuguese are proud of their Queen. — Mauuaret Sherrixgtox, in the Leeds Mercury.