THE PRINCESS OF WALES AT HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5115, 24 November 1894, Page 3

THE PRINCESS OF WALES AT HOME.

Some thirty-five years ago, when the Frinceaa of Wales and her two sisters were three very beautiful children, they lived in circumstances which made social reserve a necessity. Their father, the preBont King of Denmark, then only Duke of Sohleswig-Holsfcein Sonderburg-Gliicks-burg, a name considerably longer than his purse, was at that time obliged to give drawing - leesons to the sons and daughters of wealthy Frankfurters. The Duke was not then the direofc heir to the Danish throne, nor was he unduly ambitious to rise to the giddy heights where sovereigns stand. But the same dignity and honeßty and strenuous endeavour after the good and the true, aays a writer in the Young Woman, which have always characterised the King of Denmark, were the guiding principles of his life in his younger days, and his children felt and profited by them. There was absolutely no ostentation, .no vain striving after " appearances," in the quiet household. The three daughters were brought up in the Bimpleat manner ; they had to help in many and many a little household task; their lessons were serioua matters, and when they were over, long hours were often spent among the mysteries of drees cutting and making— for the monthly allowance, at that time, of the future Queen of England, the Empress of Eussia, and the Duchess of Cumberland amounted to twelve shillings.

At tho close of the day, when the Duke and drawing-master came home, you might have heard the gentle voice of the mother, the present Queen of Denmark calling to her children, etill gamboling about on the little lawn or among the bushes in the dusk of the summer evening-, " Alexaudra, Dagmar, Tbyra, where are you ? Quickly, my girls, come into supper j papa ia back from' town." And there would be a pleasant family gathering round a very simple Bupper-table. This virtue of domesticity, which is considered so humble and unimportant, and which yot is more precious than many a uioro btriking quality, was tested through good report snd illi Alter eight yews os happy do-

mestic life in the midst of her children, the PrincGßß was suddenly called upon to bear a great burden. For weeks tho Prince of Wales lay at death's door, the victim of a malignant form of typhoid fever. And by his bedside, hiding her own pain in order that she might prove & more' efficient Bicknurse, watched the Princess, watched and wreatled with the angel of death, and was victorious. A little story is told of that time which goes a long way to prova how truly kindhearted is tha Princess. A Sandringham groom lay very ill of the same dißeaeo and at the came time as the Prince. The Princeos heard of it, and, though bowed down under her own load of anxiety, she never let a day go by without inquiring after the man. She even went to see him, and after he was dead she came again and mourned with thoso who mourned for him.