Alexandra's Daughters

"Thcre is luck in odd numbers. This is the expression invariably used I)V his Eoyal Higlmuss, the Prince of Wales, wiien réferrtng to his five children - his two boys and throc girls. Her lloyal Higlmess, the Princcss Loiuse, is tbe most amiablo of thethree, and is a miniatnro eopy of her rnothcr. The rrincess v letona, lier iatucr s pei, has a temper of her own, impetuous, ardcut, hot, smiling through tears liko a sunbeam in showers, while "Mande, whom Queen Victoria dolizes, has a clisposion somewhat like that of her right royal grandmamma. None of the princesscs 1car the queen, although everybody else has a wholesome dread exacting nsshe isscvcre. The daughters of thc Princc of Wales, aftcr tho firsi formal deep courtcsy down to tho groundis ruado, romp with their grandmothcr aa they would with one of tho gouvernantes; and it is a matter of apprehension to the Dowager Marchioness of Eli, who, with tho cixeeption of tho late lucnesa oí liiu uiauu Duchcss- is most Intímate with the sovereign, when tho young ptiacesses pouncc upon the Queen and daré to pull about tbc ruler of au empire upon which the sun never sets. The Prineess Louise is the most est. All three have :i talent for langaages, and are always delighted when their unclc, the Crown Prince of Denmark, is with thom, as then they chat in Danish. He is said to be their prime i'avorüe, and, as they dearly love a romp, the good-temper'ed únele indulges them with the clan ot a laü ot uiteen. The princesscs are all musical, inheriting this taste from their mother, vvho is a superb pianist, bilt who never plays outside of her own immediato family circle. She is a devout f ollowerof Rubinstcin, and perforáis that wonderful waltz after a fashion that would have enehanted the maestro couldhe but have had the privilege of hearing her play it. The Princess of Wales _ carefully watcnes ine niusiou rauaniuu " dangHters, and nearly every dáy, after Mademoistello Gaymard-Pacini, the premiere pianiste of the age, wbo is their instructress, has concluded her lesson, she asks how each demoiselle acquitted herself. The Princc is no musician. "I leave all that sort of thing to Edinburgh," he laughs. ïhe young princesa having been promised a visit to the Tower of London 111 IVlHy lïlSl, WI11CX1 mJ UWC nuij crazy to sée, the Rev. Teignmouth Shore, ono ci' the Quoen's chaplains, was ordered to act as their escort. "I won't go il' I can't go like any other little girl," said the Prineess Mande. "I hate to have great big soldiers saluting and everybody bowinè down to the grotind. It's no fun, :unl 1 vraat to go like any other little girl" The Princess Maude carried tlic day, 1„ „m rm Vini-kVa tïT . TTV 1 ' Q 1 ] l"k TlAl't if ll' MOT" sisters, and the happy trio did the Tower "like any othcr little ghls,1' to their unboundod' gatíefacticm. The princcsses aro ruadc; tokeepearly hours. Five a. ín. in simimer ftndsthem out of their beds and to llannel suits for cíilisthunios. Tiien breakfast ís very simple, as mnch stirabout, oaton meal and milk as thev like to éat. No hot rolls, no he.ivv meats, conséqüeotly no dispepsia. Tlicir dinnev at two ' is oqually plain. A mitritions soup, alish r pudding. Thejr greatest disaipation s waitinfr up to help dress mamma for . ball. The Prinee wlien away writes to each of the girls in turn. ïhe writer was .nmsed at seeinLr a letter - a charming, iffectionate letter, too- on the envelopo f wliioh was wtitten: The Princesa Victoria, of Wales, A. E. 'Sandringham. And althongh the initials of the heir -V U-nA-ñVi xirafa íi tina laf t -11 fl 11 il ,J l ILKj Li i II '-'Li.1-' liwv J" t"v v w "- ner, becanso he had f ailed to attach two )osta"-e stampa instead of one, the Post Mee stamp 2d for the extra weight vas sprawlod all over the envelope. What radical but will rejoioe at tlris? The letters from their brothers whilo ernising in the B-icchante are always sources of unbounded delight to the young princesses, George is the favorte, and sueh exclamations as: "Oh, won't we havefunwhen George comes back! What romps we'll have with Gcoriie?'' werè 'tó be heard all throush July, hoth at Marlborough HflBseiaod O'sborae, whither the little ladies were invited to aasiat at the debarkatiojo at Cowo.s. The pi-incesses are ineessant talkers. They rattlo away from rosy morn to dewey eve, and the resident govornesses, extremely elegant ladies, are occasionallv driven to tho verge of despair by the incessaijt prattle of these little róyalties. íhe efdèr govéntesses they cali "Mam," the younger "Selle," detrraslv cuttinir tho word selle in two. They are admirable mim's. and every mnv -'swell" who arrives is pictty certain to have his or hor "proeioiis weakness" admirably repro(iucrtl by these natural and charming childron. They are very fond, like other cnimren, oí inspeeuug visums from the regions of the staircase, anti a favorita rarely escapes without some furtivo recognition. Wlien en familie the young 'princesses are alwavs dispatched by their parents for the wraps of their guests when the latter are arjoüt to take their departure, "Louise, run, and get Lady So-and-so her cloak." "Mande, where is Mr?. 's shawl?'' "Victoria, go and find the duchess' wrap." The Christmas pantomino is looked forward to for six months, and tondly reeollected for tlie rest of the year. The facetiousne3s of the clown is admirably reproduced, while the knocks down rcceived by the endiu-iiig and ever amiable pantaloon are practiced with scrupulous fi'lclity. It is af ter the witnessing of the pantomino that the governesses have to eall upon all their reserves in order to bring uuder control the explosiva animal spirits of these healthy y'onng misses. The Princess of Wales dresses her daughters in the plainest possible way, nslinrxM. oiaííhams, muslius and nel being do rigueur. No corsets. no tightness oí íiny kiml, ajad aa for ornamente, sueh as riugs, earringp or bracecís, Her Rojal Highness yrould Lo astonnded if such an idc:i were so much as uiootcd. Shewrery particular alMuit havinc tliciíiiis iiistruuti'd in seW.iBg. eiubroidery and all manner of woinau's domestic wrk añil oontinüally holds iip lcr -istci'-in-l.-nv Lorae as a mode] in that résped. Little dfces the passcr-by imagijje, as he alances up at thé Bghtest window of Marllcrou-h House, that behind the blind is Beated the fyiïure Qúeeh of Enzand, loviiigly sürrotmdedbyherdaugnters, to whom sfaa is readiüg some reiined and instructivo story, while '-er husband, liis cigaj.' in W? mouth, gazes ut tliis home picture with a pleasurc nppreoiated bnly by a t'ather's love.