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every-day thoughts. "The Lost Chord" and "The Convent Gate" are among her favourite songs. She very often gets up concerts in the surrounding villages, and is exceedingly kind to struggling professionals.

As a child the Princess was extremely sensitive, and although the extra freedom that naturally attaches to Continental life could scarcely fail to lessen the nervousness that of necessity belongs to a highly sensitive temperament, still no amount of contact with the world seemed to remove that love of retirement so noticeable in her as a young girl. But although extreme sensitiveness is still one of her characteristics, only her most intimate friends are able to detect any trace of nervousness underlying her natural charm of manner. Once the ice is broken her easy way of conversing and expression of interest soon puts a stranger at ease, and if the conversation flags it is certainly not the fault of the Princess. She can of course talk about the weather, the last dance, and the general run of drawing-room gossip, if such things please her guests. But it is in her work and in her mother's work that she is really interested. This subject she will discuss with animation and a knowledge seldom to be found in so young a Princess. In State schemes for the poor of the country she is also greatly interested. During the time the House of Lords' Sweating Committee was sitting she carefully read the evidence given, and evinced the greatest sympathy with the hard lives of poor seamstresses and nail and chain workers.

Although a good listener, Princess May never hesitates to ask questions if she does not thoroughly understand the line of argument. She seldom discusses a charity scheme without securing a supporter. No matter whether it be in a country house or at home, if the opportunity offers the wants and wishes of her protégés are always put forward, and the result is generally a cheque or a promise of help. But it must not be supposed that she accepts other people's facts and figures. On the contrary, she makes her own inquiries, and marshals them in a way that would do credit to a financier or a statesman.

Order and regularity are with her principles of life-never is anything out of place, never is an appointment missed. There is a time for getting up in the morning, and, when possible, a time for retiring to rest at night. Part of the day is always set aside for reading and being read to. No matter how distasteful the task, if it be necessary to do it, it is done, and done, too, in time and in proper form and order. In her boudoir you will find the books properly classified. Pens and pencils are neatly arranged on the writing-table. In short, there is a place for everything,

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staying in a country house with Princess May , with her wish to fall in with every plan of her menty not to give any trouble. She was always one wa to breakfast, and never late for dinner. Of course these manera, but they go far to show how she carries her love of choot into every day life, and her constant consideration to the evening her conversation would generally turn toque of the day, and the knowledge she displayed thest she had cuefully read her newspapers and was much d in public affairs. She would frequently wander off with a of the home to see some poor person in the neighbourhood. Who wore idle Princess May was always busy. Time, which und to hang no heavily on the hands of many of the visitors, seemed the all for about for her. She was never bored, but took an interest in wwwww thing When others wanted to stay at home the Princess would alon be ready to accompany the hostess to garden parties or functions in the neighbomhood. She did not, like so many guests, expect that everyone was to amuse her. On the contrary, she did her part of the entertaining, and in the evening would sing a song, play the piano, or Join in a game

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During is a favourite occupation, and the surrounding districts m well acquainted with her little carriage, Richmond's gift to her when she came of age. She is a first-class whip, and although she does not hunt, under stands more about horses than many so-called hunting woomen Of dancing she is fairly fond, but the late hours and the long drive home after London balls have to a great extent shall on her taste for that amusement. Like her father, the Princess is fond of flowers At White Lodge she looks after her own garden and

fernery. She understands more than a little about botany and knows all the flowers in her own garden. She often plays a game of bowls with her friends when they come over to pay a call. She is a fair player, and quite keen to win.

In dress the taste of the Princess is essentially feminine. No attempt is ever made to copy masculine ways, nor is such a fashion likely to receive any encouragement from her. Dainty and pretty things she delights in. She likes to have her clothes well made and properly fitted, but does not countenance any extravagance of fashion or design. Bonnets seem to please her more than hats. Like her Royal mother, the Princess takes the greatest care that her clothes are purchased from shops that pay fair wages and do not overwork their hands. While not discarding French silks and French artificial flowers, she will, if possible, purchase English silks and English artificial flowers. She inherits the late Duchess of Cambridge's taste for jewellery, and greatly values the jewels she has had presented to her from time to time. With her wedding gifts of this kind she is immensely pleased.

Her natural desire to learn has received careful fostering at the hands of Mdlle. Ericka. Soon after this lady came a course of reading was mapped out, which has been studiously adhered to for the last seven years, with the result that the Princess has an intimate knowledge of history, both post and present. French, German, and English are all alike to Princess May. She can converse fluently in either one or the other language. Novel-reading does not interest her very much—that is to say, novels of a frivolous kind. But with the works of the great novelists she is, of course, acquainted. On her book-shelves you will find no uncut and dusty books, but neatly cut edges and well turned pages. Her favourite authors are Tennyson, Carlyle, Emerson, and George Eliot. She is very fond of well-bound books, and values highly all presentation copies. The works of Macaulay, Froude, Lamb, John Morley, Motley, Molière, Goethe, Dante, occupy prominent positions on her book-shelves. Her method is to read something every day, even if it be only a page, and then to discuss what she has read. With her companion-governess she talks French and German, and, according to arrangement, the discussion takes place in either one language or the other.

Mdlle. Bricka is a very broad-minded woman, and thinks that as princesses are women, they should know as much as possible about what appertains to women. She does not believe that a book

and everything is in its place. These are qualities indispensable to people of great position, and it must be very gratifying to the public to know that Princess May possesses them. Method, too, is another of her qualities. With her there is no such thing as hurry; each duty has its own time apportioned to it, and these times are never allowed to overlap unless it be on the occasion of some public function or under the pressing necessity of a domestic call. One occupation, however, always commands the Princess's time, and that is amusing her brothers. No matter whether it be to play an accompaniment, to take a drive, go for a walk, or join in a game, Princess May is always ready to fall in with her brothers' plans, or take part in their conversation.

Not long ago I was staying in a country house with Princess May and was much struck with her wish to fall in with every plan of her hostess and her anxiety not to give any trouble. She was always one of the first down to breakfast, and never late for dinner. Of course these are small matters, but they go far to show how she carries her love of order and method into every-day life, and her constant consideration for others. In the evening her conversation would generally turn upon some topic of the day, and the knowledge she displayed showed that she had carefully read her newspapers and was much interested in public affairs. She would frequently wander off with a daughter of the house to see some poor person in the neighbourhood. When others were idle Princess May was always busy. Time, which seemed to hang so heavily on the hands of many of the visitors, seemed to be all too short for her. She was never bored, but took an interest in everything. When others wanted to stay at home the Princess would always be ready to accompany the hostess to garden parties or functions in the neighbourhood. She did not, like so many guests, expect that everyone was to amuse her. On the contrary, she did her part of the entertaining, and in the evening would sing a song, play the piano, or join in a game.

Driving is a favourite occupation, and the surrounding districts are well acquainted with her little carriage, Richmond's gift to her when she came of age. She is a first-class whip, and although she does not hunt, understands more about horses than many so-called hunting women. Of dancing she is fairly fond, but the late hours and the long drive home after London balls have to a great extent shaken her taste for that amusement. Like her father, the Princess is fond of flowers. At White Lodge she looks after her own garden and

fernery. She understands more than a little about botany and knows all the flowers in her own garden. She often plays a game of bowls with her friends when they come over to pay a call. She is a fair player, and quite keen to win.

In dress the taste of the Princess is essentially feminine. No attempt is ever made to copy masculine ways, nor is such a fashion likely to receive any encouragement from her. Dainty and pretty things she delights in. She likes to have her clothes well made and properly fitted, but does not countenance any extravagance of fashion or design. Bonnets seem to please her more than hats. Like her Royal mother, the Princess takes the greatest care that her clothes. are purchased from shops that pay fair wages and do not overwork their hands. While not discarding French silks and French artificial flowers, she will, if possible, purchase English silks and English artificial flowers. She inherits the late Duchess of Cambridge's taste for jewellery, and greatly values the jewels she has had presented to her from time to time. With her wedding gifts of this kind she is immensely pleased.

Her natural desire to learn has received careful fostering at the hands of Mdlle. Ericka. Soon after this lady came a course of reading was mapped out, which has been studiously adhered to for the last seven years, with the result that the Princess has an intimate knowledge of history, both post and present. French, German, and English are all alike to Princess May. She can converse fluently in either one or the other language. Novel-reading does not interest her very much-that is to say, novels of a frivolous kind. But with the works of the great novelists she is, of course, acquainted. On her book-shelves you will find no uncut and dusty books, but neatly cut edges and well turned pages. Her favourite authors are Tennyson, Carlyle, Emerson, and George Eliot. She is very fond of well-bound books, and values highly all presentation copies. The works of Macaulay, Froude, Lamb, John Morley, Motley, Molière, Goethe, Dante, occupy prominent positions on her book-shelves. Her method is to read something every day, even if it be only a page, and then to discuss what she has read. With her companion-governess she talks French and German, and, according to arrangement, the discussion takes place in either one language or the other. Mdlle. Bricka is a very broad-minded woman, and thinks that as princesses are women, they should know as much as possible. about what appertains to women. She does not believe that a bool

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