The British Crown.

1895

The crown which was used in the ceremonies attending the coronation of Queen Victoria was made by Rundell & Bridge, and is said to represent a money value of about £300,000. It weighs a fraction less than two pounds and is almost covered with the 3,000 precious stones which adorn it. The headband of this gorgeous insignia of royalty is made of gold, covered with a row of 129 pearls along its lower edge and 112 on the upper. Between the pearls in front is a large sapphire and behind a smaller one. Near each sapphire is a clustered ornament made up of 286 diamonds. Immediately above the headband is a row of eight sapphires, each surmounted by a magnificent diamond, and eight festoons, collectively containing 160 diamonds. The front of the crown is a Maltese cross, having in its center the most famous known ruby, that given to the Black Prince by Pedro, king of Castile.

Besides the above there are three other crosses containing 386 diamonds. Between the four crosses are four ornaments, containing, respectively, 84, 85, 86 and 87 diamonds. The arched top of the crown, which is in imitation oak leaves, contains 728 diamonds. Besides the above, there are 32 acorns, each composed of a single pearl, set in cups made of 54 diamonds each. The whole is surmounted by a mound of 548 diamonds and a cross of sapphires with arms of 108 small diamonds. — St. Louis Republic.

Must Be of Gentle Birth

1895

Pages at European Courts, Their Pay and Their Gorgeous Uniforms.

It is only at the imperial and royal courts of Europe that "the pretty page with the dimpled chin," so sweetly sung by the poet, and who constituted one of the most picturesque and romantic features of mediaeval times, still survives. Royal and imperial pages range in age from 12 to 16 years. They are appointed by the sovereign, enjoy pay, prerogatives and perquisite, much as do the grownup attendants on royalty, and are ascribed certain definite duties. Gentle birth is the first qualification for the post of royal page. At the courts of Vienna and Munich an ancestry of no less than 16 generations free from any plebeian strains on either father's or mother's side is required. In Britain and Russia so long a nobility is not demanded. The pages of honor in the court of Queen Victoria are generally the sons of distinguished officers of the army or of high dignitaries of the royal household.

These boys receive $500 a year each, and when they have served a period of five years each is presented with a commission in the guards. On state occasions they wear gorgeous uniforms of blue and silver. Besides serving on such occasions they have to devote a certain number of weeks every year to more private service at Windsor or at Osborne. One of their chief functions is to bear the queen's train when she holds a meeting of the privy council. The queen is rigid in her etiquette and never presides at councils without wearing her long black silk court train.

At the court of Berlin the pages figure at all state ceremonies, clad, like those of England, in blue and silver, and at the court banquets they stand behind the chairs of the royal and imperial personages. These personages, on rising from the table, sometimes address a few kindly words to the boys and present them with sweetmeats from the epergnes. These pages are chosen only from among the best looking boys of the School of Cadets, nearly all the members of which are of noble birth. At the court of St. Petersburg the corps of pages is a sort of imperial school where a number of lads, sons of noblemen and state dignitaries, both civil and military, are educated at the czar's expense and under his supervision. On attaining the eighteenth year they usually obtain commissions as officers of the regiment of Chevalier guards. — Pearson's Weekly.

The Scots Grays

1895

A Regiment of Dragoons Famous Since the Time of Charles II.

"Second to none" is the proud motto of the gallant and famous regiment, the Second Dragoon guards, or "Royal Scots Grays." It is a happily chosen motto, for the fame of the regiment is worldwide. Its brilliant achievements on the field of battle during two centuries, its striking and historic name, its grand and imposing uniform have made the Royal Scots Grays, as an individual corps, there is no gainsaying, the most widely known and familiar of all the regiments of the British army.

Since the regiment was raised in the reign of the second Charles the dragoons have borne themselves well in many a famous field, but want of space forbids us to note the exploits until "earth shaking" Waterloo came on the glory roll of the gallant Grays. Here, with the English "Royals" and Irish "Inniskillings," they formed the famous "Union brigade," which made the never to be forgotten picture of the "Fight For the Standard." That widely known picture shows a man of the Grays, Sergeant Ewart, capturing the eagle of a very famous French corps, the "Forty-fifth of the line." Sergeant Ewart himself has told the story in a letter to his father. — Scottish American.

The Princess of Wales

1895

How She Was Entertained by a Quaint Old Scotchwoman.

One autumn day an old woman, while busily engaged in picking up firewood in the woods adjoining Mar Lodge, became aware of a lady quite young, as she thought, beckoning her to approach. With true Scottish indifference she, however, hesitated to do so, for "I jist tocht it wad be the Duchess o' Fife," the old lady explained, "and I was thinking she micht as well come to me as I to her." This indeed the young lady — who, as it happened, was not the duchess, but the Princess of Wales herself — soon did. Her royal highness was the first to commence the conversation by the somewhat characteristic inquiry:

"Do you think I look like a grandmother?" " 'Deed no. I thocht ye was her," was the old woman's reply, pointing to the Duchess of Fife, who at that moment joined her mother. The princess, smiling at this artless tribute to her still wonderfully youthful appearance, after a little further conversation took out her purse and offered a piece of silver to the old woman. This was gladly accepted, for Mrs. McB., although widely known in Braemar as a decent old body, is not abundantly blessed with this world's goods. But, alas, when she essayed to put away the coin the pocket, which proved refractory, as pockets will, had twisted round somehow, and, in fact, could not be found.

With charming courtesy the princess assisted her humble acquaintance to find it, and then lifted the bundle of sticks which had been placed for the moment on the ground on to the old woman's shoulders, and with a cheery "Goodby," accompanied by a bright nod and a smile, left her. Perhaps the best part of this well authenticated story was the remark of the old lady, who, by the way, was not in the least overcome by the condescension of royalty, "The princess was real helpful and bonnylike." — Liverpool Mercury.

First to Wear a Gainsborough

First to Wear a Gainsborough

1901

The great wheel shaped hat with plumes that during the travels of the celebrated picture which has just been recovered has been generally known as a Gainsborough or a Duchess of Devonshire was never associated in the last century either with the artist or the duchess. It was invented by Mlle. Bertin, the celebrated mantua maker to Marie Antoinette. The queen did not think it became her, but it took the fancy of the pretty and unfortunate Princess de Lamballe, who made the hat popular, and it was known in London and Paris as the Lamballe.

In The Ladies' Magazine for 1785 there is a description of this hat, in which the author described it as "wide brimmed and made of black velvet, surmounted with bunches of ostrich feathers. It is much patronized by the Princess de Lamballe, the Duchess de Polignao and Mme. de Vigier Lebrun." Mme. Lebrun is represented as wearing one of these hats in one of her most popular portraits. — Pall Mall Gazette.

Three Days Too Late

1901

The Duke of Cumberland, whose reconciliation with the kaiser is said to have taken place, is a man of whom English people know little, though he might now have been the first personage in the empire had his father been born a week earlier than he was. He missed the throne of England by three days, having been born on May 27, 1829, exactly 70 hours after Queen Victoria. Had the duke's father been born before the queen he would have been king of England instead of merely king of Banover.

Empress Eugenie Returns to Paris

Dec. 1919

Is Now Pathetic Figure, Bowed by Sorrow of Years.

PARIS, France — With bowed head and with face of infinite sadness, a modestly dressed old lady was seen walking through Tulleries Gardens today. As she walked she would stop to pick autumn flowers, seared and blasted by the cold, but no more faded than her cheeks. Passers-by, seeing her and knowing the regulations of the park, expected some policeman to admonish her, but she passed on, followed by a single maid, unchecked by the uniformed representative of the law.

It was the once proud Empress Eugenie, who, bowed beneath the weight of 93 winters, thus plucked withered flowers from a garden that was once hers. She was revisiting a scene poignantly recalling all the happiness, sorrow and terror which came to her during her years she was the chiefest jewel of the old palatial mansion.

Empress Eugenie left France on July 23, the fateful day when the then proud and haughty Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia which was destined to dismember realms and change the whole face of history.

Peeps at Queen Victoria's Wardrobe

1901

The sorting and arranging of the personal effects of the late queen has proved a tremendous task. One peculiarity of her majesty was never to discard any dress, mantle, hat or bonnet which she had ever worn, and her wardrobe might well be considered the most complete record of the fashion of the last 60 years in existence.

Another fancy of Queen Victoria was to have everything in duplicate. Two hats, two cloaks, etc., were always ordered. Her majesty had a wonderful collection of lace, but this is not to be compared with the collection of the queen dowager of Italy, said to be the best in the world.

The queen's linen, beyond being exquisitely fine, had nothing remarkable about it, as her majesty always adhered to the patterns in fashion in her youth and cared nothing for the intricacies of modern lingerie. — London Sketch.

Boys Compete for Title of King Cuckoo

Idaho, 1955

Something new in king titles will be bestowed on a Pocatello High school boy Wednesday at the annual Girls Coed dance.

Seven boys are competing for the coveted honor of being "King Cuckoo" at this "girl ask boy” dance under sponsorship of the Girls Council.

Candidates have been nominated also for "King Cuckoo's" court of honor.

The co-chairmen of the dance explained that the girls created the "King Cuckoo" title in keeping with the clock theme of the dance. The decorations are being planned around the song, "Rock Around the Clock."

The dance, which is semi-formal, will begin at 8:15 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Two hundred fifty couples are expected, and the music will be furnished by Bill Liday's orchestra.

—Idaho Journal, Pocatello, ID, Nov. 20, 1955, p. 16. There's more to this article, including the names of the various candidates, the co-chairmen, etc.

Prince Discovers New Fish 20,000 Feet Down

1920

PARIS, France — The Prince of Monaco has discovered a new fish which lives at a depth of 20,000 feet under a pressure of 600 atmospheres. Although at such a depth there is practically no light, the Grimaldichthys profundissimus, christened after the Prince's family name, has rudimentary eyes.

The fish was brought up during one of the Prince's oceanographical cruises off the Cape Verde Islands. Two other species not hitherto known were caught at a depth of over 16,000 feet.


Invents Music Sheets for Piano

A Frenchman has invented piano music printed on long sheets, so mounted on motor driven rolls that they are advanced as rapidly as a user wishes saving the work of turning pages.

Gibbon on Fame and Happiness

1910

Edward Gibbon, the historian, was not one to underestimate the pleasures of intellectual occupation or the value of literary fame. "I have drawn a high prize in the lottery of life," he wrote in his autobiography. "I am disgusted with the affectation of men of letters who complain that they have renounced a substance for a shadow, and that their fame affords a poor compensation for envy, censure and persecution.

"My own experience has taught me a very different lesson; twenty happy years have been animated by the labors of my history and its success has given me a name, a rank, a character in the world to which I should otherwise not have been entitled.

"D'Alembert relates that as he was walking in the gardens of Sans Souci with the king of Prussia, Frederick said to him, 'Do you see that old woman, a poor weeder, asleep on that sunny bank? She is probably a more happy being than either of us.'

"The king and philosopher may speak for themselves; for my part, I do not envy the old woman." — Youth's Companion.


Social Requirement

When a young girl appears at the theater with a young man who is a stranger in town, she should circulate a note among her friends telling who he is. It is very hard for the women to enjoy a performance with their curiosity unsatisfied. — Atchison Globe.

Peculiar Possessions and Collections

1900

Many people make collections of articles more or less interesting, but possibly few go in for such bulky objects as those chosen by a gentleman of Pontefract, in the north of England. Old doors are the object of his desire and he has a most curious collection. His doors come from old houses, castles and abbeys that have some historical interest. Household Words is responsible for the statement that not long ago he offered as much as five thousand dollars for a door through which, during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Corday, Danton and Robespierre passed to the guillotine.

Not quite as interesting in a general sense, but in all probability of quite as much interest to the collector, was a curious collection of corks owned by a Frenchman who died a few years ago at Paris. A fairly good history of his life was to be read on these corks, for he saved every one drawn for the delectation of himself or his friends, and on each he inscribed the date and particular occasion upon which the bottle was opened.

Probably nobody of to-day has a strong desire to bring together a great variety of teas and snuffs. Lord Petersham, however, a noted dandy in his day, had a hobby for collecting various kinds of tea and snuff. All round his sitting-room were shelves, on the one side laden with canisters of Souchong, Bohea, Congou, Pekoe, Russian and other teas, and on the other bearing handsome jars containing every kind of snuff the collector could lay his hands on.

Queen Margherita of Italy is the owner of a curious collection, one that has in it the interest of association. It comprises the foot- and head-gear of royal and imperial personages of different periods. It is said to embrace a sandal worn by the tyrant Nero, a pair of white slippers which belonged to Mary Queen of Scots, shoes worn by Queen Anne and the Empress Josephine, and gloves that were once the property of Marie Antoinette. — Youth's Companion.

A Hippopotamus Hunt

1910

The chief breaks the spell — he stands up and gives his orders. All rise, and at a signal the men go down upon the green carpet of floating field.

Complete silence again — we hold our breath in anxious expectation. The hippo is invisible; if he is there he is hidden under the protecting grasses. Our wait is short; the hippo is indeed there; a man has felt him under his feet. But the beast travels under the moving vault. The blacks never lose track of him for a moment; the circle closes in; for an instant they fear that he will escape them by going out toward the river, and they hurry after him with lances poised; but he goes back to the middle of the lake by an underground passage. A man is knocked over; jostled by the invisible animal, he loses his footing and falls.

The hippo is here — quite close to us — we see the grasses move; with great skill a man throws a harpoon with a strong cord attached to it. A shout of joy goes up; the harpoon stays upright, firmly planted in the animal's back. He disappears once more, and the crowd of hunters pursues him closely. A second and a third harpoon are successfully thrown, and the ends of the ropes quickly passed to men in canoes. They pull at the animal, which struggles and resists, pushing up his head, bellows furiously. He plunges down again, pulling after him the canoes and paddlers. There is an anxious moment, but the weight of numbers tells, and he is brought back to the surface.

Finding he cannot escape, he becomes infuriated; he fights and struggles and throws himself against the canoes, biting at them with his huge jaws; he turns and attempts to charge, then tries again to wreck the canoes. It is too dangerous a game to be allowed to continue, and the men close in and spear him to death with their long lances. His death is almost pathetic; with an effort he lifts his forequarters out of the water, and rests his head sadly against the side of a canoe. Then his head falls, his eyes close, and he dies. — H.R.H. the Duchess of Aosta, in Harper's Weekly.

Why They're Called Tumblers

1896

Every day we drink out of a tumbler. Why is the large glass that holds our milk and water so called? Years ago Professor Max Muller was giving a luncheon at All Souls' College, Oxford, to the Princess Alice, the wife of the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt and the second daughter of Queen Victoria. There were not a dozen guests besides the Princess and her husband, and a very agreeable luncheon we had, with talk on all kinds of interesting subjects.

But what excited the curiosity of all strangers present was a set of little round bowls of silver, about the size of a large orange. They were brought round filled to the brim. Those, we are told, were tumblers, and we were speedily shown how they came by their names — a fitting lesson for the guests of a philologist. When one of these little bowls was empty it was placed upon the table mouth downward. Instantly, so perfect was its balance, it flew back to its proper position as if asking to be filled again. No matter how it was treated — trundled along the floors, balanced carefully on its side, dropped suddenly upon the soft, thick carpet, up it rolled again and settled itself with a few gentle shakings and swayings into its place, like one of those India rubber tumbling dolls babies delight in.

This, then, was the origin of our word tumbler, at first made of silver, as are all these All Souls' tumblers. Then, when glass became common, the round glasses that stood on a flat base superseded the exquisitely balanced silver spheres and stole their names so successfully that you have to go to All Souls' to see the real thing. — Jeweler's Circular.

Fiddling For A Howling Mob

1896

Once Cherubini had to figure as a fiddler in spite of himself.

In the stormy days of 1792 it was a perilous experiment to walk the streets of Paris. During an occasion of more than ordinary excitement the composer fell into the hands of a band of sans-culottes who were roving about seeking musicians to conduct their chants. To them it was a special gratification to compel the talent that had formerly delighted royalty to minister now to their gratification.

On Cherubini firmly refusing to lead them, a low murmur was heard from the crowd, and the fatal word, "Royalist! Royalist!" went up. At this critical moment one of Cherubini's friends — also a kidnapped musician — seeing his imminent danger, thrust a violin into his unwilling hands and bade him head the mob. The whole day these two musicians accompanied the hoarse and overpowering yells of the revolutionary horde, and when at last a halt was made in a public square, where a banquet was served, Cherubini and his friend had to mount empty barrels and play until the feasting was over.


Used Many Quill Pens

In 1768, 27,000,000 quills were shipped from Russia and Poland to England, to say nothing of those which were sent to other countries.


The Penalty of Bachelorhood

In Corea every unmarried man is considered a boy, though he should live to be a hundred years old. No matter what his age, he ranks below the youngest of the unmarried men, despite the fact, perhaps, of having lived long enough to be his father.

It takes a bad man to be a good politician.

The Queen of Romance

1904

An English lady tells a story of Queen Victoria which she believes has not before appeared in print, and which she knows is true. Three children were walking along the road between Windsor and Stoke Poges. They heard the sound of carriage wheels. It was the queen's carriage, and she was in it.

The oldest child, a little boy, had been reading Oriental stories and fairy lore. He knew what was due to a queen, and cried to the others: "Get down flat in the dust before the carriage, and we'll all call out at once, 'O queen, live forever!'"

Down went the three little bodies flat in the dust, much to the mystification of the coachman, who reined up sharply.

The queen leaned forward and asked, "What in the world is the matter, children? Are you frightened?"

Three voices came out of the dust in a smothered treble: "Yes; O queen!"

Then there was a pause, and one reproachful voice said, "There, we forgot the 'live forever' part!"

The queen grasped the situation and laughed aloud, as her coachman afterward said, "more heartily than she had laughed for years."

Youthful Essayists on the Evils of Drink

1907

In the Hull elementary schools a prize was offered for the best essay on the evils of drink, and nearly 12,000 pupils competed. Extracts from their compositions were given by Dr. Eccles in a lecture before the Society For the Study of Inebriety. He quoted the following gems:

"Today many people are in jail for committing suicide while under the influence of drink."

"Alcohol has an effect upon a medical man's conclusions."

"Doctors say that fatal diseases are the worst."

"Doctors say that the increased death rate shortens lives."

"Some people think that the abuse of drink is right; some take it as a medicine." — London Tit-Bits.


What Is the English Throne?

The English throne — what is it? Is it the stone chair of Westminster abbey? That is only occupied once by each king or queen, and that only at the coronation ceremony. Is it the chair of state in the house of lords or the reception chair at Buckingham palace or the sumptuous gilt thing which the king uses at Windsor when he receives the foreign envoys? It is an interesting question, which some people would like to have answered. Most everybody, however, has come to the conclusion that in the majority of countries the throne is merely a symbol, and the expressions "he has succeeded to the throne" and "speeches from the throne" are only metaphors.

Once in India, The Most Famous of Thrones

1914

That of Indian Moguls in the Ancient City of Delhi a Marvel of Richness

Among bare and ugly British barracks in the ancient capital of the Mogul empire in India known as Delhi are remnants of two famous gems of Oriental architecture. They are the Diwan-i-Am, or hall of public audience, and the Diwan-i-Khas, or hall of private audience.

The Diwan-i-Am is still a splendid building 100 feet by 60, formerly plastered with chunam and overlaid with gold. It was in a recess in the back wall of this building that the famous Peacock throne used to stand. It was six feet long by four feet wide, and was supported by feet of solid gold encrusted with gems. The throne was also of gold, inlaid with diamonds, emeralds and rubies and surmounted by a canopy supported by 12 gold columns decorated with rows of splendid pearls.

The throne was given its name from the figures standing behind it of two peacocks with outspread wings blazing with precious stones, their tails expanded and the whole so inlaid with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls and other gems of appropriate colors as to represent life.

The throne was valued at $30,000,000 and was carried off by the Persian invader, Nadir Shah, in 1739. Presumably it was constructed in the days of Shah Jahan, a decade less than three hundred years ago.

Florence Nightingale Dies — "Angel of the Battlefield"

1910

Heroine of Crimea

"Angel of the Battlefield" Revered by All Soldiers

Florence Nightingale's Life Was One Long Sacrifice for the Cause of Suffering Humanity — The First Army Nurse

London. — A woman whose name for over half a century has been a household word throughout the civilized world and who was universally loved and revered as few women have been, was claimed by death when Florence Nightingale passed away in her London home. She had been an invalid for a number of years. During recent years, owing to her feebleness and advanced age, Miss Nightingale had received but few visitors. On May 13 last she celebrated her ninetieth birthday and was the recipient of a congratulatory message from King George.

"The Angel of the Crimea," "The Soldiers' Friend," are titles which were conferred upon Florence Nightingale for her memorable service in behalf of the wounded and dying in the Crimean war. The last honor to be conferred upon her by a grateful country was in 1908, when the freedom of the city of London was bestowed upon her. Before that, in 1907, she received from King Edward the English Order of Merit, the most exclusive distinction within the gift of the British sovereign. She was the only woman who has ever received that honor.

Miss Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, May 12, 1820, and it was in honor of the "city of flowers" that she was named. She was the daughter of a wealthy English landowner and returned with her parents to England when a child. She early displayed an inclination toward philanthropy, and was the first woman to follow a modern army into battle as a nurse. Although her father was a very wealthy man, she insisted on learning all that there was to be learned about the profession of nursing and became famous as a "probationer" in London hospitals. Later on she went to France and subsequently to Germany. A few years later she was in Africa nursing Arabs with such effect, says one of her biographers, "that the Moslems were almost convinced that the woman had a soul."

When the war of the Crimea broke out the British army sent to the front to help the French in the struggle with the Russians was not accompanied by the usual corps of women nurses. The struggle had been going on only a few months, however, when "Bull Run" Russell began sending to his English newspaper heartrending accounts of the frightful conditions that prevailed in the British hospitals and the horrible state of the wounded men. Instantly all England was in an uproar, and for a time the British ministry seemed tottering. Then, almost at the same moment, for their letters crossed each other, Florence Nightingale volunteered to take a corps of nurses to the front and Herbert Sydney, the secretary of war, suggested to her such a commission.

October 15, 1854, Miss Nightingale set forth on her errand of mercy at the head of a corps of 34 women nurses and equipped with most of the material for setting up a first-class field hospital.

Establishing herself on the heights of Scutari, near Constantinople, Miss Nightingale and her aids began the organization of a field hospital. At one time she had four miles of wounded — four miles of cots, side by side — with only 34 women to nurse her patients. Soon after this letters began coming in hundreds into the homes of England Which established permanently in the hearts of the people the supremacy of Florence Nightingale among all English women. She was the "angel of the battlefield," "the angel of the Crimea."

In August, 1856, Miss Nightingale returned to England. A grateful country would have welcomed her royally, but she had no desire for public praise. She arrived in England when least expected and went to her home. The queen, however, was not to be denied. She sent for Miss Nightingale to visit her at Balmoral and decorated her with her own hand. The sultan of Turkey made her a valuable present. The English government, on behalf of the people, was very practical in its expression of appreciation and presented her with $250,000.

Perhaps the greatest good that has resulted from her noble life has been the setting in motion of a force which has led thousands of women to devote themselves to the systematic care of the sick and wounded.

Florence Nightingale — Born May 12, 1820, Died Aug. 13, 1910.

Teen Breaks Arm Five Times

1909

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Forbidden by his parents to play football after he had broken his left arm three times in the game, 15-year-old William Eminger found that he could not even watch the game with safety to his delicate member. He was a spectator on the sidelines at a high school game and the team in a scrimmage fell over his chair. Eminger's arm was broken when one of the players landed on top of him. This makes the fifth time the arm has been broken. The only time football was not responsible Eminger broke it falling out of bed.


Love's Young Dream

LOS ANGELES, Cal. — When Levi Hall, who is of the impressionable age of eighty-nine years, went to call on Miss H. W. Coe, a fair and sprightly maiden of seventy-five summers, he was greatly surprised when John Moore, ninety years old, emerged from an adjoining room and began to belabor him with a stout hickory cane. Hall hurried from the home of his inamorata to the receiving hospital, and then to the police station, where he caused the arrest of his rival on a charge of battery. Hall does not believe that Miss Coe will think any the less of him because he retreated.


Makes High Flight Record

POTSDAM, Germany — Orville Wright, the American aviator, broke his own and all other records for high flying. He reached the unprecedented height of more than 1,600 feet, although an official measurement was not taken. He had a red-letter day in a double sense in his experience as an aviator, taking up Crown Prince Frederick William as a passenger and more than doubling the altitude record which he made recently over the same field.