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Show EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. The Princess Dagmar, as the empress is still called in the land of her birth, grew up with her sister Alexandra, now the Princess of Wales, at the Danish court with very modest surroundings. The queen was an excellent mother, and sought to develop in her daughters the woman in preference to the princess. It used to be said at the capital that the processes were made to help to making their own dresses, and that the furniture in their common bedroom was covered with inexpensive calico. A story of the naive admiration expressed by Princess Dagmar on being shown the wedding trousseau of one of the noble ladies at court, and her longing wonder whether she would ever herself own "such handsome things," was told with a touch of sympathetic pride by the people of Copenhagen, with whom the two princesses were great favorites Dagmar had won her way deepest into the people's heart, however. Her sweet disposition the winning grace of her manner and the perfect freedom with which she, like her sisters (and indeed the whole royal family), moved among all classes of the people were well calculated to gain for her an affect on that followed her to her new home and found expression at her wedding in a score of ways that touched the heart of the princess profoundly. At every subsequent appearance at her father's court, she was received by the people with an enthusiasm that even embraced her husband despite the rumors of his sinister character and violent temper that from the beginning; had threatened to make the match an unpopular one. The ?? apparently took kindly to this popularity, and when at Copenhagen, mingled freely with the populace. His bluff, soldierly way soon found favor, and when Dagmar's children in little kilted suits and with dark hats "banged" over their foreheads began to be seen about the park at Fredensborg "grandpapa's" summer palace, the reconciliation to the foreigner was complete. One of the causes that contributed to the popularity of the Princess Dagmar is perhaps her name. Her father had wisely given to all his children, except Alexandra, old, historical Danish names, identified with the past of the nation. Frederick Christian, Valdemar and Thyra are all names that hold a high place in Danish history and live in its songs and traditions. But of all the nation's great names none is dearer to the heart of the Danish people than that of Dagmar, the Queen of the victorious Valdemar and the friend of the needy and oppressed throughout the land whose goodness was so great that on her untimely death-bed, according to tradition no greater sin weighed upon her conscience than "sewing a lace sleeve on Sunday." The people of Copenhagen among whom the Princess Dagmar moved liked to compare her virtues with those of the beloved queen, nod at her departure for her Russian home the fervent wish followed her that she would prove in truth a veritable Dagmar-a "harbinger of day" to the unhappy people whose empress she was some day to become. The Princess Dagmar was not a handsome child, her features being clumsy though pleasing, but she grew into a very beautiful woman, like her sister Alexandra. In every printshop in Copenhagen pictures of her and her husband, with their children, are for sale. The children have little of then mothers looks but bear a strong resemblance to their father.-Home Journal. |