Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 195, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1913 — PRINCESS MARY 16 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PRINCESS MARY 16

Daughter of Engand’s Royal House Lacks Vivacity. . n . » Queen Mary Wilk Not Allow Her to Make Debut Until She Reachea the Age of 18-—Life She Leads at Home. London. —Engfish society has been Interested lately in the question of the coming out of her royal highness, the young Princess Mary. As the only daughter of the king of England it is natural that there should be much speculation as to her future prospects, and her name has already been coupled by matchmakers with those of several foreign royalties. Princess Mary was sixteen years old on April 26, but Queen Mary has no intention of introducing her daughter to the world as a grownup woman till after she Is eighteen. As a matter of fact, the princess looks younger than her real age, and In mind and education she is younger, for though naturally she has had every educational advantage she has been brought up so simply that In mind she remains somewhat undeveloped. To a certain extent she inherits her mother’s shyness and lack of geniality.

Queen Mary even now will shed tears of sheer nervousness at the of receiving an ambassador and his suite, though she will converse with perfect aplomb, intelligence and interest with a doctor at a large hospital, or will present prizes in public to poor children with a charming little greeting for each recipient in the view of cheering thousands. Princess Mary’s nervousness and want of aavoir folre were exemplified not long ago when she had to be fitted for a dress. Two dressmakers attended, and the young princess, after much thought and some hesitation, made a remark about the weather. Then, giving up the attempt to manufacture conversation, she occupied herself while altertions were being made by busily picking up the pins which had been dropped on the floor. "1 thought it was better than talig Ing when I had nothing to say,” she told her governess, "and at any rate it was useful.” It Is Interesting to note that she inherits some of the traits of her great grandmother, Queen Victoria. She has,

like her ancestress, no sense of humor, and in spite of the sensible upbringing of her parents has a considerable idea of her own importance. TJie writer can vouch for the following episode which happened at one of the large garden parties at Buckingham palace about two years ago. Princess Mary, dressed in a simple white dress, was allowed, rather as a favor, to mingle with the guests. Running up to a high court official whom she knew well, and who was in deep conversation with a member of the government, she pulled his coat sleeve several times to gain his attention. At last he turned and said courteously but rather impatiently, "Run away, little lady; I’m busy now.” The princess ran to her mother, who had observed the little scene from a distance. “Mother!” cried the Indignant daughter, “Sir called me ’little lady' and told be to run away.” “You had better go back to him, my dear,” said the queen, “and tell him that though you are a princess, that you have yet to learn to be a little lady.” ' Princess Mary is something of an autocrat among her brothers, and at Sandringham, the charming country bpuse of the king and queen in Norfolk, there is sometimes a good deal of sparring and an exchange of much plainness of speech. Once when games were being played with the children of the gamekeepers on the estate, the princess in a fit of temper pushed one of her playmates into a shallow pond and then ran away laughing. The Prince of Wales, then about thirteen, was very angry with his sister, and locked her up in a summer house.

Princess Mary.