THE state of the Grand Duchess’ health prevented her from accompanying the Grand Duke to Berlin on the occasion of the marriages of Princess Charlotte of Prussia (eldest daughter of the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany) to the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen, and of Princess Elizabeth of Prussia (sister to the Duchess of Connaught) to the Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg. Although she was unable to go out much into society, or to take an active part in social gayeties, her interest and sympathy were unabated, particularly in all matters concerning art and science. She received many guests, and Prince William of Prussia (then studying at Bonn) often visited her.
The celebrated portrait painter Heinrich von Angeli came to Darmstadt in the spring to paint a family picture of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess and their children by command of the Queen of England. Princess Alice greatly enjoyed his acquaintance, and was charmed as well by his musical talent as by his wonderful genius in painting. Angeli’s picture of Princess Alice was the last ever painted of her.
The repeated attempts on the life of the old Emperor of Germany affected the Grand Duchess very nearly, as from her childhood she had ever been greatly attached to him.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess with their children spent the summer months of this year at Eastbourne. Sea-bathing and sea-air had again been recommended as necessary.
The Grand Duke had to return to Darmstadt soon after their arrival at Eastbourne, but toward the end of the stay there he rejoined them.
The whole family visited the Queen at Osborne.
Although the Grand Duchess had, during all her former visits to England, shown her lively personal interest in all charitable institutions in London, visiting many herself, she seems on the occasion of this, her last, visit to her beloved native land, to have taken a more than ordinary interest in these matters, and to have also gone minutely into the subject of the exertions which were being made to relieve the pressing wants of the poor.
The Grand Duchess had scarcely arrived at Eastbourne (an eye-witness tells us), when she at once made enquiries as to the condition of the poorer parts of that town, and determined to visit them herself. She loved to wander about that part of Eastbourne which is inhabited by the fishing population. She often entered their cottages, visiting the sick, and showing her sympathy to all. The visits to the Sunday-school were a great pleasure to her. The Princess often remarked, “How much good such instruction must do!”
She attended divine service at a church some little way off, not because the service was particularly attractive, but because the church and its congregation needed support and help.
Amongst those good works which from year to year had specially occupied her were the Refuges and Penitentiaries for those poor women and girls who most need our help. Much had been done in this way in England, and the Albion Home at Brighton, founded and managed solely by Mrs. Murray Vicars, had proved of the greatest service and blessing. The Grand Duchess invited Mrs. Vicars to come and see her at Eastbourne, and tell herself about her work, and showed her, when she came, the greatest sympathy and kindness, entering with the warmest interest into all details of the working of the Home.