16 NOVEMBER 1895, Page 12

A special interest must always attach to the story of

the Princess Alice. Not only had she great opportunities of action, and used them to the full, but she had also an intellectual and spiritual side to her life, which presents some remarkable characteristics. Such was her relation to Strauss and the " Leben Jean." We

have no fault to find with Miss Pollard's way of dealing with her subject. But we may suggest that there are two sides to the Schleswig-Holstein question, as indeed there are to most ques- tions. The Danish population of North Schleswig cannot be described as "unfortunate, good-natured Germans, who allowed themselves to be oppressed." Possibly Prussia cut the knot in the right place, but our sympathy here with Denmark was very natural, as of course was the Princess's with the German population of the Duchies.