As stated, I believe in prenatal influence, and am more than convinced that the portraits of Saxon and Prussian princesses frowning from the walls of our palaces are calculated neither to promote beauty nor gentleness. If I had my way, I would send the whole lot to the store-room and fill the space they occupy with the present store-room treasures, old time portraits of August the Physical Strong's favorites, Aurora von Koenigsmark, Countess Cosel, Princess Lubomirska, Fatime, the Circassian, the Orselska and--who can remember their names? As a rule, queens and princesses are conspicuous for lack of beauty, while kings and princes cut most ordinary figures in _mufti_. Only their uniforms, the ribands and decorations, the _mise-en-scene_ render them tolerable imitations of the average military man. Why? Because their mothers and fathers, their sisters, cousins and aunts see nothing but painted and photographed and sculptured frights and grotesques. So much ugliness of the past must needs cause ugliness of the present and future. In a century the thrones of Europe have known but two beauties, both plebeians, the Empress Josephine and the Empress Eugenie. My aunt, the Empress Elizabeth, is only good-looking, the German Empress was just an ordinary German _Frau_ even in her salad-days. Well, my little girls, if I have any, shall profit by the lessons of the past. As expectant mothers in ancient Greece were wont to walk in the temple of _Athene Parthenos_, filled with the greatest sculptures the world has ever seen (ruins of them I admired in the British Museum), so I intend to have a gallery of my own for beauty's sake, even if every female figure be a harlot's likeness. CHAPTER XVI MORE JEALOUSIES OF THE GREAT Men and women caress me with their eyes--Some disrespectful sayings and doings of mine--First decided quarrel with Frederick Augustus--I go to the theatre in spite of him. DRESDEN, _April 1, 1894_. I am afraid I wrote down some wicked things--wicked from the standpoint of the Saxon court--and though Queen Carola and father-in-law George know naught of my scribblings, punishment was meted out to me in full measure. Of course, it's my "damned popularity," as the King calls it, that got me into trouble again. My carriage happened to follow one occupied by the Queen at a distance of some hundred or more paces along the avenues of the _Grosser Garten_. I had no idea that Her Majesty was out at the time, and certainly was dressed to please the eye. I can't help it. It's a habit with me.