Article #327-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Princess Aline, by Richard Harding Davis

He sighed, and stretched out his hand for a copy of one of the English
illustrated papers. It had a fresher interest to him because the next
number of it that he would see would be in the city in which it was
printed. The paper in his hands was the St. James Budget, and it
contained much fashionable intelligence concerning the preparations for
a royal wedding which was soon to take place between members of two of
the reigning families of Europe. There was on one page a half-tone
reproduction of a photograph, which showed a group of young people
belonging to several of these reigning families, with their names and
titles printed above and below the picture. They were princesses,
archdukes, or grand-dukes, and they were dressed like young English men
and women, and with no sign about them of their possible military or
social rank.

One of the young princesses in the photograph was looking out of it and
smiling in a tolerant, amused way, as though she had thought of
something which she could not wait to enjoy until after the picture was
taken. She was not posing consciously, as were some of the others, but
was sitting in a natural attitude, with one arm over the back of her
chair, and with her hands clasped before her. Her face was full of a
fine intelligence and humor, and though one of the other princesses in
the group was far more beautiful, this particular one had a much more
high-bred air, and there was something of a challenge in her smile that
made any one who looked at the picture smile also. Carlton studied the
face for some time, and mentally approved of its beauty; the others
seemed in comparison wooden and unindividual, but this one looked like
a person he might have known, and whom he would certainly have liked.
He turned the page and surveyed the features of the Oxford crew with
lesser interest, and then turned the page again and gazed critically
and severely at the face of the princess with the high-bred smile. He
had hoped that he would find it less interesting at a second glance,
but it did not prove to be so.

"'The Princess Aline of Hohenwald,'" he read. "She's probably engaged
to one of those Johnnies beside her, and the Grand-Duke of Hohenwald
behind her must be her brother." He put the paper down and went into
luncheon, and diverted himself by mixing a salad dressing; but after a
few moments he stopped in the midst of this employment, and told the
waiter, with some unnecessary sharpness, to bring him the last copy of
the St. James Budget.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Princess Aline by Richard Harding Davis**

Context of the Source

Richard Harding Davis (1864–1916) was an American journalist, war correspondent, and novelist known for his sharp social observations and romantic adventure stories. The Princess Aline (1895) is a novella that blends romance, social satire, and the allure of European aristocracy—a recurring theme in Davis’s works, reflecting the Gilded Age fascination with royalty and high society.

The story follows Carlton, an American man (likely wealthy or at least well-connected) who becomes intrigued by a photograph of Princess Aline of Hohenwald in a British society magazine, the St. James Budget. This excerpt captures the moment of his first encounter with her image, setting the stage for the romantic and social dynamics that unfold in the narrative.

Themes in the Excerpt

Fascination with European Aristocracy
- The passage reflects the late 19th-century American obsession with European royalty, a trend amplified by newspapers and illustrated magazines that covered royal weddings, scandals, and social events.
- Carlton’s interest in the St. James Budget—a fictional but plausible high-society publication—highlights how the upper classes (and aspirational readers) consumed gossip about nobility as both entertainment and a marker of cultural refinement.
The Power of Imagery and First Impressions
- The photograph of Princess Aline acts as a catalyst for Carlton’s infatuation. Her image is not just a static representation but seems to communicate with him—her smile is "tolerant, amused," almost alive.
- This aligns with the era’s growing influence of visual media (photography, illustrated press) in shaping public perceptions of celebrity and romance.
Class and Authenticity
- The other royals in the photograph are described as "posing consciously," suggesting artificiality, while Aline appears "natural" and "unindividual" (i.e., uniquely herself).
- Her "high-bred air" and "challenge in her smile" imply a natural aristocracy—not just inherited title but an innate grace that sets her apart. This contrasts with the "wooden" demeanor of the others, reinforcing a theme of true nobility vs. performative royalty.
Romantic Idealization
- Carlton’s reaction is immediate and visceral. He is drawn to Aline not just for her beauty but for her intelligence, humor, and individuality—qualities that make her seem accessible despite her royal status.
- His disappointment upon seeing the Oxford crew (symbolizing mundane, everyday life) underscores how Aline represents an escape into fantasy and glamour.
The Illusion of Control (and Its Collapse)
- Carlton tries to dismiss his fascination ("he had hoped he would find it less interesting at a second glance"), but he fails. His sharp command to the waiter for the paper again reveals his unconscious obsession.
- This foreshadows the novella’s central conflict: Carlton’s rational, modern worldview (as an American) clashing with the irrational allure of European monarchy.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Free Indirect Discourse
- The narration blends Carlton’s thoughts with the author’s voice, creating intimacy. For example:
  "She's probably engaged to one of those Johnnies beside her..." This feels like Carlton’s internal monologue, making his reactions immediate and relatable.
Contrast & Juxtaposition
- Aline vs. the Other Royals: While the others "pose consciously," she is "natural," with a smile that "made any one who looked at the picture smile also." This contrast elevates her in Carlton’s (and the reader’s) eyes.
- Aline vs. the Oxford Crew: The shift from royal glamour to a sports team underscores how ordinary life pales in comparison to the fantasy Aline represents.
Imagery & Sensory Detail
- The photograph is described in cinematic detail: Aline’s pose ("one arm over the back of her chair"), her expression ("tolerant, amused"), and the "challenge in her smile" make her feel alive on the page.
- The tactile act of Carlton handling the paper ("stretched out his hand," "turned the page") grounds the scene in realism, making his obsession tangible.
Irony & Subtext
- Carlton’s sharpness with the waiter reveals his denial—he pretends to be indifferent but is already ensnared by Aline’s image.
- The St. James Budget itself is ironic: a mass-produced magazine that commodifies royalty, yet Carlton treats it as a personal relic ("the next number... would be in the city in which it was printed").
Foreshadowing
- Carlton’s repeated return to the photograph hints at the novella’s plot: his pursuit of Aline will disrupt his life, blurring the line between reality and idealization.

Significance of the Passage

Characterization of Carlton
- This moment defines Carlton as a modern man (practical, slightly cynical) who is unexpectedly vulnerable to romantic fantasy.
- His salad-dressing distraction is a humorous touch—domestic triviality interrupted by grand obsession.
Introduction of Aline as a Symbol
- Aline is not just a love interest but an embodiment of old-world charm in contrast to American pragmatism.
- Her smile becomes a recurring motif—inviting, mysterious, and slightly mocking, as if she knows more than the viewer.
Social Commentary
- The excerpt critiques how media shapes desire. Carlton doesn’t know Aline, yet he feels a connection through a manufactured image—a precursor to modern celebrity culture.
- The royal wedding preparations in the background highlight the performative nature of aristocracy, which Aline seems to transcend.
Narrative Hook
- The passage ends on tension: Carlton’s inability to let go of the photograph propels the reader forward. Will he meet her? Is his attraction real or a projection?

Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This opening scene is a masterclass in building romantic intrigue through subtle details. Davis uses:

A seemingly mundane moment (reading a magazine) to introduce a life-altering fascination.
Visual storytelling to make Aline feel real and compelling.
Social context to explore themes of class, media, and the allure of the unattainable.

Carlton’s reaction mirrors the reader’s own curiosity: Who is this princess, and why does she captivate him so? The excerpt sets up the novella’s central question: Can fantasy (or love) bridge the gap between an American commoner and European royalty? The answer, as the story unfolds, is both romantic and bittersweet—a hallmark of Davis’s style.

Final Thought: In just a few paragraphs, Davis captures the power of an image to ignite obsession, a theme that resonates even more today in our age of social media and curated personas. Aline’s photograph is the original "influencer" moment—where a single glance sparks a story.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of Princess Aline’s photograph most strongly evokes which of the following paradoxes about aristocratic representation in media?

A. The illusion of intimacy created by a mass-produced image that simultaneously reinforces social distance.
B. The tension between hereditary privilege and the democratic accessibility of printed journalism.
C. The contrast between the rigid formality of royal portraits and the candid spontaneity of modern photography.
D. The conflict between the subject’s perceived individuality and the photographer’s imposition of artistic convention.
E. The disparity between the visual allure of nobility and the textual descriptions that undermine their glamour.

Question 2

Carlton’s repeated return to the photograph of Princess Aline is most analogous to which of the following psychological phenomena?

A. The compulsive revisiting of a stimulus that triggers an unresolved cognitive dissonance between desire and attainability.
B. The unconscious replication of a learned behavioral pattern derived from societal conditioning about romantic ideals.
C. The deliberate cultivation of an aesthetic preference as a means of asserting intellectual superiority over peers.
D. The temporary fixation on a novel object as a distraction from deeper existential dissatisfaction.
E. The ritualistic engagement with a symbolic artifact to reinforce a fragile sense of personal identity.

Question 3

The narrator’s observation that the other princesses in the photograph appear “wooden and unindividual” serves primarily to:

A. underscore the technical limitations of early photographic reproduction in capturing nuanced expressions.
B. critique the homogenizing effects of aristocratic upbringing on personal authenticity.
C. highlight Carlton’s subjective bias in favor of women who defy conventional standards of beauty.
D. establish Aline’s exceptionalism by contrast, framing her as a singular figure amidst a generic elite.
E. foreshadow the thematic revelation that true nobility is performative rather than inherent.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the narrative function of Carlton’s abrupt shift in attention from the Oxford crew to Princess Aline’s photograph?

A. It illustrates the arbitrary nature of human fascination, where interest is dictated by proximity rather than inherent merit.
B. It reinforces the passage’s satire of male vanity by juxtaposing athletic prowess with feminine allure.
C. It accentuates the magnetic pull of Aline’s image by demonstrating its power to disrupt even mundane engagements.
D. It signals Carlton’s subconscious rejection of British culture in favor of continental European sophistication.
E. It exposes the superficiality of his character, who is easily distracted by visual stimuli regardless of content.

Question 5

The “challenge in her smile” attributed to Princess Aline is most plausibly interpreted as an embodiment of which of the following literary archetypes?

A. The femme fatale, whose allure masks a threat to the protagonist’s emotional stability.
B. The trickster, whose playful defiance of expectations invites the viewer into a shared joke.
C. The ingénue, whose innocence belies a hidden depth of worldly wisdom.
D. The earth mother, whose nurturing presence offers solace to the disillusioned observer.
E. The byronic heroine, whose melancholic beauty reflects a tragic disillusionment with society.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: A

Why A is most correct: The passage emphasizes how a mass-produced image (the St. James Budget) creates a false sense of intimacy with Princess Aline—Carlton feels a personal connection to her, yet the photograph simultaneously reinforces her unapproachable status as royalty. This paradox is central to the excerpt’s critique of media and class. The phrase “the next number of it that he would see would be in the city in which it was printed” underscores the distance between Carlton’s reality and Aline’s world, while his visceral reaction (“smile also”) collapses that distance illusionally.