The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-10
Victoria and Albert.


Queen Victoria evidently loved Prince
Albert before she married him. The first
volume of the life of the Prince, entitled 'The
Early Years of his Royal Highness the Prince
Consort," contains positive proof of this inte-
resting fact 1t is also shown that the course
of royal love, like the course of good many
other loves of less distinguished persons,
ran roughly for time. The late King William
w objected. The late Prince Alexander of the
Netherlands, who was rival favored by the
King, objected. No less than four other rivals
were proposed. Prince Albert himself, who,
having been suggested by the King of the Bel
gians in 1888 as the Queens husband, re-
Ceived word that Victoria desired that few
years should elapse before the marriage, was
so discouraged that he then and there fatty
told King Leopold that ''unless he, Prince
Albert, had some more certain assurance to
go upon, he should decline waiting"
sin case," said the Prince, "the Queen
should conclude not to desire the marriage, it
would place me in very ridiculous position,
and to a certain extent ruin all the prospects
of my future life." A delicate hint to this
effect was probably given by the King of the
Belgians in the proper quarter; for in October
the following year, Prince Albert, accompanied
by his brother Ernest, paid visit to Windsor,
where, at II O'Clock on the 18th, he "obeyed
the Queens summons to her ROOM" Victoria
herself at once popped the question; and on
the same day disclosed in letter to her
"dearest UNCLE" Leopold, that the Swarm
affection Albert showed gave her great plea
sure" and that she 'loved him more than she
could say" "These last few days." continues
the Queen, "have passed like dream
to me- and l am so much bewildered by
it all that l hardly know what to write.
But do feel very happy" Could any
thing be more charming and girlish and un-
affected But then we must remember that
Victoria was only nineteen, and had just
been enthroned as Queen of England as well
as of her lovers heart Prince Albert wrote
to his grandmother, testifying to his being the
happiest of men. Yet, after the marriage,
which took place on the 10th of February,
1910, the separation from his father and
brother caused the poor young Prince to shed
tears. Whereupon the Queen, resorting to
her journal, "prayed God to grant that she
might be the happy person, the most happy
person, to make this dearest, blessed being
happy and contented." This happiness and
oontentment was sought outside of Lon
don. "The Prince dislilSed the dirt and
smoke" of the city; and the Queen herself,
who suffered with headache whenever she was
within its walls, was glad to live a merry life
in the country with her ''inestimable husband
and friend" State ceremonials and court re-
ceptions became irksome to her. II Is easy
to ksee that they have grown more and more
irksome ever since. "When the Princess
Royal was born, for a moment only" says the
Queen, twas the Prince disappointed at its
being daughter, and not SON." The Prince
proved himself to be model nurse. During
Victoria's confinement, 'no one but himself
lifted her her from her bed to the sofa. AS
years went on, and he became overwhelmed
with work (for his attentions were the same in
all the Queens subsequent confnements), this
was often done with much inconvenience to
himself but he ever came with sweet smile
en- his face" In short, Prince Albert's care
is described as like that Of a mother to the
Queen.
These episodes are to be followed by con-
secutive history of the Queens after life with
the Prince Consort until the death of Albert.
The history to come will probably be most
valuable. But the present volume tells OF
the younger and happier and more hopeful
time, when Victoria was called handsome,
and when, as her journal plainly shows, she
was frank, warm-hearted, and not unro-
mantle girl. In her temperament at that
time, in the affection that She conceived for
the Prince who is dead, may easily be dis
covered the sources Of whatever has been wise
and worthy in her later reign. II was the
hand Of Albert indeed that guided, If 1t did
not WELD the screptre; aud there is sad inn
preston in England that it lies, almost for
gotten, beside his tomb.