, 1879-03-23
VICTORIA'S FATHER.


spcctfullY. J. ". GooDsPEKD.
V1CTORIA'S FATHER.
How tho Canadians Hated tho Grandfather
Of Their Princess Lonlse-A Princes Five
Dollars Week.
1st,c Iork Sun.
The father Of Queen Victoria has slept for
years in his grave undisturbed and forgotten.
There are few Enelishmen and fewer Americans
who know anything about him beyond the bald
fact that he was Duke OF Kent and the
Queens father. But the coming of his grand
child to Canada has reminded the Canadians
Of the fact that her grandfather passed
the greater portion OF his actiye life in that
country, aud curiosity Is on the alert to recover
the smallest incidents of bis sojourn. The
houses in which he lived in Halifax and St. Johns
find place in all the illustrated newspapers.
Thcs spots he frequented, the streets in which he
walked, have become sacred, and old men who
saw him or to whom be talked fnd themselves
suddenly in great demand. Yet this Duke, OF
whom so little is known, had more force Of
character than any Of his brothers, and his story
is not without interest.
The Duke Of Kent was the fourth son Of
George III. lie was born on Nov. 2, 1867. AT
the age of Is he WAS sent to Germany tor his
Guuc0tOH. TIE FeS1HEu Ut luueueEt. anu n8u-
over until he hat completed his goth year, and
during the whole Of this period bis income was
limited to 5000 year, and Of this his tutor
governor had the disposal. His pocket-rnoney
at an age at which the gi1ded youth Of New
York keep drag was So week. The fact vas
in the House Of Commons. The two
next years were passed in Geneva on q
similar allowance, and many were the
privations aud humiliations he had
to submit to from the contrast between bis in
come and his rank. Presently, however, he was
placed in command OF the Seventh Fusifeers,
which was part of the garrison of Gibraltar,
under Gen. o. tara, in 179o-'91, before the OPEN
ing Of the revolutionary war with France,
From Gibraltar he was removed to Canada in
and again to Canada, as commander Of the
forces, in which office he secured respect but By
no means affection, If We may judge from the
comments Of some Of the old Canadian papers
he was something more than severe, he was
cruel; dead to any feeling Of gentleness, and
immoyable in any decision he had once come to.
He was held, personally, in universal hatred. It
was alleged In his defense at the time, both in
the colonies and in the mosher-country, that his
temper had been soured By the harsh treatment
Of George Ill. This may have been so. But
the other excuses put forward, that he did not
& voluntarily adopt the military profcssion,''
and that IS Canada was place Of banishment,n
can hardly pa!liate his venting his spleen as he
did.
While serving in Canada he received orders to
sail for the West Indies and Join in the attack
made under Sir Charles Grey on the French
Islands, At the conflict at st. Lucie he greatly
distinguished himself, leading the attack at the
soldier aud skillful officer. Thence he return
ell to Canada. His experience In battling side
by side with his men had brought to him just
CT sense Of the soldiers deservings, and happily
gave brighter color to the close OF his colonial
career. In IL letter published in England be ad-
mitted, and expressed regret for, the severity
Of the early period OF his command; and dur
ing the remainder Of his military life he took
every opportunity to prove his affection for the
troops. Thus. when at last called home to En-
spect aud esteem. His private life, unlike that
Of some Of his Royal brothers and some OF the
present Royal family, was honorable and blame
less Few things have stirred Americans with
more disgust than the Royal spectacle Of the
present Representative warrior, the Duke Of
Cambridge, who fed from the Crmca ard the
command OF his division otter the first fierce
fight at 1nkerman, travelling around last sum-
mer at Kissingen and the other German water
ing places, openly md hauntingly, with Mrs.
whom he dishonored with his affec-
tions.
On bis return to England the Duke Of Kent
was appointed to the command OF the First
Foot with the rank OF Field Marshal, but the al
most immaculate restoration OIL peace gave nlm
little opportunity for distinction. It opened
new fields to his active mind, however. He de- |
7oted himself to the cause Of charity to the diff
fusion OF benevolent principles. to the amelora-
lion OF the physical, Social aud moral condition
ot the people; to the encouragement OF the arts !
ind sciences. The inventor OF new improve
!nents, the poet, the man of letters
found In him generous and consider |
lte patron and friend. The drama was
o min an object Of special interest.
II the dramatic fund, aud invariably attended |
he benefits Of leading artists. He took special |
interest in the blind, an interest almost as ten
ler and sympathetic as that Of Dr. Howe, OF
Boston. He attended for several days the e1-
}eriments with the new inventions Of raised let /
crs, and expressed publicly the greatest joy at
heir success. In brief, he was as latitudinaran
IS Dean Stanley, and shook the nerves of many
hurchmeu by closing 4 speech at the inaugura-
ion Of some schools with these words: II do
lot care for forms. The Bible, the whole Biblc.n
lie shared With the Duke Of Sussex the dis
inction OF being the best speaker in the Royal
amily.
Such was the Prince who in 1878 was united
u marriage to her Serene Highness Victoria
louisa, youngest daughter Of the Duke Of SAKE
'rince Of Leinigen aud sister OF Leopold, King |
+ the Belgians, whom she so much resembled |
i appearance anu more in character OF mind.
Ter life with her first husband, whom she had
1arried at the age Of IT, had been a most
Unhappy one, full OF storms. He had been
issipated and passionate. However, she had
orne her sufferings we'll, and the breath Of
lander had never touched her uame Thus |
was with universal rejoicing that
.neland received the announcement by
4ord Liverpool OF the intended marriage, with |
he usual pleasant corollary OF settlement on
he Duke OF $4,000 year. It was opposed by
be Radicals Of those days, as was the Duke OF
:onnaught's in ours,-py the Methuons and
'awcetts, but it was carried by a vote OF 2o5 to
o Sc. The marriage vas celebrated in Germa-
;, quietly and without pomp. May %, 1918, ac-
ording to the rites Of the Lutheran Church.
he Duke Of Clarence afterrartI William