Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-03
A ROYAL NOME.
Life and Death Of ssAIbert the Good,
Memoir by Mr.. Theodore Martin. ]

Like most men who have done great things I'm
Inc world. the Prince got TO his work early, and
people were stirring. Summer or winter he rose
as rule at seven, dressed, and went to his Sit
ung-room, where In winter fire was burning,
and green German lamp ready lit He read
and Answered letters, never allowing his vast
correspondence to fall into arrear, or prepared
for her Majesty consideration drafts or an
Swers TO her ministers on any matters OF i'm
pOrtance. Not feeling sure or the 1diOmatic &C
curacy OF his English, he would constantly bring
his English letters TO the Queen TO read through.
saying: ''LeSe recht aufm erkSaLn, und sage wenn
irgend elm Fehler da i5ti'' Read carefully and
tell me IL there be any vaults In these!'O Or In
the case OF drafts on political affairs, he would
say: Itch had, Dir hier elm Draft gem aCht leseeS
MAJ Ich dachte IS Ware recAt So" (''Here is a
draft I have made for you Read It. I should
think this would do.') He kept up this habit to
the close OF his life and his last memOrand um
OF this deScrtption-a paper OF the greatest i'm
portance, to which we shall hereafter have occa-
sion particularly TO advert-he brought to the
Queen on December l, 1861, at Am, having
risen to write, Ill and suffering as he was, say
ing as he gave 1t: Itch bin so schwach. ich habe
kaum die FEEDER halJen k0nnen." Il am so
weak / have scarcely been able TO hod the
pen.')
From O'Clock till breakfast time was either
spent in the same way or In the pertsal of fresh
relays OF dispatches and official papers, which
had been previously opened and read by the
Queen, and placed by her ready Tor his peruSal
beside his table In her sitting-room.
Every morning the leading newspapers were
Prince. He never failed to examine them
sometimes, to quote a memorandum OF the
Queens, of January, 1862, reading aloud good
or important articles. good article gave him
sincere pleasure" How much mischievous
one panied him has already been told Often
gays the same memorandum, ''when breakfast
was over, he would get up, and spreAing a
newspaper over one OF the tables, bend over it,
and refuse TO listen 70 any questions. saying
''St0re mich NIGHT, fch leSe daS fertig." Don't
disturb me, I'm busy reading) And his papers
IN nN fr1n off, lnp
leading journals OF real value for its facts Or
arguments escaped his notice.
Formerly" again to quote her Majesty's
memorandum ''when he did not 60 out shoot
ing. he generally walked out with me before 10
or sometimes even earlier; but for the last three
or four years we seldom went out before quar-
ter past 10. He generally saw Mr.. Rulandt his
private librarian, (or In former years, DIR. Beck
en- sometimes Colonel Biddulph or Major Elph-
iDStone or would write something or run down
flor he was always quick and energetic as he
went up or down the stairs and along the pas
sage. and could hear his fOOtStep as he went
along TO see Gen. Grey or Sir Charles Phtpps
Sometimes, if minister were in the house and
were going away early. he would send for him
for moment TO his room, and then would come
70 my room again. Not for good many years
did he go out with me on the days he shot; that
was only quite 10 the earliest years, when he
had not 80 much TO do.
In the shooting season he generally went
out three or four times a week, and later on
hunted once week. but he had almost given
by or little before. He never went out or
came home without coming through my room,
or into my dreSSing-rOOm, with q smile on his
face, saving. .Sehr schon.' very fine.) or Ich
uiShtfGiiy wet vi uiity, ana | treasured u
everything heard, kept every letter or dispatch
10 show him, and was always veXed and ner-
vOus II had any foolish draft or dispatch TO
put before him, as | knew IL would distress or
irritate him, and affect his delicate stomach
He always walked very fast when out shooting,
and got very quickly through with it. He would
say i don't understand people making bust
ness OF shooting. and going out for the whole
day. like Ii as an amusement for few hours. ''
Even during these lew hours OF recreation the
brain could have had but little rest from its
prescriptions. The day was too short for the
claims upon the Princes attention. and the fire.
quent attacks of illness. even although slight
showed that his body was growing weaker
while every day increased the strain upon his
mind. In every direction his counsel and his
help were sought. In the Royal household. in
his family circle, among his numerous klnSfolk
at home and abroad, his judgment and guild
ance were being constantly appealed TO. Every
enterprise OF national importance claimed his
attention; and in all things that concerned the
welfare OF the state. at home or abroad his
accurate and varied knowledge and great polit-
zeal sagacity made him looked TO as an author
ity by all our leading statesmen. Let those who
worked with and for him do their be5t-and he
Gould not have been served more ably or more
devOtedly-they could not prevent pressure
which constantly compelled him TO do in one
day what would have been more than ample
work for two. But all this fatigue OF body and
brain did hot deprive him OF his natural cheer
1ulnesS- AT breakfast and luncheon says
the memorandum already quoted, land also at
our family dinners, he sat at the top OF the
table, and Kept us all enlivened by his interest
ing conversation, by his charming anecdotes
and drOll stories without END OF his childhood
OF people at COburg. OF Cur good people In Scot
land, which he wou'i repeat with q wonderful
power OF mimicTy. and at which he would MIN
self laugh most heartily. Then he would at
other times eIiertain US with his talk ab )ut the
most interesting and important topics OF the
resent and or former days. on which 1t was
ever Pleasure to hear him speak
This tWenty-f1rst anniversary or the r)ya.
merflage, the last which the Prince was 10
lnow en- this earth. was kept qu1etly-.-th,
eeyent being only marked by some sacred must:
performed before the royal circle by the Queen S
band" ON that day Albert wrote 10 Victoria
mother, the Duchess OF Kent. I'VE have both
kept our pledge for better and for worse and
have only to thank God that he has vouchSafed
so much happiness to Us. May he have us in
keeping for the days TO come. You have
trust, found good and loving children In us and
We lave experienced nothing but love and
Kindness from YOU" The queen writing 10 her
uncle the King or Belgium, on the same ami
yersary, says: Very lew can say with me that
their husbands at the end OF twenty lone years
are not only 1ull or the friendship, Kindness and
affection which q uuiy happy marriage brings
with IL, but OF the same tender love as in the
very INST day OF our marriage
Although the happiness OF their domestic life
was subject OF constant gratitude to the
queen and The Prince there are Indications thai
the Prince although d young man, was show
ing signs or weakened constitution. He haC
toOthache-"hiS SuferingS were frghtful"-in
EammatlOn OF the nerves. a general lowering o
the vital powers. sleeplesS nights and pain
'ExceeSIve pains, he writes, 'have pulled mt
down very much." In March the Prince fOunC
acough giving way before the sea air Early In
March the queen was TO undergo a great Sor
row in the death OF hei mother, the Duchess o.
Kent.
SHADOWS or THE END.
AL through ISL the Prince never seems Ii
have been thoroughly well. In November the
Queen noticed In her diary that he was ill an(
for living. Not long before his Illness he said u
The queen. Il do not cling 10 life; you do but
j set no store by It," Il am sure II | have
severe iiiness should give up at once. should
not struggle Tor ne. The immediate
cause OF the Princes last Illness ha:
never been aScertained. The medical au
thoritieS trace II back with some pre-
clSiOn TO a day-the 22d or NOyember-When The
Prince ConsoTt Inspected the Royal Military
Academy at Sandhurst in Il terrific rain. HI
came home from this visit weak and tired out
Then came rheumatic pains ana feeling o
being thoroughly unwell." Have Scarcel,
closed my eyes al night for the last fortnight.
The next day. still greatly out OF sorts" An
very Wretchcd; could not join the Queen a
usual III her walk" feeling that he must rest
and every uncomfortable from pains in the bacl
and legs" although able 10 move about he ha,
frequently TO rest himself. as be was not stron!
enough TO go out" Then came news OF IL
Trent affair. the capture OF Mason and Slidel
by The American man-of-war, which addes
greatly % the depression. which had been on
- YtRaaTs ff~s