Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-03-05
Victoria on Her Throne.
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A PEN-PICTURE OF HER MAJESTY As SUI
APPEARED AT THE gOPhNiNG OF
PARLIAMENT

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A PEN-PICTURE OF HER MAJESTY As SUI
APPEARED AT TIL OPENING OF
PARLIAMENT.
Her Majesty acknowledges the grave
greeting of her lieges by scarcely more
than glance of the eye. The head benu
slightly, PERHAPS am not sure. She, 100,
walks slowly; there IS no vulgar hurry
about any part OF the business. AS she
rounds the corner Of the dais. her face is
turned full towards our gallery. 1t is the
business of courtiers to say that the Queen
looks always well. For my part, thought
she had grown gray since last saw her,
and the lines of the temples and about the
mouth were cut deeper than ever. 1t can
never have been more than comely face,
and there is nothing, strictly speaking, in
the contour, and nothing in the figure,
which can be called beautiful or noble.-
What strikes you, nevertheless, is the air
of authority and tire air of stern sincerity
which sits upon this royal brow and marks
the least gesture of the Queen. The sad
ness Of tha face is profoundly touching !;
the dignity with which the burden-the all
but intolerable burden of her life-is borne,
appeals to your respect. She is here, they
say, to mark once more her sympathy with
the First Minister of the Grown. and with
the party which, under his guidance has
been leading this country SO strange a
dance these three years past. But politics
are forgotten in such presence; and any
criticism one has to of er is put decently
aside so long as the woman ard the Queen
is here. t5
When she had seated herself upon the
royal robes spread over the throne-which
she might have worn, one would think
there is pause, almost solemn. and there
is time to observe the gown which the ma
jesty of England has on. The majesty and
the beauty of England are face to face, for
the Princess sitsnearly opposite; and asEthe
Princess is perhaps the best dressed wo-
man in the room. so is the Queen almost
the worst. Her gown is of velvet, with
broad longitudinal streakS of miniver or
ermine running down the skirt and hori-
zontal trimmings to match about the body
But you need not stop to look at it; the
Koh-i-noOr CLOVIS in her corsage, and a
miniature crown of diamonds shines above
the stony head. The Princess Beatrice, in
blue velvet, stands by her mothers side,
with traces of the wOmanly attractiveness
which belongs to her sister Louise, now
reigning over the hearts Of our Canadian
friends. There was some man9uvering
with footstools and Arrangement of trains.
and the Queen s veil had to be extricated
from the Melted work of the throne. Then
the Queen said, .'Pray. be seated,'' and
once more came silence. ses' 81 ar SAG
The Queen wore dress and train of
black velvet trimmed with miniver and a
long white tulle veil surmounted by a
crown in diamonds, a necklace and ear
rings of large diamonds, tine Koh-i-noor
as brooch, the Riband and Star OF the
Order of the Garter and the Orders of
Victoria and Albert and the Grown of In
dia. Princess Beatrice Wore a dress of
pale blue velvet, trimmed with satin, and
head-dress of feathers, with veil and dia-
mond stars; also a necklace of diamonds.
a pearl and diamond pendant, earrings
and brooch, with the orders of Victoria
and Albert, the Crown OF India and the
Sake Coburg and Gotha family orders
The Princess of Wales wore dress Of
dark vanille velvet draped with pale va
mile and silver brocade and bordered with
dark fur; corsage to correspond; also a
tiara of diamonds, feathers and veil and
diamond ornaments, with the Orders Of
Victoria and Albert, The Star of India. St.
Catherine of Russia and the Danish fami-
ly orders.