New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-29
TuE OEEEN,S RODY.GCARD.

John Brown was bury ScOtchman, with
stout heart and big fist, who sat Tor years at
the back of the Queens carriage and heId her
horse for her when she rode. In the Highlands
he was her chef attendant. and at Buckingham
or Windsor he was the door-man, who kept
watch aud ward over her. He was an old FAM
ily servant for whom the Prince Consort had
had n strong personal liking and the Queen,
sharing that feeling of confidence. had allowed
him to discard his livery and to become her
favorite bOdy-guard whenever she required
nrotection in her Highland excursions Or her
foreign Journeys. On one occasion, wheh
crazy youth emerged from the shrubbery ana
fourished a pistol against the Queen In an
mbecile way, it was John Brown who pounced
upon him in transport OF fury ana SHOOK
the few remaining wits out OF him. III was
not, however, by exceptional displays OF 10y
atty or zeal that he had won the royal favor
He had Eeen for many years IN the Queen
household: he had many an anecdote TO tell OF
the Prince Consort he had seen the children
grow up in the royal nurseries; and he was
constant and faithful in serving his sovereign.
Like many an old servant in households oil
republican simplicity, he came to look upon
himself as the friend of the family and To take
advantage of the indulgence and condescen-
slon that were shown to him. Beginning Oy
protecting the Queen in the Highlands ~ her
BODY guard he ended by making himself one
of the central figures in the ceremonlals at
Windsor. He was never the superintendent OF
the Royal Establishment, rs Stockmar was, but
he ACQUIRED prominence IN the Queens house
hold which gave him many Vulgar trumphs
over the rabne in the servants quarter.
II is probable that tho death OF this piesump
tuons servitor at Windsor will cause little re-
gret in England He was dsIiked. not only by
the servants, with whom he would not Associate,
and bv his superors whom he was allowed to
snub while assuming to guard the queen
against intrusion and annoyance, but also by
the nation at large II is not easy to give the
reason for this. There had been inane tItle'
insulting alike to the dignity and intelligence
of the sovereign. No heed had ever been PAID
TO coarse and stupid gossip. The Queens
confidence in one of her oldest household ser
wants was never misconstrued by her loyal sub
iccts Probably the reason why he was dlAiked
in England was tho fact that the association oil
his name with the Royal household tended TO
make the Court ridiculous. Royalty, being one
of the most ancient Institutions IN England,
was regarded as.toO sacred in It's character To
be degraded by vulgar jests John Brown had
become, in some way, standing joke ut the
expense of Royalty. Englishmen did not like
that. They had grown weary of hearing stale
anecdotes about his arrogance and ofiicious-
ness. The recurrence of his name in the Court
circulars and in the boulevard journals had be-
come an irritating annoyance. Poor John
Brown. the lackey out of livery, became n
sorry Joke in the end His death will not be
lamented, except by the Queen, who appre-
ciated the loyalty of his service.