The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-05-17
Anecdotes Concerning John Brown, Queen
Vinfnriaic Foro-it G;lEn

Victoria's Favorit Gillie.
On one occasion the Queen, accom-
panied by two of her daughters, was re-
turning to Balmoral from visit to Glas-
salt. when suddenly tho horses started
aside from a new road they were unac-
| customed to. 1t was an awkward spot
for an accident, but John Brown, realiz-
ing the danger at a glance, vociferated
Pull up" so vigorously to the coach
man that serious consequences were av-
erted. As it was, the carriage was ever
turned and the royal party were thrown
out. At little distance the coachman
lay insensible. The outrider was on be-
fore, and only John Brown remained to
do duty for ALL With great GOODNESS he
whipped out his nlasp-knife and quietly
cut the traces to free the struggling ahi-
mails, and bore the occupants of the car
riage to place of safety. 1t is alleged
that only for moment he was perplex-
ed. when his lamp went out, and an en-
phatic exclamation escaped his lips,
which the royal ears that heard it con-
strued into an ejaculatory prayer. The
| outrider chanced to look around as he
galloped along, and, seeing no lamps,
he rode back to ascertain what was
wrong, but the danger was past. He
has served the Queen in greater strait.
When young mad O'Connell darted out
on her from the shrubbery at Bucking-
ham Palace, pistol in hand, he positive
ly plucked the puny wretch up from the
ground as if be had been an offending
kitten, and held him out so, clawing the
air with his paws, till the Queen had
passed out of harms way.
So, too, he was death on all intruders
on the Queens privacy. Once when he
| met some reporters whom he suspected
of doggiug her footsteps for copy" he
ordered them off the public highway as
| though he held all the highlands in fee
1t was grossly Illegal, but they went. 1t
is well known, too, that his ready tact
has smoothed the Queens way into the
humble highland homes she has honored
| with her presence. "You see, he is one
of ourselves, and his familiar face be-
side her Majesty puts heart into us. :"
Without a native pioneer it can be easily
imagined how difficult it would have
been for the Queen to make her way
amongst people whose language, and
manners and customs were strange to
her. And upon the other hand, how lit
tie sympathy there could have been be-
tween the exalted lady and the simple
cotters. Her Majesty sometimes made
her calls upon unfortunate days, when
cleaning" was going on, and there
On such occasions an ordinary herald
would have been nonplussed. probably,
but not he. Coolly seeking out the guild
wife, he informed her officially that the
Queen was at the door. and at the same
time rated her soundly for not being pre-
pared TO receive her Majesty. He did
not leave her in the lurch, however, but
vigorously set to work to whisk pals
and brooms out of sight and make
things straight before the royal visitor
appeared on the scene.
In return for his beautiful and dis
eliminating service the Queen was at
times inclined to be overgenerous in sub
stantial Acknowledgements. On one no.
table occasion the Queens son-in-law,
Prince Christian, who was the ranger OF
Windsor forest, proposed before the close
OF the pheasant season to have a small
shooting party of his own friends. As
is the custom in such cases, he submit
ted the names to her Majesty, and they
were approved, with the hope that Mr..
Brown should be included in the num-
Der. The Prince politely bowed to this
request, but instead of sending out the
invitations as he had intended he with
held them, and he and '.Mr. Brown"
had the sport to themselves. The Queen,
however was by no means satisfied with
this arrangement, and as the slight came
from the one member of the royal cir
Gle for whom her Majesty has a pro-
found regard, and whom she consults
| more than any member of her family
this little annoyance was felt with all the
more acuteness. On another occasion,
when the court was established in Ra-
genna, in Italy, Brown was indisposed
As he had no faith in the skill of any
one raised south of the Tweed, he de-
clined the services of Sir William Jen-
ner, who was deemed clever enough for
l,er Majesty, and clamored for DIR.
Marshall, the ordinary attendant of the
royal household, who was absent on a
holiday, the first for several years. So,
in order to appease Brown, Marshall
travelled across Europe to attend to his
very ordinary ailments, at an expense to
aer Majesty of some hundred guineas.
A more substantial reward than such at
tentions as these, however, was given to
Brown a year or two ago, when her Maj
esty had built for his use, within the
grounds at Balmoral, plain but spa
cious square mansion. occupying pleas
ant situation in the center of lawn-like
expanse of the royal demesne, with a
carriage-drive leading to it from one of
AZ - L.,
intended for his Use in his declining
years, after his royal mistress had pass
ed away, but it was destined never to be
permanently occupied. Brown remain
ed in personal attendance on the Queen
up to the time of his death, and sat in
his accustomed place behind her carriage
when the last attemptwas made upon her
life, at Windsor, little over year ago.