The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-12
VICTORIA AS AN AUTHORIZES
Liberal Extracts from the Diary Kept
by Her Britannia Majesty,
In Which the Esteemed Brown and His
Bruised Shin Occupy a Prominent
Place-LOveS of LOrne and Louise.


field to that of Gladstone. The entire book is
devoted to domestic and family affairs. Political
illusions are only incidental. The illustrations
are numerous, and include portraits of the
Queen and Prncesses Eleanor, Louise, and
Beatrice also, portrait of Grant, the Queens
body servant, and of her attendant John Brown
There are pictures, too, of the Queens collie
dogs, Sharp and Noble, and several views of
scenes in the Highlands from sketches by Prin-
cess Beatrice
In the preface the royal authoress says:
Remembering the feeling with which Life in
the Highlands was received. the writer. thinks the
present volume may equally wake sympathy as,
while describing very altered life, it shows how her
sad and suffering heart soothed and cheered by
the excursions and adventures it recounts well
by the simple mountaineers, from whom she learned
many lessons Of designations and faith in the quiet of
the beautiful highlands"
After the dedication to the 'Loyal Highland
ers, and especially to the memory OF her faith
full attendant and friend John Brown" the diary
opens with building memorial cailn in honor of
the Prince Consort 1t reads follows:
1--WE started off in little ponychair led by Brown;
Berthe, the Prince of Wales in front, Eleanor and
Louise on ponies, and two little boys, Arthur and
Leopold actually drove in this little carriage to the
very top of Craig Lowrigan Grant and Duncan push
found at the top. The view fine the day so
bright, the weather beautifully pink; but pleas
loyal dead Here at the top the fOunua-
ton of a carn to be erected to my precious Albert
and my poor six orphans all placed stones on it. and
initials to be placed stones all round it,
Several succeeding entries in the diary men
ton other visits to the Princes cairn, along
with the family records and remarks of the do
mestics. The following may serve as an example
of the latter
when near the cairn, Grant said 81 thought you
would like to be here to-day his birthday, en-.
trey was he of the opinion that this beloved day and
even the 18th of December, the anniversary of his
death, must not be looked upon day of mourning.
There is much good and strong faith in these sim
pie people,.
In October, 1868, when making an excursion
from Balmoral to Clova, the carriage was over
turned The face and right hand of the Queen
were bruised, and Browns knees were badly
hurt The succeeding entries recur to Browns
injury
Il was much distressed at breakfast to find poor
Browns legs had been dreadfuly cut at the back of
the knees and he said nothing about it, but to-day one
became so inamed and swelled so much that he could
hardly move The doctor said he must keep it up as
much possible and walk very little but did not for
bid his going out with the carriage. did not go out
in the morning.
Next day. Oct. r. the Queen writes:
Browns leg is much better to-day. The doctor
thought he could walk over the hill tomorrow"
| When making her first visit to Glassalt Shiel
mountain lodge, in 1865, the diary describes the
house warming as follows:
Brown came to say all the servants were ready
| There present Louise Arthur, Jane, Lady
! Churchill and a number of domestics and policemen.
We made nineteen altogether. Five animated reels
were danced, in which all but myself joined After
the first reel, whisky toddy brought round for
every one and Brown begged l would drink to the
ire Ending. The merry pretty little ball ended at
IL, but the men went singing in the stewards
room for time all very happy. But sad thoughts
filed my heart both before dinner and when retired
to rest; l thought OF my darling husband, whom l
fancied must see, and who always wished to build
here Then the sad thought struck me that it my
first widows house, but sure his blessing rests
on it."
In 1871 the Queen witnessed Scotch com,
munion service one Sundiy, at oraitnle Church,
near Baluroral She writes;
1.-The communion is most touching and beautiful.
1t impressed and moved me than l express.
1t is impossible to say how deeply impressed
by the grand simplicity of the servce-it all
truly earnest. No description do justice TO the
perfect devotion of the wnoie assemblage. longed
much to join it; to all these simple good people in
their nice plain dresses, including old women-so
many of whom knew, and some of whom had walked
far, although they in deep snow-was very
striking Since 1873; the Queen adds, Il had par
taken of communion at Craithie every autumn"
October 30, 1870, the Princess Louise became
engaged to Marquis Lorne 1.-The event took
place" the Queen says, during a walk from
Glassalt Shiel to Dhu Loeb, where Louise had
gone with Lady Ely, the Lord Chancellor. and
Lorne. Louise, on returning at night, told me
Lorne had spoken of his devotion to her, and
had proposed to her. and she had accepted know
ing would approve. Though | was not unpre-
pared for this result, felt painfully the thought
of losing her, but naturally | gave my consent,
and could only pray she might be happy
The sole reference to the events in France in
1870 occurs in speaking of sermon which she
heard in the church at Balmoral. She says:
Doctor Macleod gave such splendid sermon on
the Without mentioning France, he said enough
pointed out how God would punish wickedness and
vanity and sensuality. The chapter he read from
Isaiah xviii and from Ezekiel and Amos, and
Psalms-were really quite wonderful for the way in
which they seemed to describe France 1t all adj
mirable and heartstirring. Then, the prayers
beautiful in which he spoke of the sick dying and
wounded upon the battlefield, and of my sons in-law
and daughters
On June the Queen records the receipt of
news telling of the death of the young Prince
Imperial,
"Brown knocked and came in. He said there was
bad news, when /, in alarm asked what, he replied
The young French Prince is killed | could not take
it in and asked several times what meant Beatrice
then came IN with paper IN her hand and said, oh,
the Prince Imperial is killed feel thrill of horror
now, while write the words. I put my hands to my
head and cried OUT No no; it cannot be true Then
dear Beatrice who cried very much as did too gave
me a telegram. To die in such an awful
horrible way! Poor dear Empress! Her only, only
child, her all, gone. L was quite beside myself
Brown was so distressed that every one was quite
stunned. Little sleep did get thinking of the poor
Empress, who did not know it. The prince was so
good and much beloved. To think of that dear
young man, the apple of his mothers eye born and
murdered in purple, dying thus is too fearful too
full, and it is inexpcable and dreadful that others
should not have turned round and fought for him
One section of the diary gives her recollec-
tions of MY dear, valued friend, DR.. Norman
Mcleod" the Scotch chaplain to the Queen. who
is $50 clever agreeable, so kind and good Dr.
Mcleod is greatly alarmed for the Established
Church of Scotland, he fears attempt will
be made to pull it down, though, thank God.
should this happen, the Free Church and the
United Presbyterians, with the present Estab
lished Church, would become one very strong
Protestant body. l asked him about Lord Lorne,
and he said he had very high opinion of him."
was greatly troubled by reporters. When visit
ing Glencoe, she writes
"'The day most beautiful and calm I sat down
on the grass for luncheon. Then l sketched Here,
however, in this complete solitude were spied by