New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-12
THE QUEENS YEF BOOK.

u
Judoino from the extracts from Queen Vic
toria's book. which will be found in our
cable dispatches this morning, Engishmen
are never to hear the last of John Brown,
AT least during the present reign. When
he died there was an unmstakable feeling OF relief
in what is known as London society. The Queens
lackey had become powerful parsonage at Cont.
He not only lorded il the other servants, but
he snubbed the representatives Of the great houses
and even ventured TO patronize tie Queens chill
dren. The great world was lrritated by the con-
tinuous tattle about the man, his humors and
pompous assumptions. Even the little world was
often shocked by ribad jokes at the expense Of one
of the oldest institutions of the cOuntTy-ROyaty.
There was a general prejudice against the man as a
petted and downright impudent upstsrt, who had
forgotten his place and was serving to make the
Cont ridiculous in the eyes of the Queens loyal
subjects Englishmcn mad heard too much about
John Brown. They were anxious TO forget him as
speedily as possible. The obituary notices OF him
in the public prints were prolix, tho euogy pro-
nounced in the Court Circular was more elaborate
than almost any that had been vOuchsafed to the
statesmanshp of the reign; but even these were
read with a sense OF relief.
These were supposed at the time to be the final
memorials to John Brown; and the wish was father
TO the thought. But this Old servants Sovereign
was not willing to have it so. She preferred to
have these posthumOus certificates Of his good
character and faithful service repeatedly renewed
in most conspicuous ways There was morning IN
the ROYAL Household; monument was dedicated ;
a statue was erected on the lawn at BalmOra Castle,
facing the Prince CODsort's heroic figure; memorial
tablets bearing his name and racitng his viz
tues were planned for Royal chapels and mauso-
leums; and in due course OF time there is now a
l. ID h.Fa1
II il q new series OF Leaves" from the Queen's
Journals of " Life IN the Highlands" The first
volume was lovingly dedicated to the memory of
him who made the life of ,tne writer bright and
happy.p The second volume Is gratefully inscribed
to my loyal Highlanders, especially to my devoted
personal attendant and faithful friend, John
Brown" In the opening chapters the Royal
author describes the happy chance which threw
the Prince Consort in the way Of so loyal and ELL
Gent n servant recouns thecareer and eXtols the
virtues of this fesnarkabe lackey; explains in de-
tail his rise and progress in her household and the
various functions which he was. called
upon TO discharge; and renews her ex-
preston of regret at meeting with 80 irrepara0le
n loss The Queens successor on the throne Is
barely mentioned in this volume whereas the faith
full old servant has the earliest andlongest chapters
Thrice-fortunate John Brown, who hast a Queen
from loyalty must read your gracious SOyeregn's
journals aud letters, vet must be plagued anew by
the thought of John BrOwnl
The good fortune OF the Queens body guard is the
greater. since his name was constantly mentioned
in the first series of Leaves from the Journals of
the Queens Life in the Highlands" He was
favored with full page In that record and ample
Justice was done to his vigilance in leading the
Queens pony. his faithfulness in watching over her
health, his obligng disposition his discretion and
his simple-minded ways. His unwearied attentions
and blunt speeches and little jokes were all
/ chron1cled there; and his fellow-servants were
likewise honored The editor of that volume, Sir
Arthur Helps, naively explained these constant
references to the servants by the fact that the
Queen took deep and abiding interest in tho well
fare of the household committed to her charge and
felt keenly what are the reciprocal duties OF
masters and servants A more ingenious explana-
ton ls required for John Brown'ssecon appearance
in literature and the high honor accorded TO him OF
| a Royal dedication.