Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-12
Queen VictOria's Lovers.
THE UNSUCCESSFUL ONES BEFORE PRINCE
ALBERT CANE TO Woo.

Victoria. like all other girls. had some
lovers before the lucky one came. Her
first was the late Lord Elphinstone, tall
singularlv handsome young Scottish peer
who was sent to Madras as governor to
get him out of the way. Her next was
Lord Fitzallan, another six-tooter, splen-
did Young officer of the First Lite Guards,
grandson of the then Duke OF Norfolk,
ard afterward Duke of Norfolk himself
lint he was a Roman Catholics fatal OBJ
lection. Fitzallan fell passionately in
love with pretty bar-maid, who admin
istered beer at a tap opposite the Horse
Guards, and wished to marry her. His
family sent him abroad to get over his
young passion. and, falling i'll at Athens,
he married the daughter of Admiral Ly-
ons, British minister there, and sister OF
Lord Lyons, remembered as minister at
Washington, who had attended him
through his sickness and who is still liv-
ing as dowager duchess. Her third lover
was Lord Alfred Paget, one of the Mar
quis of Anglesey's splendid sons. an Of
ficer of The Blues" standing about six
feet two. who is the father of Capt. Paget,
married to our Miss Minnie Stevens, and
who was then her equerry-in-chief, and
has continued an equerry ever since.
This love affair was regarded as so dan
gerous that King Leopold of Belgium, the
queens uncle, brother of her mother, the
duchess of Kent. was sent for. The re.
suit was that Prince Albert was sent for
next. Albert was at that time a courte-
Gus, chaste, quiet, mild. bland, accom-.
plished prince, but here and there keen
observer might have detected on his round,
full face flush. and in his manner flut-
ter which bespoke the agitation that
swelled the heart beneath. Over the
chimney piece, too, of his student cham
Der, there hung one of Chalon's exquisite
drawings of Victoria. which, though too
flatteringly graceful and airy even then,
still when surrounded with the interest
which of itself lent beauty to young girl
placed in such a position, gave fairer idea
of her than would be imagined in her pres.
ent grosser figure and highly colored face
Albert, though little noticed. had been
present at Victoria's coronation scene, a
silent, but not, we fancy, an uninterested
spectator. When Victoria was seated on
Prince Edwards throne, and the shout
which proclaimed the girl he was educat-
ed to look on as his wife queen of that en-
pire on which the sun never sets, rang
along the roof OF the good old abbey and
was borne on the boom of guns down to
the city tower, he must have felt some
emotion; and when she tripped over with
agile grace, to lift up old Lord Role, who
had tumbled, may we not fancy that emo.
ton grew into some softer feeling.
Well, at all events. when Leopold sen
for Albert, quick, and with luggage ligh
as young American starting for Arkan
sas. the appointed youth booked himsel
in the small steamer which staggers be
tween Osten and Dover. The affair was
very quietly managed by Leopold. II
the court circle column the princes name
found rather a mean and minioned place
aud as the prince and queen went out tn.
evening after his arrival, Tor saunter il
the woods, their stroll was unobserved
except by the select few who were in tn,
secret.
We thought it very funny. but Victo
ria's maid, Rosalie-a kind, mischievous
merry little elf from Longenschwalback
and who was more excited that evenin!
than Victoria herself-prattled. for littl,
guilder, to the court news man. of how
Albert's meek eyes, when they returned
were radiant with joy, and Victoria LOOKED
slightly flushed and wore in her girdle
small flower-the flower of love whic1
through all the darkness of widowhoot
has never lost its freshness-and her straw
cottage hat was crushed back in front. B
this Us it may, the club man, calling tn
next morning for his tea and toast an
Times, was startled by the announcement
that cher majesty was about to lead to tn
hvmeneal altar his royal highness Prime
Albert of Gotha and SAKE -Coburg''
thus Victoria was wooed and won