The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-04-29
QUEEN vICTORIA's LOVERS.

Victoria, like all other girls, had
some lovers before the lucky one came,
says writer in 1oacn Topics Her
first was the late Lord Elphinstone, a
tail, singularly handsome young Scot
tish peer, who was sent to Madras as
governor to get him out of the way.
Her next was Lord Fitzallan, another
six-footer, a splendid officer of the First
Life Guards, grandson of the then Duke
of Norfolk, and afterwards the Duke of
Norfolk himself; but he was Roman
Catholic-a fatal objection. Fitzallan
fell passionately in love with pretty
bar-maid, wko administered beer at
tap opposite the Horse Guards, and
wished to marry her. His family sent
him abroad 10 get over his young pas
sion, and, falling Ill at Athens he mar
ried the daughter Of Admiral Lyons,
British minister there, and sister of
Lord Lyons, remembered as minister at
Washington, who had attended him
through his sickness, and who is still
living as dowager duchess. Her third
lover was Lord Alfred Paget, one of
the Marquis of Anglesey's splendid
sons, and officer of the "Blues," stand
ing about six feet two, who is the father
of Capt. Paget, married to one Miss
Minnie Stevens, and who was then her
equerry-in-chief, and has continued an
equerry ever since.
This love affair was regarded DIS so
dangerous that King Leopold of Bel
gium the queens uncle, brother of her
mother, the Duchess of Kent, was sent
for. The result was that Prince Albert
was sent for next. Albert was at that
time a courteous, chaste, quiet, mild,
bland, accomplished prince, but here
and there keen observer might have
detected on his round, full face flush,
and in his manner flutter, which
bespoke the agitation that swelled the
heart beneath. Over the chimney-piece,
too, of his student chamber there hung
one of Chalon's exquisite drawings of
Victoria, which, though too flattering,
graceful, and airy even then, still, when
surrounded with the interest which of
itself lent beauty to young girl placed
in such position, gave a fairer idea of
her than would be imagined in her
present grosser figure and highly-color-
ed face. Albert, though little noticed,
had been present at Victoria's corona
ton scene, silent, but not we fancy,
w
tOria was seated on Prince Edwards
throne. and the shout which proclaimed
the girl he was educated to look as his
wife, Queen of that empire 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
emotion grew into some softer feeling?
Well, at all events, when Leopold
sent for Albert, quick, and with luggage
light, as a young American starting for
Arkansas, the appointed youth booked
himself in the small steamer which
staggers between Osten and Dover.
The affair was very quietly managed by
Leopold. Ia the couIt-circle column
the princes name found rather mean
and minioned place, and as the prince
and queen went out the evening after
his arrival for a saunter in the woods
their stroll was unobserved except by
the select few who were in The secret.
We thought it very funny, but Vic
toria's maid, Rosalie-a kind, mis-
chievous, merry little elf from Longen-
schwalback, and who was more excited
that evening than Victoria, herself
prattled for little guilder, to the court
news man of how Al5erts meek eyes.
when they returned, were radiant with
joy, and Victoria looked slightly flushed
and wore in her girdle small flower
the flower of a love which through all
the darkness of widowhood has never
lost its freshness-and her straw-cottage
hat was crushed back in front. Be this
as it may, the clubman calling the next
morning for his tea and toast and the
Times was startled by the announcement
that Her Majesty was about to lead 70
the hymeneal altar His Royal Highness
Prince Albert of Gotha and Saxe-Co-
burg thus Victoria was wooed
and won.