Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-30
VictOria's Lovers and WOOinp

The splendid pageant of the opening of Parlia-
ment and the passing of the queen in state
from buckingham palace to the house of lords
recalls the day, as men look on her, in her
Mary Stuart mourning, when she travelled that
same route as happy young bride. Victoria,
like all other girls had some lovers before the
lucky one came. Her first was the late Lord
Elphinstone, tall, singularly handsome young
Scottish peer, who was sent to Madras as gov
erhor to get him out OF the way. Her next was
Lord Fitzallan, another siX-fOOter, a splendid
young officer ic OF the First Life guards grandson
duke of Norfolk HIMSELF but he was a Roman
Catholic-a fatal objection. FitZallan fell pas
administered beer at q tap opposite the Horse
Guards and wished to marry her. His family
sent him abroad to get over his young passion,
daughter of Admiral Lyons, British minister
there and sister of Lord Lyons, remembered as
minister at Washington, who had attended
ing as dowager duchess. Her third lover was
Lord Alfred Paget, one of the Marquis of Angle
seys splendid sons, an officer 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 euuerry-i n-chief
ana In mas SEQ continued iI an equerry ever since
Gus that King Leopold OF Belgium, the queens
uncle, brother OF her mother, the Duchess of
Albert was sent for next. Albert was at that
time 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 a fiutter
which bespoke the agitation that swelled the
heart beneath. Over the chimney piece too Of
his student chamber there hung one of Chulon's
exquisite drawings OF Victoria, which, though,
TOO hatt1eringiy graceful and airy even
terest which ofitself lent beauty to a young girl
placed in such a position, gave fairer idea of
her than would be imagined in her present
grosser figure and highly coored face as pre-
SenteQ In the most correct and daliUhtf1l n
lures OF court life, by Adam Badeau, in the
Sun. Albert, though little noticed, had been
but but not, we fancy, an uninterested spectator.
When Victoria was seated on Prince Edwards
throne. and the shout which proclaimed the
girl he was educated to look on as his vile
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
lit 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 AL
bert, quick, and with luggage light as young
american Amer starting for Arkansas, the appointed
youth booked himself in the small steamer
which staggers between Osten and Dover.
me affair was very quietly managed by Leo
pold. In the court 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, theirStrOll was unObServed, except by the
select few who were in the secret.
Our only idea as to how a prince makes love
we derived by seeing, when we first came out
here, Mr.. Forrest as the sweet prince of Como
breathing love like an afably signing rhinoc-
eros to the spirtuelle Nine. Ponisi, and guess
ing what star they would inhabit when love be-
came eternal. We thought it very funny, but
Victorias maid, Rosalie-a kind, mischievous,
merry little elf from Longenschw alback, and
who was more excited that evening than Vic
toria herself-prattled, for a little 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 girdie small hower-the flower of a love
which through all the darkness of widowhood
has never lost its freShness-and her straw cot
tagc hat was crushed back in front. Be this as
it may, the club man calling, the next morning
i Tor his tea and toast and Times was startled by
about to lead to the hymeneal altar his royal
highness Prince Albert of Gotha and Sake
Coburg'-and thus Victoria was wooed and
won. w. STUART.