The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-22
VICTORIA'S BIRTHDAY.
1t Marks Great Epoch in English
HistOry-A Long Reign.

III.
1t has been one of the greatest periods in
the worlds history and marks Il physical
and intellectual progress unparalleled in time.
Above all IL is the most brilliant epoch in
the history of the British Empire, ever TO
be renowned for the splendid galaxy of
great men and women it has produced.
Among these no name will stand forth
more ilustrous or more imperishable than
that of Victoria j. AS sovereign and woman
her life has been open as the day, TO be OBJ
served of all men. and it has been from the
beginning pure. honest and unsullied. AS
wife. mother and Queen she is peerless
among women.
The eighteenth birthday of the Princess
Victoria, when she came of age, was cee-
brated with great pomp and festivity on
in the prospect of youthful sovereign,
who must inevitably soon be called to the
throne. for the sailor king, William w.
was enfeebled by age and disease. A few
weeks later he was fast approaching his
final hour June 10. 1887, he received the
final consultations of religion at the hands
of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and at
2:20 o'clock on the morning of the 10Th he
passed to that state which king and sub
King OF the British Empire. He died at
Windsor Castle, and ere his body was cold
messengers were dispatched TO kensington
Palace TO inform the Princess that she was
Queen.
The messengers were the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the Marquis os Conyngham,
chamberlain of the palace.
Few scenes In Victoria's long reign are
more pleasing or more affecting than those
in which. she heard the news of her acces-
sion and received the allegiance of the
Ministry and the lords of the priGy council
The messengers left Windsor "a o'clock
i'm the morning and arrived at Kensington
Palace, in London, at 5. me princess was
sleeping in her mothers room. which had
always been her CUSTOM an! was sum-
moned hastily; she entered the presence of
the messenger wrapped i'm q dressing gown,
with slippers on her naked feet. Conynham
told her their errand. and addressed her as
''your Majesty" She put out her hand,
H.
out the recital of the news behaved with
admirable self-posSession and modesty. AS
they departed she said TO the archbshOp
II ask your prayers on my behalf" An
hour or two later Lord Melbourne. the
Prime Minister, who was soon TO acquire
an influence with her which he never
abused and which was of untold value in
the way of her education in statecraft
called and prepared her for the opening act
prepared her speech to the great COUNCIL
which was to assemble at IL O'Clock in The
reception room of the palace. There were
Prime Minister and the lord high chancel-
lor the Archbishop Of Canterbury and
be 8f ana nd heE the hese Uf to
he seen Cabinet Ministers and great peers
Of Of the realm. the Duke Of Wellington; the
great number of others, the most famous
and powerful of her subjects.
Asked whether she would be accompanied
or would enter the room alone. she said she
would go in alone. When all the Lords
were assembled the folding doors were
thrown open and the youthful queen en-
tered She wore a plain mourning robe,
her hair dressed in close bands about her
forehead and in "A tight coil at the back
of her head. But her aspect and demednor
won the unbounded admiration of all pres
ent. Few of those present had ever seen
her save perhaps at a distance, for she had
been brought UP and educated in great Sc
clision. and now her self-possession and
serenity struck them with amazemeent.
Sine bowed and read her speech in a clear,
Fol a,.,. u1a1 mus no1 nd
Church of Scotland. Next the priyy coun-
Cumberland and Sussex first by themselves.
AS those two venerable men, her uncles.
knelt before her and swore allegiance she
blushed to the eyes and kissed them both
cordially 1t was the only instance during
the long ceremony that she showed en-
barrassment. and her eyes revealed the
she arose from her, chair out of regard
to the infrmity of her Uncle Sussex and
Her department charmed every beholder.
and the Duke OF Wellington declared that
had she been his own daughter he could
not have desired to see her perform her
part better.
1t was a fortunate thing for the Queen,
Prime Minister at the time of her Access
sion He was a whig, but not a partisan,
and his impartialty was often so great that
lowers called him a tory at heart. To his
hands was committed the first initiation of
the Queen in her constit1tlonai duties les He
she gave him her confidence. He was as
passionately fond of her he would have
been of a daughter and he always treated
her with a sort of parental care and at
the same time with respectful Difference.
The marriage of the Queen soon became
a prominent question, and II was Lord Mel
whether she had formed any thoughts on
that subject for herself. As a matter of
fact. she was already in love with her
youthful cousin, Prince Albert of Sake
Coburg, but he was three months her
junior and far from being matured. Moth
ing had been spoken between the cousins,
but in the respective families the idea had
long been maturing tina, this young couple
should marry How widely this fact was
il be a matter of grave consideration to
the statesmen of England for royal mar
riages had been rarely based on affection
personal choice. but were usually con-
sidered affairs of state
rendering over the subject, Lord Mel
bourne at last preached " to the Queen.
was there he asked with some trepi-
dation, amy individual OF the other sex for
whom she entertained preference beyond
startled and confused the young Queen
blushed and inquired whether the informa-
ton was wanted as a matter of state policy.
His lordship replied that under no other cir
cumstances would he have asked the ques-
ton.
ly. there is one person for whom i enter
tain a very decided preference
" Ill your MAJESTY pdTOOfl HE IOr asking
mis- name?'
The individual / mean said the Queen.
lis the Duke of Wellington"
There must have been a twinkle in her
eye when she said this, but il bafiiei Mel
bourne for the moment. Many months did
not elapse before il was no secret that the
destined husband of the Queen to be
Prince Albert.
Meanwhile preparations for the coronation
We're going forward, and this magnificent
spectacle occurred on the 18th of June 1888,
few days more than a year after the
Queens accession.
On Feb 10. 1870. the marriage of the Queen
TO Prince Albert took place and new ca
reer OF happiness and love was opened be-
fore her. The world knows the story by
heart. How the Prince year after year
grew in popular favor. and what useful
and prudent statesman ne became; how all
parties came TO value his worth. disinterest-
edness and noble virtues; how he took part
in advancing the arts and sciences and
how on more than one occasion his far
seeing craftsmanship saved England from
eronrolTnent with other nations
The Queen still mourns her husband.
though she has nobly borne her sorrow
and shown still further her greatness as
a woman.