Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-20

her Widows dress her Majesty received
the handsome young pair, standing at
the threshold OF sife, with all it's Joys
to come. her heart again ached for that
loving father who was not there TO bestow
blessing on his first-born son.
In 1865 two wedding ceremonies claimed
the queens presence-bonny Princess
Mary was led 10 the altar by the hand
some Prince Tcck. whilst carly in July
her Majesty's third daughter, Princess
Helena. was married In 81. Georges
chapel TO Prince Christian OF Schleswlg-
Hostein. In the autumn, when the
Queen opened the new Aberdeen water
works at Invercarry. Eain struggling
with that natural wish for retirement,
she read an address In answer TO that
pro1ered by the LORD Provost, though
she confessed 10 feeling very nervous
II being 10 quote her own words, "Tho
FIRST time / had read anything since my
darling husband was taken from me-"
Ii was on May 10th that the Queen
laid the foundation stone of the Royal
Albert Hall. the building raised In her
husbands honor and which her Majes-
~ hoped would become "such centre
Of institutions for The promotion of art
and science as II was his fond hope
TO establish"
Every year marked some progress con-
nccted with Engiand's internal affairs.
and an important measure In lS66-the
sanitary or public health act--dd much
for the prevention Of any outbreak Of
disease that might arise from overcrowd-
ing or imperfect sanitation.
During the summer Of 1867 her Majesty
was visited by the Queen Of Prussia,
the Sultan Of Turkey. and the Empress
Eugene. the autumn of the year being,
as usual. spent at the fayorte Scotch
home. Whilst on this trip the Queen
visited Abbotsford. and wrote her name
in Sir Walter SCOTS diary.
IRISH MEASURES.
In Ireland. 1890, Catholics and Pro-
testants were placed OH an equality, and
the State church disestablshed. mea-
sure consonant with tho wise religious
tolerance which has 50 greatly distln-
guished Queen Victoria. This measure
was mainly brought about by Mr. Glad
stone. who then became Prime Minister.
Ii was IL 1870, also, that the Premier
passed an Irish land act, giving the
tenants a much fairer hold on their land,
whilst. at the same time, Mr.. Forster
passed the important English education
tically the establishment and endowment
OF board schools. In noticing this step,
of such importance to the education OF
the working clesses. we may here pause
TO review the great strides education
has made in this reign. and this, In no
small degree was due 10 the influence
of the Prince COnsort. Another new no.
ton of this time was the ballot act
to prevent voters from taking brides,
which was the introduction Of voting by
ballot of elections.
In 1871. shortly after the marriage OF
Princess Louise, the Queen opened the
beautiful Albert Hail. and little later,
with tender courtesy. went to visit the
exiied Napoleon and his Empress at
Chislehurst Just ten years after the
death of the Prince Consort ii seemed
that the Queen would again be called
upon TO sustain a terrible loss. for the
Prince of Wales was attacked by SINH
lar illness TO that which proved SO fatal
TO his father. We can feel for the mother
i'm her passionate anxiety for her first
born son, the one who was 10 succeed her
on the throne, and every day brought
with il remembrance Of that sad time
when death had lowered near the Prince
Consort. But happily. this time their
mourning was turned into JOY, and the'
beautiful letter, which. week later. the
Queen published on her behalf and that
OF the Prince of Wales, in acknowledg-
ment of the heartfelt sympathy they had
received from the nation during the days
Of their bitter anxiety, seemed 10 still
further cement the bond Of union between
the Queen and her people-that queen
whose life as daughter, wife, mother. ana
Queen viii always appeal to the sympathy
I.
II now seemed as If every year brought
some trouble to the Queen; the death OF
the exiled Napoleon in the first month OF
1873 occasioned her much regret, and In
Nav her heart bled for her beloved
daughter, Alice. whose infant son died
In her arms q few hours after terrible
fan from her bedroom window 10 the
stone terrace below.
The marriage of the Queens second
son. the Duke of Edinburgh, with the
Grand Duchess Marie OF Russia, was ceie-
brated in st. Petersburg in the beginning
of 1874 the young couple driving a little
later through London with the Queen,
and receiving right hearty welcome.
In April, 1877, the Queen vested twelve
ladies with the Imperial Order or the
Grown Of India, and in November OF the
same wear her Majesty bade adieu 10 her
T..
ont 10 Canada with her husband.
month later the hand of the Reaper was
once more busy in the Royal circle, ana
on the anniversary OF the Prince Consorts
death. the broken-hearted mother learned
of the death of her dearly-beloved daugh-
ter. Princess Alice. The fate OF TINS
well-beoved Princess, who, unable TO re-
fuse her child's plea for kiss drew the
terrible infection of diphtheria from those
pleading baby lips, and speedily sue
cumbed TO the cruel malay made a
profoundly sorrowful impression on the
English nation.
In 1879. ere she had attained her Uth
wear. the Queen became greal-grahu-
mother to the frst-born child or the
Princess Of xe-Aleiningen. Turning TO
other events, one marks the marriage
of the Duke of connaught with the
Princess Louise Margaret. OF PRUSSIA,
and when the young couple were Ieteo
at Balmoral, the Queen, ON her pony
Jessie. rode nearly to the height where
hrthur's calrn now stands. as souvenir
of the young couples homecoming.
In November. 1882. those men VINO mao
themselves in Egypt were
decorated by the Queen with meoels ana
orders. An event of domestic interest
in the commencement VI 'iii' 49, -.
the marriage Of the Queens youngest
son. Prince Leopold. Duke of Albany,
TO the Princess Helen, Of Waldeck, ana
as the year drew near its close her
Majesty delighted her people by opening
the new law courts in the strand IN
person. -
A serious accident caused the Queen
some pain in the ensuing year. her
Majesty having received an acute sprain,
caused by slipping on one OF tho starr
cases a. Windsor Castle, and following
close upon this came the death Of her