The times., 1897-06-13
THE DUCHESS OF KENT.

Debt of Gratitude Great Britain
Owes 10 Queen victoria's Mother.
London, June 12--The celebration OF
tho completion Of the siXtieth year or the
leign of Queen Victoria, on June 20, Is an
occasion when the fiercest democrator most
radical republican can temporarily forget
his onnosjticn to government by kings and
Queens, and do honor to the venerable wonf-
an whose long and yirtuous life has done
So ,uuch for the peace and prosperity Ur
her own people, as well as the world at
Iarge The simple tastes of Queen Vic
toria. her domestic traits and her love for
a o,,;et home life have made her personally
nonular with the majority of the residents
OF the United States, no matter how strained
at times might be the diplomatic relations
between this country and Great Britain.
The fact that size has been model daug;l-
ter, wife and mother has won for her the
resDect and esteem of every father and
rr,.,ther in the civilized world, many OF whonI
would otherwise take little interest in the
fact that herreign has been the mostglorious
and eventful in the history of the English
people.
When william " died and the little
Princess Victoria, then only eighteen years
old, was called to the throne OF Great
Britain comparatively little was known or
her nature and capabilities, owing to the
se0usion in which her girlhood was
passed; and the leading statesmen OF The
country feared that this inexperienced
young woman might prove to be as friyo-
lous in disposition and as undecided IN
character as most persons of her age.
There was a general feeling OF relief
throughout England when it was found
that the young Queen POSSESSED deter
mined resolUte nature, a mind trained TO
perform understandingly the duties Of her
exalted position, and a character. nrnlly
grounded in the principles OF morality and
Justice The credit of it all was justly
given TO the widowed mother of the Queen,
and to this day the British nation has
never forgotten the debt OF gratitude IT
owes to the Duchess of Kent for the happy
result OF tile thoughtfulness, perseverance,
self denial and practical common sense
which size displayed in the education OF
the future sovereign.
The Duke OF Kent died on January 23
1920, when the little Princess Victoria
was only eight months old, leaving his
widow in streitened circumstances. The
duchess was then a handsome woman Of
attractive manners, and fond OF society,
and if she chose to do so, could easily have
taken a prominent place in the fast and
pleasure-Ioving set that controlled the
British court in those days Fortunately for
the English people, the duchess of Kent
fully appreciated the Importance Of the
duty which devoIved upon her, when,
after her husbands death, she found her
in, f.ha nf
cessor To the throne. She then determined
to devote the best years of her life wholly
to the task of molding the Uniformed char
acter of her little daughter into that shape
and strength that best fitted the future
queen for the responsible position She was
destined to fill.
The duchess fitness for the task was
well understood by her husband, as was
evidenced by the following clauses in his
will: Il do nominate, constitute, and ap-
point my beloved wife, Yictoire, Duchess
OF Kent, to he the sole guardian of our
dear child, the Princess Alexandria Vic
toire, to ali intents and for ali purposes
whatsoever"
Knowing, as she did, that the moral at
rnosphere Of the court of George " was
not favorable to the furtherance of her
plans for the proper education OF her child,
the duchess smut herself up in the old
palace at kensington, where, for seven teen
ye;1rs. she and the youthful princess, passed
q life of almost complete seclUsion. Tnc
household was regulated in a severely
simple but most 1udicious manner. The
family breakfasted at o'clock, the Prin-
cess Victoria, or nrfna, as she was then
called, having her bread and milk and
fruit on a table by her mothers side
Then came an hours walk or drive, after
which two hours were devoted to her in
struction 10y the duchess personally Then
came recreation until 2 o'clock, when
plain luncheon was served, followed by
two hours more instruction. A visit OF
drive preceded an early supper after
which, on fine evenings, they all sat out
on the lawn under the trees until 8 clock,
when the princess went TO bed So passed
the even tenor of yictoria's early life in
Kensington palace. Little knowledge of
the outer world came into the home circle
of the duchess while her child was being
reared IN tie laws Of physical health, in
knowledge and in the principles Of virtue
aud common Christianity.
IN victoria's twelfth year, George "
died, and was succeeded by William ",
and then she became the heiress presump-
tive TO the throne. Even under those
circumstances her careful mother did
not permit Victoria to be present at the
coronation, ostensibly because her health
necessltated a trip to the Isle of Wight
but really because the duchess believed
tho child was too young to be present
at scene where she would, necessarily,
have to take q conspicuous part. The
wise mother was aware, however, that
the time had come for her eaugh-
ter's knowledge of books to be supple
mented by intercourse with superior
minds, and she adopted the practice of in
INVITING to Kensington travellers, men OF
science. and other persons promi nent
in the intellectual world from whom the
Princess Victoria might gather informal
ton not readily found In books.
The result OF al this care and devotion
on the part Of the Duchess of Kent
was that on ] une 20. 1887, when the mes