The herald., 1897-10-24


was wont to give a tenants and SER
wants ball each autumn at Balmoral
Castle, and often 'trod stately meas
ure' there with one of her favorite at
tendants
"One beauty only the Queen has kept,
and that is the result of what has been
her chief infirmity. For a woman of
her age, the Queens complexion is
really marvellous in it's rosy freshness;
her skin is remarkable for its freedom
from wrinkles,-all, thanks to her hav-
ing become so stout.
Her hands, which used to be beauti-
full, have been so plump for many
years that her engagement and we'd
ding rings-plain gold bands with dia-
monds set in them-have fairly cut into
her flesh. At times the pain and irri-
tation have been so great that it was
thought to be a risk for her to wear
them, but all suggestions that they be
cut off have been waved aside by the
Queen, who says flatly she will wear
them as Prince Albert wished her to
wear them-'till the end'
| "Those who were close to the Queen
say she was absolutely exhausted when
she reached Windsor after the jubilee.
But how many persons do you suppose
I have any idea that it was only while
! she was in London that Queen Vic
| toria allowed herself to omit her Hin
doc lessons?
| Her Majesty was seventy years old
when she made up her mind that as
| Empress of India she ought to know
the history and literature of her En-
pire. She remembered perhaps that
Plutarch was between seventy and
eighty when he began to study Latin,
and Cato eighty when he commenced
Greek. AT any rate, high caste Hin
doc of great learning was secured, and
each morning the Queen takes her les
son. She learned rapidly and was soon
able to read intelligently and with
great delight. But since her eyes have
| failed her, she has been obliged to
listen to the reading of her teachers,
instead of reading for herself.
| "Victoria's first gcverness, perhaps
you know, was the only governess in
] the world ever raised to the rank of
baroness. She was Fraulein Lehzen,
| the daughter Of a Hanoverian clergy
man, and was given the rank of a
Hanoverian baroness by George " at
the special request of Princess Sophia.
Hire Majesty, when quite a child, be-
gan to study French, German, Italian
and Spanish. Baroness Lehzen re-
manned as governess and as lady-in-
attendance until the Princess became
| Queen; and long afterwards, amidst
the cares of state and family, her roya
pupil continued to write to her. She
died in 1870, very old woman.
] 1.-THE same spirit shown in her pa.
tient study of Hindoo literature
characterizes the Queen in affairs OF
state. She cannot read state papers
now for herself, but she listens intent.
ly while they are read to her. some
times for the third or fourth time. Only
when she is sure she has mastered. NOT
only their contents but their subtler in
tent, does this brave old lady affix the
name which. in view of all it repre-
sents, is perhaps the mightiest in the
world-'Victoria.'
"And right here" concluded this en-
tertaining Englishwoman, Il will tell
you one state secret that 1 know for a
fact; and that is apropos of all the
gossip we have heard about Victoria
abdicating in favor of Albert Edward
1 know it is true that the Queen her.
self has spoken of the matter to the
Prince of Wales, and has told him thai
she will never give up the throne as
long as she can see by the attitude OF
those about her and the trend of af.
fairs that she is mentally capable OF
ruling.
"The Prince of Wales agrees with
her absolutely on this point, and with
both it is a religious conviction that
British sovereignty is a matter of Di-
vine Right"
FRANCES 3. MERRILL.
Copyright, 1897, by Bacheller Syndicate