The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-14
QUEEN VICT0RIA'S LIFE.
lHR 0FFIoIAB BIOGRAPHY IN A
BUMPTUOUs VOLUME.

~ Was written by the Librarian or windsor
Castle ssa Centradicts Many stories About
the ouesn-For Reasons or state. the last
Thirty Years or 1Ier Lire Are Only Brieny
Decentralization Comments or tho spanish
Frees on Former u. p. NHInrster Tia yior.
LONDON, Nov. SAN official biography OF
Queen Victoria from the pen Of Richard II.
Holmes, tho librarian at Windsor Castle, was
Issued to-day in q sumptuous volume. which
will comman q wider reading than by n purely
British public. Curiosity alone would secure
worldwide attention for an absolutely authentic
record OF n career which, in this jubilee year at
all events, makes the sovereign of the British
Empire tho prominent personality in Christen.
dom. Mr.. Holiness record is certainly au-
thentio, and, rs far as the youth and
early reign Of the Queen are concerned,
It furnishes a most interesting insight into her
personal character and life. II the story of tho
past thirty years had been told as freely as that
of the first forty.hve. public curiosity might
have been satisfied and the world would have
had a book OF intense interest. But discretion
and reasons OF State forbade, and the reader
IL obliged to content himself with thirty pages
Of most discreet gcneralities about the most inn
portant period of the Queens life.
Gossip and common rumor have taken fewer
liberties with Queen Victoria than with any
Otu6T kT0ut TuIeT d inc century. S1e mas e6-
capped both serious calumny and mendacious
praise. Most OF the apocryphal personal stories
told about her are harmless. The least OF them
would DO to her credit IL true: but one Of the
chief objects Of Mr.. Holiness book, alas, Is to
deprive us Of nearly all of these on the author
fly Of her Majesty herself. He substitutes q few
others, to DO sure. but on the whole the loyal
subject Of the Queen will feel a distinct loss in
his conception Of her wisdom and cleverncss
by reason of the deprivation which this book in
diets. Perhaps this will be compensated for by
the admiration inspired by the Queens strict
sense Of Justice. which has impelled her to re-
nounce all credit gained in this way. The book
II In some sense the Queens own, for she gave
her biographer much assistance In its prepare.
tion. and tho proofs were carefully revised on
her behalf by Rowland Prothero. Tho correc-
ton Of current errors begins with the record of
her very babyhood, when the little Princess was
known by the pet name, "Drina-" Thus:
MANY stories are related of the manner in
which the child would recognize any ladies of
the neighborhood who happened to meet tho
royal party; but most of these, IL they ever had
any small foundation in fact. have been overlaid
with exaggeration and tho most improbable de-
tails. Ono instance of tho manner in which
what must have been q very trifling incident
has grown in the telling is the story related by
an old soldier named Maloney, who claimed the
honor Of having saved his sovereign's life in her
infancy. Tho pony drawing the chair in which
the Princess took her morning ride. frightened
by . dog, swerved and overturned the chair on
the edge of the pathway. The child would have
fallen under the vehicle, when Maloney seized
her in her fall and was able to restore
her unhurt to tho lady attendant. The follow
ing day he received from the Duchess her
thanks with o guinea. Tho Queen has no recol-
lection Of this incident, and is sure she never
was upset or in any danger Of being thrown out
In 1873 the circumstance was brought up again,
aud some assistance was given to the old man.
who was in distress. though no proof of his
claim could be discovered. The Queens earliest
recollection is that OF crawling on the floor on
an old yellow carpet at kensington Palace and
playing with the badge Of the Garter belonging
to Bishop Fisher, who. as Bishop Of Salisbury,
was then Chancellor of the order, and, having
been tutor to her father. took a deep and affec-
tiopate interest in the welfare OF the Dukes
only child.
The following is given as showing the child's
natural talent for diplomacy:
lone day, during her first visit to the Royal
Lodge Windsor Park, the King entered the
drawing room. holding his niece by the hand.
The band was playing in an adjoining conserva-
tory. Now, Victoria said his Majesty, the
band is in the next room. and shall play any
tune you please. What shall it be = oh. Uncle
King quickly replied the Princess. Il should
like God Save the King" Another time his
Majesty asked her what she had enjoyed
most during her stay in Windsor. The
drive I took with you, Uncle Kin -
was the answer, the King having himself
driven her in his pony phaeton. in COM
pany with tho Duchess of Gloucester.
The Earl of Albemarle, who was in attendance
on the Duke of Sussex at Kensington, thus de-
scribes in his recollections the appearance Of the
Princess at this time: Ono of my occupations
on a morning, while waiting for the Duke, was
to watch from the window the movements of a
bright. pretty little girl. z years of age. She
was in the habit of watering the plants imme-
diately under the window. 1t was anu ing to
see how impartially she divided the contents of
the watering pot between the flowers and her
own little feet. Her simple but becoming dress
contrasted favorably with the gorgeous apparel
now worn by tho little damsels of the rising gen.
eration-a large straw hat and q suit Of white
cotton; a colored fichu round the neck was the
only ornament she wore"
Several versions have been made public dur.
ing the past half century Of tho time and man.
ner of making known TO the young Princess the
fact that she would probably BIO called to the
throne OF Great Britain. I, is interesting to
learn from the Queen herself. through Mr..
Holiness book, that the knowledge "calne to
her gradually and made her very unhappy
This is the story:
"Tho Baroness Lehzen, writing to her Males
ty on the 10th OF December, 1867, thus describes
the manner in which the communication was
made: i ask your Majesty's leave to cite some
remarkable words of your Mnjesty's when only
IL years old, while the Regency bill was in
progress. ] then said to the Duchess Of Kent
that now, for the first time, your Majesty ought
to know your place in the succession. Her Royal
Hlghncss agreed with mo. and ] put the genoa
logical table into the historical book. When
Mr.. Days was gone the Princess Victoria
opened. as usual, tho book again, and, seeing the
additional paper, said. Il never SAW that be
fore" II was not thought necessary you should,
Princess" ! answered. II see ! am nearer the
throne than ! thought 80 1t is, madam"
said. After some moments the Princess re
sumed: Now, many a child would boast, but they
don't know the difficulty. There is much splen
dor. but there Is more responsibility" TIL