The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-21

cred the most evontfui period in tho Brit
ish Empire-the Irish famine of 1916, the
repeal of the corn laws the discovery OF
gold in Australia and the growth of Brit
ish power In that vast continent, theCrim-
ean war, tho Indian mutiny and the es-
tablishmont OF the Dominion OF Canada.
| No more boneilcent ruler has ever worn
| crown nor been better beloved by poo-
pie. She has been aptly described as "a
wOmanly queen and quoenly woman.
| She has lived TO see three cZars come
and 90 in Russia and a fourth welded
10 her granddaughter. During tho sixty
years Of her sovereignty there have peen
mightier changes on the political map Oh
Europe than at any previous time IN its
histOry-the abdication OF Austria from
its first place among the powers the crea-
tion of the German Empire and the unih-
cation OF Italy, the passing OF tho Frenoh
monarchy ana birth Of the third republic
and the greatest civil war that the world
has ever known.
The queen came TO the throne at
time when there was widespread ana
well founded dissatisfaction among the
people From the point of view OF even
The most conservative of today, there was
crying need Of reform in almost every
sphero. But the grayest discontent was
among the working classes. These had
seen n great electoral reform carried
through, after long and bitter strife. They
had contributed, Indirectly, indeed, but
with potent effect. to the success of tho
struggle But in the end they had found
themselves excluded from oil the bene-
fits of that success.
Birth and Childhood
Queen Victoria was born in old Ken
sington Palaces May "a, 1919 She was the
| only child of Edward. Duke OF Kent, and
Mary Louisa Victoria, daughter OF the
Duke of Saxe-Coburg Saaliicld, and
widow of Enrich Charles. Prince Of Len
ingen. There seemed no great probability
| at the time OF her birth that she would
ever become the queen OF England, for on
| the eve of 10 the sun seemed TO be setting
| on the fortune Of the house Of Hanover
Madness had long clouded the brain and
| forced the seclusion OF ola King George
| III, and OF his numerous sons and daugn-
| ters not one could boast successor to
| come after him or hur as "a legitimate heir
| to the crown. For years the only hope OF
| the royal house had been the Princess
| Charlotte, sweet and gracious woman,
| married to Prince Leopold Of SAKE
| Coburg- Gotha. But in 1917 she died, and
| thus 1t came about that Victoria was
| placed next In the line OF succession. The
| Duke Of Kent died January 23, 1870, at
| Simouth in modest cottage where. with
| his family, he had been obliged to live be-
| cause of his straightened monetary Cir
| cumstances and the impossibility OF keep
| ing up an establishment at hensiDgton.
| After HIS death the duchess and her child
| returned to London accompanied by
| Prince Leopold. brother of the duchess,
afterward king of the Belgians and he
| enabled the widow to take up her old
| quarters ut kepsington.
Almost tho first news to greet them on
| their arrival was the announcement that
| George Hi, had died that morning (Janu-
airy 29), and that George Nv was king.
| On the next Saturday the duke OF Kent
was buried privately. the warm cheek of
| the little Victoria having been pressed
| against the ICY cold one OF her doad father
| ere the coffin was scaled. and he was laid
| in the vaults beneath ST. Georges Chapel
| Windsor.
| The death of the two daughters of
| George ~ and his abandonment and
| foroible estrangement OF Princess Caroline
| destroyed all prospect of ISSUE and the
| death of Frederick, Duke of York, placed
| the Duke of Clarence next To the throne
| The previous death of the two daughters
| of Clarence and tho Princess Adelaide
| had brought prominently forward Vic
| toria's claims TO the throne, and upon
| the death of Frederick, in 1923, she be-
| came an object of intense interest to the
| English people. Then arrangements for
| her education and liberal provision for
| her comfort were made.
The death of her uncle William ~,
| June 20. 1897 brought her TO the throne
at the age of Is years. Her father, the
duke of Kent, had been n ber Of the
whig party and her political education
| SO far as it had progressed, had been in
trusted to the members of that Darty.
| The coronation took place Thursday,
| June % 1885, in Westminster Abbey and
| the occasion was one of unwonted excite
ment among all classes Ladies of title
| arrived in full court dress as early rs
| o'clock in the morning. They crowded
| the doorways Of the Abbey and dozed on
| the door mats. All night long the streets
were fillod with surging crowds.
The Queens Education.
| A statement issued In February, 1881.
concerning the princess studies. afforded
| evidence Of her industry and remarkable
ability. She spoke French, German and
Italian nuently, knew enough Latin 70
translate Horace and Virgil, had some nc.
| quaintance with Greek, and had reached
the higher stages of mathematics One
thing, however. she was deficient in. and
that was the English tongue which. low
| ing to her studies having till lately been
carried on through the medium ofGermnn
teachers she speaks but indifferently,
aud with strong German accent" In
some quarters tDls ClTCufnsNanCe gave
great offense. Among ministers the duke
OF Wellington commented on the fact with
characteristic bluntness.
The princess made her first formal ap-
poaranco In state function rs heiress
presumptive to the throne on Thursday,
February "a 1881 The occasion was the
celebration Of the birthday of Queen AIDE.
laide, who held n drawing room. The
Duchess of Kent, with the Princess Alex
andrina Victoria and suite. went in state
in three carriages, escorted by party Of
Life Guards The drawing room was the
most magnificent ceremony of the kind
that had taken place since the presenta-
tion Of the Princess Charlotte on the oc-
uasion OF her marriage. Much interest
was evinced in the twelve year-o prin-
cess, and tho crush TO obtain view of
her wns tremendous.
In contradistincton to the notables at
tending her, the heiress presumptive was
very simply garbed, and seemed almost
out OF place in the midst of that brilliant
assemblage.
IL Princess Victoria was unfortunate in
somo Of her paterpal uncles, her wise and
kind materuai uncle. Prince Leopold, went
far 20 redress the balance At one time the
prospect before MIN had been Identical