The times., 1897-05-16
THE ENGLISH QUEEN.

Characteristic Stories and Anec-
dotes of the Venerable Victoria.
The particular difference between Queen
Victoria and other queens who have occu-
pied the English throne is that her char
acter seems to be made up of virtues
womanly aud queeniy in equal proportion,
unprecedented length and great success,
she has been through it all typical En-
giishwonan Elizabeth, the other great
Queen of English history, was more Ike
King than Queen. She had not only
masculine intellect, but many of the Ultra
masculine traits OF men of those rude times.
But Victoria has been, since She came TO
the succession in her girlhood, the first
lady of theland, the proper modelfor every
other English lady. She has made her
husband and her children the center of
her life; and that, too, is a distinctly
English tradition. Englis shwomen may
not really love their families any more than
other women do, but they make more
of a point of their domesticity. They pose
in their national literature, in history, and
in the speeches of their countrymen, as
homeIovers and housekeepers above every
thing else
There are stories and stories floating
about in the newspapers in the last few
weeks, nearly all of which illustrate this
trait in the Queens character. Here is
one. told of the days when her children
were small:
The Queen always made it point 10
keep the religious instruction of her chill
dren as much as possible in her o wn hands.
good story illustrative OF this is told TO
the effect that once, when the Archdeacon
OF London was catecbising the young
princes, he said:
Your governess deserves great credit
for instructing you so thoroughly"
At which the youngsters piped up:
''0h, but it's mamma teaches US our
eatechism."
II is not, perhaps, generally known that
the Queen occasionally taught Bible
class for the children of those in attend
ance at buckingham Palace. The Prin-
cess Royal, when a child, and the Prince
OF Wales. too, needed the curb OCCASION
ally. Once the princess at a military re-
view was coqHetting with some officers Of
the escort. and took no notice of warning
looks by the Queen. Finally she dangled
tSf ldtEIhGIIHit1 ONtt tiit Sllt III bAt CdI-
rage and dropped it Intentionally There
was a rush of young officers to pick it up,
but the Queen bade them desist, and, turn
ing to the princess, said in stern voice:
Now, pick up your handkerchief your
Self
There was no help for it, The young prin-
cess, with flaming cheeks and a saucy toss
of the head, did as she was told.
IBrfr Of ica al, ax-cf fbss
case in well-regulated English family,
was OF one mind with the Queen in all mat
ters OF domestic discipline. on one occasion
he had To follow very much the same policy
as this with the youthful Prince Of Wales.
He was riding in company with his father,
ana for oHee forgot his usual politeneSs
aD1 neglected to ackno owledge the salute Of
Il passerby Prince Albert, observing it,
said:
Now, my son, go back and return that
mans how"
Il nd he had to do it.
There is very little formaiity in the
Queens household, after one has passed
the barriers There is q story, which is
not entirely new, about small girl who,
with her father and mother, once had the
honor Of taking meal with the Queen
at Windsor. The small girl had been
carefully taught by her nurse that it was
impoite to take up bones in one' 5 fingers |
AMI gnaw them During the meal the |
Queen took oceasion-very daintiiy, 10 be |
sure-to nibhe the wing OF a chicken in |
that manner. The child eyes grew round |
with repraach, and pointing a diminutiye |
finger ut tier royal hostess, she exclaimed |
with great distinctness: Piggy, piggy, |
piggyl' The feelings of the father and |
mother can be imagined, but the Queens |
genuine amusement and kindly tact soon |
made matters right; and she gently ex-
plained TO the culpnt that queens could |
do what it was not proper for little girls |
60 do.
1t rs not altogether in the supposedly !
turbulent ife of republics that the sover-
eign is in danger of assassination from |
some crazy fanatic, not is it confined to
desrotsms. The government of England |
is democratic as it can be and be |
monarchy, and there could be no monarch /
more personally beloved than the present |
Queen, yet her life has been five times I
attempted
Up 10 the year 1851 the life OF Queen
Victoria had been one of unbroken, tran
quil happiness. Her mother, to whom she
was deeply attached, was spared 10 enjoy |
q peaceful old age. Her husband was to /
her all that devoted and loving companion
could be, and their nine children were
growing up, healthy, happy and dutifuI
All that the world could grant, OF wealth !
and honor, were hers, and her eldest daugil-
tar had been happily welded TO the heir
Of one OF the most powerful kingdoms of |
Europe, Frederick of Prussia, a prince
whose amiable virtues and intelligence
added iuster to his brilliant rank In May
1861. the Queen lost her mother, and in
December came a far greater blow i'll the
death of the prince consort. The Q Queen
met her bereavement with that vehemence
or grief so often manifested 10y those who
have a life of unrufflcd happiness suddenly |
interrupted by great sorrow. Her loss
SO preyed upon her mind that for number |
Of years she lived in absolute retirement,
avoiding far as possible all public and
social duties, induiging her melancholy |!
10 the fullest extent. This spectacle OF in