Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-27
WCIORlA'S REIGN
A ROYAL LIFE FULL, OF To17u,
AND BEAUTY.
DIAMOND JUBILEE AT HAND
Queens Birthday This Year Over
Swallowed by the More Important
event = Congratulations Already
Coming in-A Monarchy That Feels
Greats Pride in Its Gentle Ruler.

LohlAoo The queens birth
Jay uSua event patriotic Eng
liShmen celr e with the only en-
thuslasm iper. ps that can break
through their veneer of stoliditv is
oVershadowed his year by the nrenar-
atoms for the diamond Jubilee of her
reign, the 60th year, a month LATER
congratulations are being received
from royalty from ali parts of Eurone
IN June, 1887, the archbishop of Can
terDury and three officers of the PRIV
council rode out to Kensington to tell
the little Princess Victoria that she
was queen of England. She was then
only Is years old. a slender, graceful
ana interesting girl, about whom very
little was known, for she had been
reared in strict seclusion by her
mother, the duchess of Kent, Her
father, Edward, duke of Kent and
oIrathearn, was the fourth son of
george Ill, and when he died. six
! months after her birth he left his
WIDOW and child in very straightened
circumstances. So poor was be during
the year preceding his death that he
! BORROWED the money to bring his wife
! back to England so that their child
might be born on British sell Her
mother was Victoria Maria Louisa
princess dowager of Leiningen, and
sister OF Leopold, prince of Saxe-Co-
! burg
Two Years after she became queen
her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Co-
burg, came to England to ask Victoria
10 be his wife. 1t was his second visit
Tor that purpose. He first pleaded his
suit shortly after her accession to
the throne, but the clear headed little
woman, though she loved Albert more
imam anyone else, said that thew were
poth too young to wed and should
walt three or four years. 1t was the
only romance of her life. She first
met Albert when she was 16 years
OLD. He was a good looking. good
natured youth, unaffected in his man
her and just suited her girlish fancy.
She liked him very much at that time.
Dut when she saw him two years later.
a tall, fine looking young man, of
ienned manners, and unusually hand
some, Victoria fell desperately in love,
Still she would not consent to i'm
mediate marriage.
queen Victoria and Prince Albert
were finally married in the Chapel
Royal, st. James palace, in 1910. and
TIE marriage was most happy one.
Husband and wife were devoted to
| eacn
ever touched the reputation of either
Prince Albert was scrupulously cir
cumspect in his conduct, and never
caused the queen one moments pang
OF jealousy. Neither did he attemnt
10 interfere in the politics of the
country. Their marriage was blessed
with children. In the q ye"rs of her
married life Queen Victoria had nine
chlldren-fiVe daughters and four
SENS In her care and devotion to
! them the English monarch won her
self the title of the model mother.
While Victoria did not neglect her
duty to the nation and met every do
mand upon her as queen, there was
no question that she lived only for
her husband and children. The nation
at large enjoyed this spectacle of a
truly good, home-1oving monarch. and
every father and mother participated
IN the happiness of the royal family,
Inc prince died in 1861, casting a
shadow over the queens life that for
years she made no attempt to lift.
The usual celebration en- famille Of
the birthday will be held and the
customary shower of congratulations
from the rulers of the world will
mark the esteem in which the veneer
able ruler is held abroad.