The age-herald., 1899-05-24
THE QUEEN,
 GOD BLESS HER
BY LuorEN JULIEN wAnKER.
sentlemen-the oueenl"

Ihere IS hash or crystal In tho shaded light, and loyal Brltons have followed the custom Of a thousand years and drunk the health of their soverign.
 The toast is offered by whosoever is the recognized head of the table.
 The response is by every gentleman pres ent, and It is the rarest of accidents If there be present at dinner in any walk of British life man rude enough not to re- spond
 All around the world today, in every land, that proud yet simple toast of the Briton will be drunk with greater fervor, greater affection, greater reverence, than at any other time since the Six Hundred ''volleyed and thundered" at Balacava in the maddest gallop to death ever ridden upon this planet
 Tho reason for the unwonted outburst of loyalty that will take place today is that the venerable queen enters now upon her eighty-first year. At Kensington palace, in London, eighty years ago, this 24th of 4-ay, there was born the Princess Victoria, who for nearly sixty-two years has reigned wisely and well over the British empire.
 Her majesty's great age, her unexampled reign, her numberiess virtues, great good ness of heart, charity, benevolenee, love of her people; her mobility as wife and mother, and her great wisdom as 0 sov- ereign-thsse shining gifts of character splendidly royal, have conspired to win for the aged woman a place in the hearts of her subjects pathetic in it's tenderness and heroic in It's scope, and have given her first place in the esteem and reveresice of man. kind.
 It remained for an American soldier to say in public speech in the heart of the empire that, "her virtues as a wife and mother, her goodness as a woman and her wisdom as sovereign have endeared her to all the world.'
 In respect to British politics and British policy in various directions men differ radi- cally In Britain and Ireland; but as re- gards her maJesty's pre-eminent person. ality there is no difference of opinion in any land. This feeling was once impressed upon me in a way that struck me with the logic of fact. The mayor of great Irish city, who, entertained for me the warmest per sonal regard, a feeling very cordially re- ciprocated, was "commanded" along with all other home mayors to proceed to Buck Ahs7pielhi Pdi1SO anu bO ASCSlNSu Dy ltAO queen on the occasion of her diamond jubi- lee two years ago. He was a radical home ruler, and declined. lIy surroundings for bade any questions, as he was aware; but he said cheerfully enough: "Pd do any thing in reason to show my respect for her majesty herself, but the palace Is not the place for the representative of my people, having regard to their views concerning her majesty's government
 This incident is related merely to indicate the universal respect for the person of the sovereign.
 In the early morning of June 20, 1887. some three hours after midnight, the Archbishop of Canterberry, primate of all England accompanied by the Lord Cham- beriain, knocked at the gate of the low rambling old-world palace of Kensington wherein slept the young queen, all uncon- scious of the ilustrious station to which tho death of her uncle, King William ", had elevated her but a short hour before. The palace dignitaries were hastily sum- moned and the great officers of church and state admitted to the inner precincts of the building. They demanded instant speech with the princess. Sleeping inno- cence, aroused from the couch of virtue, drew white sill1en mantle about her shoulders, and entered the dressing-room adjoining in wide-eyed wonder. As the noiseless footballs pressed the tufted floor, primate and chamberlain fell to their knees with the low cry of Long live the queen' That told the story, and history relates that the 'poor little queen," as Carlyle termed her in the profound affec- tion of his soul, trembled for a moment. Then giving her hand to her great ser- wants to kiss and bidding them to rise, she said softly: My lord primate, let it be that our reign begin with prayer to God for guidance" And in the dim light of the little ante-room of Kensington palace there began in solemn prayer the most H. lustrious reign of which history has made any record.
 Throughout these eventful two and sixty years the queens simple religious faith, as manifested in that memorable June- time has guided and strengthened pure woman in the divine way of virtue and in the splendor of greatness; in joy and grief, maidenhood, wifehood, motherhood; and through the trials that do beset one who wears the proudest crown yet known to the peoples of the earth! Remembering these things, it is easy to comprehend that Vic- toria is the greatest single moral force of our time, with one possible exception. Wherever there be a British soldier or sailor, or Britons or their descendants and that is everywhere-there will today be drunk the toast of "The Queen-God bless herr" That will ring out in all lands a blessed benison upon the aged head bear ing the burden of the glorious crown, and adding nster to the folds of that proud flag which flor thousand years has braved the battle and the breeze!' It was my privilege for a number of years to be g. guest at official celebrations of the queens birthday within her own dominions. and I can bear witness to the profound veneration for her majesty mani | fested by true men who honored "her ma | jesty's uniform" Many and many time have been the guest of officers messes in s.la or~5r i,,