The times., 1899-09-03
THE FRIEND OF VICTORIA.
John Browns Devoted Service 10
Ensiand's Ruler.
CFrom The RoyaI Magazine.)

John Browns Devoted Service 10
Ensiand's Ruler.
CFrom the Royal Msgazine)
In the old ehurchyard of Crathie, sweet
with the scent Of the birks and the frs.
are many OF the Queens memorials 10
those who. having served their day aud
generation by their sovereign's side. have
passed through the valley OF the shadow
TO their rest Is there. in the history OF
monarchies. parallel 20 the dedication OF
Her Maiesty's second book. More
Leaves" TO my Loyal Highlanders.' it
runs, 'and especially TO the memory OF
my devoted personal attendant and faith
ful friend, John Brown, these records Of my
widowed life in Scotland are gratefully
dedicated"
Prince Albert, when visiting the Balmo-
raj stables, saw a rough country youth
whose father occupied the Bush, farm
In the Immediate vicinity OF Balmoral. on
the north side OF the Dee Prince Albert
found that in his stable boy he had no sy
cophantic courtier, but lad who spoke IN
affectedy TO him. with the ease that sits so
well upon the Highlander. But let the
Queen tell the story of the promotion OF
John Brown, who lin 1858 became my reg
ular attendant out of doors everywhere in
the Highlands, who commenced as gillie
in 1S49 and was selected by Albert and
ana me TO go WITH my carriage.
In 1851 he entered our service perma-
nently, and advanced step by step by his
good conduct and intelligence His atten-
tion, care. and faithfulness cannot be ex-
ceeded. He has since, most de-
servedly been promoted to be an upper
servant and my personal attendant" What
more Queen Victoria has TO say of John
Brown, is it not written in Leaves and
More Leaves?" Was the hill pony to be
led when the Queen scaled the bens with
no courtiers by her side-none save the
Highlanders who ate the bread they earned
at BalmoraI--John Brown was there. Was
the royal carriage upset, John Brown was
"indefatigable in his attention and care"
Was breakfast TO be served to the Queen
in her sitting room. John Brown
who is always ready 10 do anything re-
quired'' waited upon his mistress Had
the news of friends deaths to be broken
such friends as DR.. Norman Macleod and
the Prince Imperial-it was john Brown
who was called upon to do the delicate
work. 1t was Brown who had the keen
eye for white heather, and it was Brown,
too. who, with the superstition of the High
lander. would not pass a clump without
picking some.
John Brown dared to do what almost
every man in these islands would have
shrunk from, and to bear out this ate
UleEL l1eTe are SlOEiSS Stlii NOiu auID1S
the hills that have not yet found their way
, into print. When driving between Bal
moral and Braemer one day. the royal
party was overtaken by sharp shower o.
rain. The carriage was stopped John
Brown got down. and suggested to Fer
Majesty that she should put plaid
around her shoulders. The Queen declin-
! ed the offer, and asked him to mount and
let the drive be continued -Hoots. las
sic. said Brown. taking the plaid and
placing it in position. TAX the plaid
roun yer shoothers fshoulders) or yen
get wat skin" The story OF the table
at Glassalt Shiel has already been told.
One day Her Majesty, not in the best of
humors. was sketching at the Glassalt
Shei. She wished for q table on which
she might sketch. and the servants hal
exhausted the stock, but still the sover-
eign was dissatisfied. In their p light they
went TO Brown. who seized one OF the re-
jected tables and set it down with bang.
The Queen looked up surprised. where
upon Brown exclaimed They Gamma
| max tables to you up here, Your Males
ty." His mistress took in the situation,
and worked il OFF with a laugh.
When, in 1872. the young madman
| O'Connor rushed up to the Queens car
riage in Buckingham Palace Garden with
a petition in one hand and an old pistol
| in the other. it was appropriate that the
| faithful retainer, Brown, should seize and
| disarm him. For this act Brown was
presented by Her Majesty with medal.
| which is shown on life-size bronze
statute by Boehm which stands in the
Balmoral grounds.
| John Brown died at Windsor in 1888,
| aged ffty-seyen years. grieyed for as a
| friend by the Queen, who afterward wrote:
His loss to me is irreparable,
for he deservediy possessed my entire con-
| fidence; and to say that he is daily, nay.
| hourly, missed by me is but a
! feeble expression of the truth. A truer.
nobler. trustier heart. more loyal and more
| loving. never beat within a human breast -
| Over his grave in Crathie churchyard his
| mistress and Queen erected a block of na-
| tive granite, on the pedestal OF which is a
Scotch thistle. The inscription runs to the
effect that John Brown, personal attend
ant and beloved friend of Queen Victoria. .
| was born at Craithenaird, December 8.
1926; died ar Windsor Castle, March 27.
1888. That friend on whose fidelity you
count, that friend given to you by cireum-
stances over which you have no control.
was Gods own gift. Well done, good and
faithful servant"
The Queen had erected a large house for
her faithful servant. who, however, was
destined to rest in il but one night, and
that night he was in his eoffin, for on the
morrow he was carried to the quiet
churchyard; and it is remarkable coinei-
dence that John Browns successor. his
cousin, Francis Clark, who also was hon.
ored by the Queen with the gift of a house
was in it for only one night, and he. too
was in his coffin. preparatory to burial II
Braemar churchyard ON the following day
NewpOrt's Idea ri Grace