The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01
THE QUEEN LOVES HER TROOPS.
Never ForgeIs That She Is the
Daughter of "a soldier.

II may be interesting to recall Queen
Victoria's attitude in the early days of her
reign toward her soldiers of whom she
once said: mobile fellows. feel as if they
were my own children; my heart beats for
them as for my nearest and dearest" The
Queen has never forgotten that she is a
soldiers child; and when presenting colors
ON one occasion to the Scots tusilieR
Guards she said: Il have been associated
with your regiment frem my earliest in
fancy. as my dear father was your colonel.
He was proud of his profession, and / was
always taught to consider myself a SOL
dier's child" When an infant in arms Her
Majesty was present at review AZ Houns-
lew Heath. to the no little annoyance of
the prince regent. who said. 'Tha; infant
is too young to be brought into public
The faithful attendant of her early child
heed was an old soldier, who had been her
fathers bOdyguard. In her youth the
Queen heard the Duke of Wellington
spoken of with bated breath, and on his
death she spoke of him as Our immortal
hero.
In the earliest years of her reign the
Queen was accustomed to review her
troops mounted on a charger dressed IN
military costume rs a portrait o: her in
the next nur0Der of the 'Iady's Re aim, TO
which We are indebted for these carly
"reminiscences of Her Majesty. shows Two
months after her ascension. mounted On 4
gray charger. she wore trim blue cloth
coat and skirt with q star on the breast
and a round cap with = peak oTnamented
with deep gold band. in reviewing for
the first time the Household troops at
Windsor Later OF the Queen was dressed
in a long habit with 4 cutaway jacket and
a large hat ornamsuted with military
plumes.
AT some reviews in Hyde Park tine
Queen was in tight fitting bodice and her
form encircled with bandoier; while in
reviewing the troops on their return from
the Crimea. Her Majesty wore habit OF
fine scarlet cloth. the collar of which was
embroidered in gold and silver with the
devices of field marshal; across the left
shoulder was the blue ribbon or the Gar
ter. while brilliant star CLEANED on her
breast and fastened round her waist was
4 crimson and gold net sash fTinged with
gold tassels Her hat was OF black felt.
with round crown ornamented with an
officers plume of red and white feathers.
The Queen rode on that memorable coca
SIGN splendid chestnut horse.
In old times. too. the Queen delighted TO
stay at the Pavilion at Aldershot. where
she often received crowned heads and dis
tnguished soldiers. From her sitting
room window she commanded view OF the
long valley stretching from Caesars camp,
and could witness the evolutiOns of the
troops with ease. Her Majesty subscribed
literally toward the three churches, nu-
merous schools. reading rooms. hospital.
and theatre at Aldershot. and in every eff
fort to improve the condition of the pri-
vate soldier she has taken the keenest
personal interest. The first death var
rant she was called on to sign was that of
a criminal who had formerly been in the
army Are there no eXtenuating circum-
stances ," asked the Queen of the minister
and the reply was that he was once re
ported for gallant action in the field. "Ah,
then he has fought for his country in the
field" said the Queen and at once ioyfully
wrote the word "PaIdoned across the
warrant.
II will thus be seen that the Queens in
tense personal sympathy with her soldiers
in the field now. and with their wives and
children. is only the continuation of
settled policy which has characterized
her whole life. While in the piping times
of peace the common soldier has, save by
nursemaids been held in little esteem by
his fellows. the estimation in which he
has been held by his sovereign has always
been a high one. For his interests and
comforts she has been at all times con-
cerned; and the devoted loyalty whi-h in
spires all ranks. from the field marshal 10
the drummer boy is caused by thorough
appreciation and recognition Of a long
continued and never wayering devotion on
the part of their beloved sovereign TO SOL
ders considered by her as specially ner
own children