The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-05-31
The Queen.


have no hope, for Charlotte Augusta,
wife of George III, who had for seven
years more than half a century,
watched the mental alterations and
softened the melancholy of her royal
husband, and beside, had shared the
anxieties of court and country, and
virtually swayed the regal scepter of
Great Britain, had passed from the
palace to the tomb, and England fan
cied that prince nor princess would
ever rule as she had done. But the be-
loved and revered Charlotte had been
dead only twelve months when, May
oath, 1919, was born to Edward, Duke
of Kent, brother of William ", a
daughter, Alexandria Victoria, who
should, while still in maiden beauty,
ascend the throne of England, reign
longer than any other sovereign had
ever reigned, and direct with scepter
even more gentle than that of Char
1otte Augusta, the destiny of the Eng
1ish Nation.
The seven years preceding the coro-
nation of Victoria, which embraced all
the time of the reign of William ",
were years of pronounced pacivity, no
treason or arraignment of traitors, not
an instruction in all the empire, not
foreign war-c1Oud on the British sky.
During this season of political quiet
ness, which was rep1ete with important
lessons and splendid suggestiveness
for Victoria, the fair princess grew
from girlhood to young wonanhood
and passed from the pupil place to the
Rulers throne in thought and char
acter equipped and qualified for the
high duties and royal responsibilities
that awaited her.
The occupants of the Palace at Ken
sington, from the Duchess to the hum
b1est servant, were in state of expec-
fancy. They knew that King William
was on Z bed of death, they knew that
his two children had died in infancy,
and that the modest maiden who was
dL LIldl ulOl1ICIll ALI L44C pcLAdNO FcLGs w
lure, heir TO the English crown.
Therefore, though only five O'Clock in
the morning, the household was astir;
and, when the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, the Lord Chamberlain and Sir
Henry Ha1ford the physician of the
king, knocked at the gates they were
Immediately opened to them. The
three official gentlemen rode from
Windsor that beautiful and balrny
morning in June to inform the Prin-
cess that she was Queen.
An hour before midday the State a
partment was filed with Cabinet
Ministers, Councillors and Peers of the
Realm, together with two Archbish-
ops. Victoria entered, beautiful, self
possessed, though pale and self dis
trustfu1, walking with her mother, the
Duchess of Kent. The usual oaths
were administered, then the sovereign
lady in a clear voice perfectly nodu-
lated said: 'The severe and affecting
loss which the Nation has sustained by
the death of His Majesty, my beloved
uncle, has devo1ved on me the duty of
administering the Government of this
Empire. This awful responsibility is
imposed on me so suddenly and at SO
early period of my life, that I should
feel myself utterly oppressed by the
burden were I not sustained by the
hope that Divine Providence, which
has called me to this work, will give
me strength for the performance of it,
and that shall find in the purity of
my intentions, and in my zeal for the
public welfare, that support and those
resources which usually belong to a
more mature age and to long expert
ence." On the 18th of June, 1887,
A1exandrina Victoria rode in State to
Parliament. eft will be my care, !"
she said, ''to strengthen our institu-
tions, civil and ecclesiastical, by dis
Greet Improvement wherever improve
ment is required, and to do all in my
power to compose and a11ay animosity
and discord." The Queen was crowned
at Westminster Abbey on the 18th OF
June.
Many were the 1ove-sick princes OF
continental Europe. They crossed the
channel and enjoyed the hospitality Of
St. James Palace. They besought the
maiden Queen to apply the balm of he1
affections to their wounded hearts
She touched and healed the wound OF
one young lord, Prince Albert of SAKE
Coburg, to whom she was married IN
1910. He died in 1861, and since that
time Victoria has been widow. The
nearly forty years of widowhood fol
the Queen have been four decades OF
prosperity for the Empire.
1t has been said that ''forty bloody
vars have characterized the reign Of
the lady sovereign; and this is true il