The age-herald., 1901-06-05
vIcToRIA's PERSONAL TRAITS.
Interesting New SldeIights On Her
 Leading Characteristics.

From the London Quarterly Review.
 The Queens celebrated punctuality could not be counted among unessential or petty forms of decision, for this was a habit the paramount importance of which she had seen very early in her career. She would deign to justify her impatience of dowdlers by saying: T can't afford to be kept waiting. If I am to get through my work I mustn't have my moments frittered away" Punctual- ity was almost more than a habit with her; it was superstition.
 The Queen made no pretentions to smartness of speech, yet she could often surprised those who talked with her by her wit It consisted to a great degree as indeed most wit does-in a rapid move ment of the speakers mind, which dived suddenly and reappeared at an unexpect- ed place. Her sincerity led her to a quaintness of wording which was often very entertaining. One instance of this among many which rise to the memory may be given here. A piece of very mod ern music had been performed in the Queens presence, manifestly not to her approval. What Is that?' she asked. Its a drinking song, ma'am, by Rubin stein" Nonsense" said the Queen; "no such thing! Why, you could not drink a cup of tea to thatp'
 Her prejudice against MT. Gladstone, about which so many fables were related and so many theories formed, really start ed in her consciousness that he would never acknowledge that she was as she put 1t, "dead beat" In his eagerness MT. Gladstone tried to press her to do what she knew, with her great experience, to be not her work so much as his, and she resented the effort. He did 1t again, and she formed one of her pertinacious pre- judices. The surface of her mind had re- ceived an impression unfavorable to the approach of this particular minister, and nothing could ever in future make her really pleased to welcome him.
 When she attended the theater, which she loved, she always commented on any lack of propriety in action; and. on the other hand, the presence of this quality attracted her strong approval. It is recol- lected that she placed Grisi on higher level than all other operatic performers in this respect. When that actress flung herself across the door in '-The Hugue- nots," or arranged the poison scene with the Duke in 'Lucrezia Borgia," and when Viardot Garcia rose to the height of her invective In the "Prophete," the queens face blazed with approbation. She would turn in her box and say: There! not one of the others could do that-no not even Alboni!''
 She was always little afraid of ''clev- err woman, and reputation for superior intelligence was no recommendation in her eyes. She liked the ladies about her to have extremely good manners and pretty presence, but she shrank away from any woman who she feared was "go- ing to be clever" It had been very early instilled into her that it was mans prov ince to be clever, and that it was much best for woman not to intrude into it.
 She was, however, very impatient of dullness and of want of instinctive per caption. This was, perhaps. where she was least inclined to be indulgent It would be respectfully urged that some lady who was out of favor was "a nice, kind woman" Yes" the queen would reply, but I've no patience with her; she's so stupid" This was not out of any kind of intellectual arrogance, but because stupidity, in relations to herself and the business of the court, was rust on the axle of the coach of state. It was necessary that all things about the queen should be fabricated with the practical emollient of common sense and alertness.