New-York tribune., 1901-04-17
THE QUEENS CHARACTER.
an INSTRUCTIVE SKETCH OF BRITAINS
GREAT RULER
copyright 1901: By The New-York Tribune,
tBy CABLE TO THE rRIBUNE.l

TBT CABLE TO THE rRIBUNEl
rondon April IL, / a. m.-Queen Victoria was
.. once the best known and least known of SOW
,s,ens Her subjects understood her because
che was never out Of touch with them but
trusted them they trusted her Her real
character and manner Of speech and life were
not known. because there could be no intrusion
upcn the privacy Of sovereign so sincerely
bonored ographies of the Queen were either
made up Of anecdotes told at second or third
hand by people who knew nothing about her, or
we're official records submitted for her revision
that was critical or independent in Judgment.
The Quarterly Review" which under the bile
.ditorship of Mr. Prothero has regained its old
tine character and prestige, contains a remark
able article on the Queen. evidently written from
9 precise and intimate knowledge during ne
rod Of fifty years. The article is not signed,
hut IT occupies leading place in the current
number, and is. perhaps. the first character
study of the Queen made by any competent
writer who had the advantage of personal ac-
ouaintance with her and could reproduce her
own words in daily conversation and form inn
partial and critical judgments. based pro-
Ionsed observation and reflection
THE QUEENS TRAITS SHOWN.
The article is discriminating. while eulogistic
snd is remarkab BILE for the candor of its state
nents, its independence of judgment and even
the severity of its criticism. 1t throws a new
light upon many secret passages in the history
~ the reign and contains a series of fresh anec-
dotes illustrating the Queens characteristic
traits Of trenchant huror and racy talk. and
has throughout a strong note of personality.
The authorship of this article will probably re-
main a literary secret, and will pique public
curiosity.
The author attempts without blind or syco-
phantic laudation. to ascertain what were the
elements and processes of the evolution of the
Queens character. He finds few traces Of hered-
ity and contends that there no irresistible
trend toward personal greatness but that she
was rather an ordinary mortal with fine in
stincts, considerable mental capacity and GER
tain vital persistence which served her well. and
that qualities not in themselves extraordinary
were trained by circumstances so as to provide
g basis upon which excellence not innate
could be built up.
CAUSE OF DISLIKE OF GLADSTONE.
The explanation given of the Queens preju-
dice against Mr.. Gladstone is that it started in
the suspicion that he gave her too much work
10 do until she was, she put it, dead beat
He tried in his eagerness TO press her to do
what she considered to be his work and when
she resented it and he renewed the attempt she
formed pertinacious prejudice against MIN
which meyer was removed The author states
that IL was always an element in her reticence
with regard to Mr.. Gladstone that he was too
High Church and had the mind of Jesuit.
The Queens own attitude toward religion is
discussed judciously. The headship of the An
glican Church or the Scotch Presbyterianism she
considered to be a part of the business of state
craft, and did not trouble her conscience about
it. Probably the form Of service which she
preferred that of the Presbyterian Church.
hut she was Broad Church woman with no
curiosity about creeds She liked Roman Cath
ocs much better than Anglican rituaists, but
possibly because she felt no responsibility for
their opinions. The article closes with this
rarka bic sentence: And gradually she hypno-
tized public ina gination that at last, in def
ance Of theories, historians. philosophers and
the nation accepted the Queens view of her own
functions and tacity concluded with her that
she ruled a consecrated monarch by right
divine l. n. F.