The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-25
DEATH OF QUEEN VICTORIA


The venerable Queen of Great Britain
and Empress of India is no more. The
golden bowl of her long life is broken,
and the crumbling body awaits the Sc
pulchre. She was born In England on
oath May 1919. assembled the throne on
goth June 1887, and on 2Sth was crowned
in Westminster Abbey. She was in her
SIND year and the si~xty-fourth year of
her reign. She had. we believe, served
longer than of her predecessors among
the Kings and Queens of her country
She was not a great intellect like Eliza
beth, but was a pure and true woman,
probably the very best of her sex
Rmong royalty. She made a true wife,
and loving m devoted mother, and the
best possible fgure-head for English
society. AS a ruler she recognized the
limitations of her power and never was
involved in controversies with her peo-
pie. She was esteemed. venerated n
lowed by all classes and conditions, and
her death will be lamented in palace
and in cot, at home and abroad, and
Throughout her vast dominions. No
obligations resting upon here were yer
disregarded, and her fidelity and devo-
ton in every relation Were known and
read of all men. She was generally,
We might say, universally, regarded as
a model Queen in all lands. Even the
most radical democrat could hold her
in reverence eau of her purity of
life, her ~benevolence of character, her
staunch devotion to her country and its
great and widening interests. There is
no intention to ~exaggerate either her
gifts or her virtues. She was not per-
feet, but like other good n faithful
people, was of human peccability, with
many of the faults and defects that
mar life. And yet she was worthy of
all honor and reverence. The greatest
poet and ornament of her long and il
lustrious reign. Lord Tennyson has cele-
brated her virtues and graces in i'm
mortal verse, as he did those Of her
long loved husband. good and noble
Prince Alber The o Laureate
wrote IN pure admiration n venera-
ton:
'.Revered. beloved-O YOU hat hold
A nobler office upo earth
Than arms or power of brains or birth
Gould give the warrior kings OF old
MAY you rule as long
And leave us rulers of our blood
As noble till the latest day!
May children of our children say.
She wrought her people lasting good.
Her court was pure; her life serene;
God gave her peace; her land reposed.
A thousand claims to reverence closed
In her as Mother. Wife. and Queen
In her last years she was troubled
with a war that will never d glory
to the British name. But few will lay
its crime at the feet of the dead Queen.
Her government is chiefly responsible
for what has happened. She shared no
doubt in whatever of rejoicing there
was in British achievement. and she
had to bear her full part in the sorrows
and disappointments that came
of defeat to British arms.
On 10th of February 1910. she married
Prince Albert of SAKE Coburg Gotha.
1t was a very happy union. He was a
man OF ability and many virtues, and
was popular in his English home. HIS
accomplishments and attachments were
widely recognized by educated people
in the kingdom. He died in 1861, and
his faithful wife mourned for him with
a great and a prolonged sorrow. She
was intensely Tory in her predictions
and prejudices. and hence, the great
of this century. the niustri-
ous Gladstone, was disliked by her as
he lent to the people so much During
her protracted reign marvellous events
occurred and vast changes were
wrought. Her kingdom has w1dened
and grown Until it sirdles the earth.
and the sun never sets upon 1t. We
do not go into the picture here. IL
would require time and space TO en-
large and give even a glimpse OF the
sast panorama Of changes n start