Evening star., 1901-02-02
Anecdotes Of The Earlier Life Of
QueenaV Victoria.
ALWAYS KINDLY And CONSIDERAFE
A Combination of GirIishness and
IL III
Worldly Wisdom,
IN SPEECH AND ACTION


Written for The Evening Star.
Despite the dignity and aloofness of her
station, and particularly before the first
great sorrow, the death of the prince con-
sort, entered her life, Queen Victoria was
of a merry disposition and had mild and
pleasant humor. She was essentially &
Womanly woman and took frequent occa-
sion when in the society of personal friends
to drop the cloak of royalty. Her majesty
was In no sense a wit nor, indeed, did she
care much for what is known as the new
Eumor,' but the natural cheeriness of her
disposition not infrequently found express
sion in playful and jocuar sayings.
Lady Normandy, one of her favorfte la
cnes-1n-wafting, once took her sister to
Windsor to sing before the queen. In fear
and trembling the young girl stood before
her royal auditor and sang one of Crisis
most difficult airs. Despite her nervousness
she rendered 1t excellently, but omitted the
shake at the end
does not your sister shake?" asked the
queen, who knew accurately every opera
N vogue, of Lady Normandy, who was Sit
tlng beside her, but before giving the lady
ln-Wating time for reply she continued
But why should ask when 1 can she
is shaking all over
The queen afterward took a keen interest
In the young singer and had her constantly
at the royal palace.
At Her Coronation.
Tho combined girlishness and worldly
wisdom Of the queen at the time of her
coronation have been lavishly commented
upon, and a telling example Of that char
acterlstc is contained In an obscure book
OF "reminiscences. 1t was on the day of her
entry INTO London, where the bishops were
onsregated to be be presented for the first
time to the queen. She carried herself
through her share Of the tedious ceremony
with great dignity and self-possession and
d. the conclusion of the proceedings retired.
She passed through a glass door and for
setting Its transparency. was seen to run
on with hop. skip and jump like a
meaithy youngster just let out Of school.
Ihe sudden transformation amazed the
worthy bishops. At about that time she
declared to one Of her maids of honor: II
90 think, myself. that it is good fun play
ing queen
That the queen had a high spirit when a
chiid Is well known. and once she displayed
IL IN a very determined manner. Being one
day. when in reluctant mood told by her
music teacher that without industry and
" perseverance @ she would never become mis-
tress of the piano, the young princess cried
out: But what would you think Of me If
became mistress of it within the next
minute?" D..
That you cannot do" said the music
teacher There is no rOyal road to music"
We'll, there Is a royal way of becoming
mistress Of the piano" said the prfncess
at the same time shutting down and lock-
ing the ia OF the instrument and putting
the Key into her pocket, land there 1t is"
She quickly. however, repented of her
nasty temper and made a pretty apology
to the music teacher.
Her Kindly Consideration.
Here are two stories that show the
queens delicate and kindly consideration
for every one with whom she came In con-
tact. Independent of his or her station.
After her succession to the throne her first
queenly act the writing of a letter to
her aunt, Queen Adelaide condoling with
her and begging her to remain In occ1lpa-
tlon OF Windsor Castle as long as it suited
her wishes and convenience. ITO her mai
eSty. the queen" was how the Young oueen
addressed the letter whereupon some one
demonstrated with her. pointing out that
the widow of King William " was no
longer queen, but queen dowager. '',rhat
| am perfectly aware Of" replied Queen
Victoria, but will not be the first one to
remind her of it,
so much for her delicate tact in deal
Ing with those Of her own exalted station
She was equally gracious with the poorest
Of her subjects. The royal yacht Albert
was taking her majesty for a few davs'
cruise on the Solent. One day while the
queen was sitting upon deck plating straw.
then fashionable occupation, she noticed
that the sailors were gathering In groups
and watching her furtively. Presently she
saw them speak to Lord Fitz-Clarence.
commander of the yacht. and she called
him to her side. What is there In the
air. my lord? hope we are not going to
have a mutiny." Lord Fitz-Clarence an
sWered her in the same banterlng spirit.
mo, ma am. Your majesty can remove
all cause of trouble by changing your
seat
But why should 1 change nv seat?"
wei. your majesty You are sitting d.
a ha nf he
and our poor fellows cannot get their
drink"
"Oh. if that's the case 1 shall move at
once, but on the condition that get some
of the grog for myself
When her majesty had tasted some of
the grog she pronounced 1t Every good
grog but 1t would be better were it q lit
tie stronger"
Cnrlyle's Estimate.
1t is difficult to imagine Thomas Carlyle
sitting down to an old-fashioned talk with
the queen. but 1t occurred once. The meet
ing took place in the drawing room of Dean
Stanley. The sage Of Chelsea. not in the
least abashed by being In the presence Of
his sovereign. pulled up his chair quite
close to her and proceeded In his quaint
way to cross-question her on her histori-
cal knowledge, tastes and dislikes. They
talked there for some time, greatly I'M
mersed in one another, and 1t is safe to saw
that the grabbed old philosopher gave the
queen a fresh sensation. Carlyle afterward
declared himself to be much Impressed by
the terseness and sense of her remarks,
which he contrasted favoraby with the
rambling inaccuracies Of the majority Of
women.
Literary celebrities as a rule were not
those who attained to any high degree of
personal favor at the hands of the queen,
but she paid Charles Dickens one of the
most delicate and gracious compliments
ever paid writer. Dickens. who. by the
way, in his youthful days was devoured
by a grand passion for the youthful queen,
was invited when atthe climax of his fame
to dine at windsor Eastle. He was, after
dinner, presented by the queen with a
copy of her book, Tour in the Highlands"
and on the fy-leaf was inscribed in her
own hand this sentence, From the hum
blest to the most distinguished author In
England" The queen afterward showed
many favors to the late Lord Tennyson
but even in making him a peer Of the
realm she did not bestow as great COM
pliment.
Royal Joke.
An excellent story Of the queens humor
is recorded in connection with the framing
of the bulletin announcing the birth of the
present king. After the usual statement
the bulletin ran thus: Her majesty and