Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-31

she dined plainly at her mothers
luncheon table; afterward lessons
again until 4 o'clock; then she went
with her mother for drive, or. if the
weather was hot. spent the afternoon
under the trees, coming out early in
the evening for a turn in her little
pony chaise.
The duchess dined at o'clock. al
which time the princess supped or
bread and milk; she then retired for g
play in farther part of the room
| joining her mother again at dessert
At 9 o'clock she went to bed. AL &C.
casional visit to Windsor to see her
Uncle King" as she called his
majesty George ", sojourn at
Claremont with her Uncle Leopold
and a few weeks at the sea in autumn
were the only breaks in her little life.
In music and fine arts her majesty's
taste and practical ability were no less
remarkable than her knowledge of the
| higher belles-lettres. A brilliant
pianist, she sang with a good mezzo
soprano voice so as to delight fas
=,
and the merit of her sketches in
water-color and black and white justi-
lied the high praise given to them by
the master. At the same time she
was a mistress of the physical &C
compllshments in which the women of
the English aristocracy are en-
couraged to excel. A fearless and
elegant horsewoman, she rode in a
style that was the admiration of
| gentle-women, who hall century ago
prided themselves chiefly on their
equestrian address, and she danced
beautifully!
In a recent volume, concerning the
childhood of Victoria, it is stated that
the duke of Kent insisted upon the
baby being called Elizabeth, but in
this he was overruled by the god
fathers, the emperor of Russia CAL
exander ID and the prince regent, and
| 1t was therefore suggested to call the
infant Alexandria Georgiana The
prince regent, however, objected to
his name standing second to any
other and the duke of Kent insisted
upon the first name being retained.
Therefore, she escaped bearing the
name of Georgiana. Victoria was the
name of the baby's mother.
The duchess of Kent gathered about
her at Kensington palace many of the
foremost minds of the day in litera-
ture, science and social reform. She
made the training of her child the
one absorbing object of her life, and
she seems to have realized that educa-
ton does not merely consist in learn
ing facts or acquiring accomplish
ments, but should also aim at forming
the character and disciplining the
whole nature, so that it may acquire
conscientiousness and the strength
| which comes from self-government
This end being always being kept in
view and furthered, no doubt, by a re-
sponsiveness in the child's own nature
the little princess was trained in the
habits of strict personal integrity
Becomes Queen.
In June, 1887, the Princess Victoria
was notified of her accession to the
throne, and shortly afterward she
was made queen, with all the pomp
and imperial show of medieval
Britain, in Westminster abbey. The
little lady took her seat upon the
stone chair of Edward the confessor,
assumed the obligation of the great
est dignity then known to earth, pro-
ceeded to the high altar, was crowned
and her future career was blessed by
the archbishop of Canterbury. Then
| began a career of imperial sway that
never has had it's equal.
A pretty description is given of the
manner in which the young sovereign
received the news of her accession to
| the throne 1t was 5 o'clock in the
morning when the archbishop of Can
| terbury, the lord chamberlain, the
marquis of Coyngham and DR.. Howley
who had been in attendance on the
| dying king at Windsor, arrived al
Kensington palace.
"They knocked, they rang, they
thumped for a considerable time be
fore they could arouse the porter al
the gate. They were agin kept wait
ing in the courtyard, then turned into
one of the lower rooms, where they
seemed forgotten by everybody. They
rang the bell and desired that the at
tendant of Princess Victoria might be
sent to inform her royal highness tina
they requested an audience on bust
ness of Importance. After another
delay and another ringing to inquire
the cause the attendant was sum
moned, who stated that the princess
was in such a sweet sleep that she
could not venture to disturb her
Then they said: eve are come OF
business of state to the queen AM
even her sleep must give way t,
that 1t did, and to prove that sh,
did not keep them waiting, in a few
minutes she came into the room in
loose white nightgown and shawl, he
nightcap thrown off and her hair fall
ing upon her shoulders, her feet il
slippers, tears in her eyes, but pei
fectly collected and dignified."
Victoria never had but one love al
fair. From babyhood she had beel
consecrated to her cousin, Prince A
bert. Suitors for her hand wer
countless. Every prince in Europ
not already engaged entered the lists
: but Francis Charles Augustus ALDER
Emanuel, second son of Ernest, duk
of SaXe-Coburg Saalfeld, won tn
prize. Albert and Victoria met TO