The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-23

as between the visitors, was observed to
change toward Albert. She became more
selate and formal, Finally she sent for
him for private interview, which ended
| in their engagement"
The wedding took place in the royal
| chapel of St. James Palace. Hither-
to the custom in royal marriages had
been TO have the ceremony performed at
a late hour in the evening. But Victoria
chose the hour of noon. Showers of rain
did not prevent the gathering of the
largest crowd of people in St James Park
| that had been seen there in twenty-five
years The Queen was attended by the
! full guard of honor, but her carriage was
drawn by only two horses. and the usual
rich caparisons' were wanting. She was
greeted with the greatest enthusiasm as
| she rode to St. James, where the for
| NAL professions for entering the chapel
were formed.
| Within the chapel the adornments were
as rich as crimson cloth and gold fringe
could make them. The communion table
was weighted down with a rich service of
| golden plate Above the altar was
| carved oak cornice, from which curtains
of heavy crimson velvet depended in
graceful folds upon the communion table.
| Fronting the altar were four chairs OF
state, varying in size and style and rich
ly ornamented. These were for the Queen
and Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent,
and the Queen Dowager.
The body of the chapel was occupied by
a noble company. About half-past IL the
Archblshops of Canterbury and York and
the Bishop of London took their places be-
fore the altar. A few minutes later the
Dowager Queen entered and took her seat
Later on the procession OF the royal BRIDE
groom, preceded by drums and trumpets,
entered. Clapping of hands and waving Of
bandkerchiefs greeted him as he moved
along to his seat. He wore the uniform
of field marshal in the British army,
| and over his shoulders hung the Collar of
the Garter
Next the heraldic trumpets announced
the entrance of the Queen, who was the
recipient of hearty greetings. Her face
was pale and expressive of anxiety and
excitement. Her dress was of rich white
satin trimmed with orange blossoms. A
wreath of the same blossoms rested N her
head, over which was thrown veil CT
Honiton lace. She wore no Jewels save
those of the Collar of the Garter. The
Duke of Sussex gave the bride away.
Throughout the ceremony the demeanor OF
the bride was dignified. Her native fnce-
pendence and dislike of ostentation were
plainly manifest in the comparative GIN
plicity of her dress the unusual hour at
which the service was performed, and in
the ARRANGEMENT of details of the cere-
mony.
Throughout her married life the Queen
In all relations, except that of state. gave
precedence to her husband. She leaned
on him in all matters Of government, act
ing on his advice and being guided by him
in her dealings with her Prime Ministers.
Fortunately, he was not a man to seek
self-advantage from his relation Of hus-
band. nor to foster schemes of ambition.
He was loved and respected while living,
and his death in 1861 was generally de-
plored How he was mourned by his wild
ow. all the world knows. The Queen had
nine children: Victoria, born in 1910, the
Dowager German Empress; Albert Ed
ward. Prince of Wales, born in 1871; Alice,
born in 1S43 formerly Duchess of Hesse-
Darmstadt; Alfred born in 1914, Duke Of
Coburg; Helena, born in 1876. Princess
Christian OF Schleswig- Holstein; Louise,
born In 1s4s, Warehouses OF Lorne; Leo
pold, born in 1853; and. Beatrice, born in
1857, Princess Louis OF Battenberg. or
these. Alice and Leopold are dead.
The Queen did not live without danger
from assassination. Four attempts were
made by "cranks' to kill her. On June
10, 1910, only FIVE months after her mar
riage, she was shot al while riding with
the Prince Consort by one Edward Ok
ford He fired two shots, neither of
which took effect He was tried for at
tempted murder, but being adjudged in
sane, was confined in an insane asylum.
The next attempt on her life was made
on May 80, 1912, by John Francis. This
time only one shot was fired. The spot
selected for the deed was the same one
where Oxford had made his attempt, on
Constitution Hill. Francis was con-
yicted of high treason and was sentenced
to be hanged. The Queen, however ex-
pressed a desire that the sentence should
not be executed, and it was committed to
Imprisonment for life. day. later
third attempt to assassinate the young
sovereign was made. this time by
man named Bean. He assailed her
while she was driving away from Buck
bingham Palace; but before he could fire
his pistol his hand was caught by a by
stander and the attempt was foiled. Bean
got of with Imprisonment for seven
years. Again, during the Fenian furry
of 1872, on February q. boy named Ar
thur O'Connor came up to the Queen as
she was entering Buckingham Palace.
and, presenting a paper of some sort,
asked her to sign 1t. at the same time
leveling a dilapidated pistol at her He
got seven months Imprisonment and a
severe whipping for his pains.
The celebration Of the Queens Diamond
Jubileey In 1897, was one of the most
memorable occasions In the history of the
nineteenth century. Nothing like it has
occurred even in this age of mammoth
festivals and foregatherings of all ma
tions; for in the pageant which wound
its brilliant length through the streets OF
London on that day were representatives
OF all races and nearly all nations under
the sun. all marching or riding under the
flag of that Empire. whose head was the
Queen. 1t is an Empire, moreover. whose
| might and majesty have been immensely
| augmented during the reign OF Victoria.
She was rePa rded unouestiona hly with