Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-01-26
WINDSOR CASTLE.


the last 40 years of her reign, save
when something extraordinary occur
red to excite her keen sense of the
Iuoicrous. On such occasions as these
she would laugh with a degree of
heartiness and even violence that
would have completely staggered those
who had never seen her without that
half sad, half sour droop of the cor
ners Of her mouth.
The Queens Merry Disposition.
Even in her childhood aid girlhood
previous to her accession to the
throne, in 1887, Queen Victoria seems
TO have given evidence OF this under
lying current of merriment and fun in
the constitution of her character. True
everything was done that could be done
to check 1t by her mother. the Duchess
OF Kent, whose severity and even
harshness toward the young princess
called forth on one memorable occa-
sion, at state banquet at Windsor. a
violent and public rebuke from King
William w.
Ii was on his death. on June 20, 1887,
that the scene occurred which has fur
nished the theme of so many brush
and pen, namely, the notification to
the young girl in the middle OF the
night OF the fact that she had become
queen or Great Britain and sovereign
or an empire so vast that on IL the sun
never sets. The messengers who con-
veyed to her the news of her Access
sion TO the throne were the archbishop
or Canterbury, the lord chamberlain
and Sir Henry Halford The youthful
queen was aroused from her sleep and
on being informed OF her new dignity
burst into tears and asked the arch
bishop to pray for her. The whole
party then knelt in prayer.
Queens enjoy a privilege which Is
withheld, save in leap year, from wo-
men occupying a less august position
In the social scale, namely, thatof them
selves making the offer OF marriage in
stead OF waiting to receive the proposal
from their suitors. And it was there
fore Queen Victoria who, year after
her coronation at Westminster abbey
on June 2S, 1898, invited her cousin,
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Goth
to share his life with her. The nup-
tails took place on the 10th OF Februs
airy, 1910, at the Chapel Royal, st.
James palace. The wedding breakfast
was given at Buckingham palace and
the honeymoon, which only lasted three
days, was spent at Windsor castle.
Her Mnjesty's Happy Marriage.
The marriage proved an exceptional
ly happy one. Prince Albert turned
out TO be an ideal husband being a
man OF singularly stainless and ire
proachable character. Queen Victoria's
domestic bliss was absolutely uncloud-
ed as long as her husband lived, and
she was guilty of no exaggeration
when she declared that the only sorrow
which he had ever caused her was
when he died. His death occurred Dec.
IA, 1861
On June 20, 1887, the queen made a
state progress through her great capi-
tai to attend a special service at West
minister abbey in honor of the semi
centennial anniversary of her accession
to the throne. Every reigning house
in the world sent either members of
their families or great dignitaries to
represent them at the ceremony, and
while kings and queens chatted gayly
together in the chancel of the abbey
while awaiting the coming OF Queen
Victoria, her majesty-no longer the
bonnie, fresh and healthy checked En-
glish girl of 1897, but a venerable look
ing, white haired old lady-was driV-
ing up Piccadilly, her carriage escorted
by the most brilliant troops Of princes,
archdukes and grand dukes that have
ever been gathered together for such
q purpose.
Seven times during her reign has
Queen VictOria's life been attempted.
But only one occasion, In May, 1850,
did her majesty receive any actual in
jury, and that Of q mere transitory
character. Her assailant on that &C.
casion was dismissed ofncer OF Hus-
sars, and he was seized before he had
time to accomplish more than strike
her sharp blow IN the face with a
stick. The man was sentenced to seven
years transportation. The first at
tempt to assassinate her was made In
June, 1910, by q man named Oxford,
who fired two pistol shots at her while
she was driving UP Constitution hill
with her husband. The would be muir
derer was seized, detained several
years In prison and is now earning his
livelihood by house painting out in
Australia.
Remarkable Grace and Majesty.
Queen Victoria was small in stature
and during the latter part Of her life
very stout. This, however, did not
prevent her from retaining a most re-
markable grace and majesty OF de-
pertinent. 1t was impossible to con-
ceiye anything more captivating and
winning than her smile. Always plain
" and even shabbily dressed in black
gowns that were ofte4 rusty, it was
impossible not to ftel when in her
presence that that lhttle old woman
had ruled for more ,Ehan half a century
over the greatest and most extensive
empire OF the civilized globe, and with
ali that true, warm hearted woman.