The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-02-22
Anecdotes of Victoria

I
Victoria to illustrate the human phase
/ of her character as distinguished from
| the royal are the following.
Lady Normandy. one OF the Queen 5
| fayorite ladies-in-waiting. once took her
! sister TO Windsor 10 sing IN fear and
trembling the young girl stood before her
royal auditor and sang one Of Crisis
most difficult airs. Despite her nerv-
BUSINESS she rendered II exceuenty, but
omitted the shake at the end
Does not your sister shsks2" asked
the Queen Of Lady Normandy who Sgas
sitting beside her. But before giving The
lady-ln-W rafting time for reply continued.
But why I should I ask when I can see
she IS shaAinE all over?"
The Queen afterward took g keen In
terest IN the young singer. and had her
constantly at che royal palace.
The combined giriishness and worldly
wisdom Of the Queen at the time of her
coronation have been commented upon.
and an example Of that Characteristic is
contained in an obscure book OF re-
niniscences It was on the day OF her
entry into London. where the bishops
We're congregated to 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 at the conclusion Of the
z
a glass door, and forgetting its trans
parency was seen TO run of with a hop.
skip and jump Ike healthy youngster
just let out of school The sudden trans
formation amazed the worthy bishops
At about that time she declared to one
OF her maids Of honor:
7 do think. myself, that IL is good
fun playing Queen"
That the Queen had g high spirit when
rt7f t. Al l.
played 1t IN a very determined man
ner. Being one day. when in a reluctant
mood, told by her music teacher that
without industry and perseverance she
would never become mistress Of the piano
the princess cried out:
But what would you think OF me II
I became mistress Of it within the next
minute?"
THAT you cannot do" said the music
teacher. There is no royal road to mu-
sic'
~-n there Is a royal way OF becom-
ing mistress of the piano" said the prin-
cess. at the same time shutting down
and locking the I'D Of the instrument and
putting the key into her pocket, "and
there it IS"
She quickly repented. however, Of her
hasty temper and made a pretty apoI-
ogy to the music teacher.
Here are two stories that show the
Queens kindly consideration for everyone
with whom she came IN contact inde-
pendent of his or her station After her
succession to the throne her first queenlv
act was the writing Of a letter to her
aunt Queen Adelaide, condoning with
her and begging her TO remain in oc-
cupation of Windsor castle as long Is 1t
suited her wishes and convenience TO
Her Majesty the Queen" was the way
the young queen addressed the letter
whereupon someone demonstrated with
her, pointing ont that the widow OF King
William " was no longer queen, but
queen dowager.
That I am perfectly aware Of" re-
piled Queen Victoria. but 1 will not be
the first one to remind her Of st."
The royal yacht Albert was once TAX
ing her for a cruise on the Solent While
the queen was sitting upon deck plating
straw, then q fashionable occupation, she
noticed that the sailors were gathering
in groups and watching her furtiveIy.
Presently she saw them speak 70 Lord
Adolphus Fitz-Ciarence, the commander
Of the yacht, and she called him to her
side
What is there in the air, my lord?
7 hope we are not going to have a mu-
tiny"
Lord AdolDhus answered her in the
same bantering spirit. mo, ma'am. Your
Majesty can remove all cause OF trou-
bic by changing your seat"
But why should I change my seatr'
'TWell. Your Majesty. you are sitting
directly at the door Of the grog cup
board. and our poor fellows cannot get
their drink"
at once. but on the condition that I get
cprrn q "a rrrour for r7,Srua1f
When Her Majesty had tasted some Of
the grog she pronounced it very good
grog, but It would be better were II a
little stronger"
It IS difficult 70 imagine Thomas Car
lyle sitting down to an old-fashfoned
talk with the Queen. but 1t occurred once.
The meeting took place Ia the drawing
room Of Dean Stanley. The Sage II
Chelsea, not in the least abashed by
being in the presence Of his sovereign.
pulled uD his chai ROUTE close % her
and proceeded in his quaint way 70 cross
question her on her historical knowi-
edge, tastes, and dislikes. They talked
there for some time greatly Immersed
in one another and ii IS safe to say that
the Grabbed old philosopher gave the
Queen a fresh sensation. Carlyle after
ward declared himself to be much I'm
pressed by the terseness and sense Of
her remarks. which he contasted favor
ably with the rambling inaccuracies OF
the majority Of women.
Literary celebrities. as rule. were not
those who attained 10 any high degrees
Of personal favor AT the hands OF the
Queen, but she paid Charles Dickens
delicate compliment Dickens who. BY
the way, in his youthful days was de-
voured by a grand passion for the youth
ful Queen, was invited when at the ell
max OF his fame to dine az Windsor
Castle. He was, after dinner. presented
by the Queen with a copy Of her book.
Tour in the Highlands" and on the
fyleaf was Inscribed in her own hand
this sentence: From the humblsst 70
the most distinguished author IN Eng
land" The Queen afterw7rd showed
many favors 70 Lord Tennyson, but even
Ia making him q peer of the realm she
did not bestow as great compliment
A story OF the Queens humor = re-
corded in connection with the framing
Of the bulletin announcing the birth ~
the present King. After the usual STATE
meut. the bulletin ran thus Tier Mo
jesty and the Prince are perfectly well
when this was shown 30 the Qaeen hy
the Prince Consort previous 70 rs puh-
lication. shs said with q laugh 'sAfy
dear husband. this VIII never DO"
why not7" asked ths Prince.
Because" said the Queen, - eon-
veys ths idea tAat you were also SICK
aned"
Thereuoon tha Queen EDITED ne boil
letin IN this way. "FTer Majesty and
the infant Princess are perfectly WelL'
The way she Dis ~.
II there is anything - whlch 2 woman
is supposed 10 - especially 1eacfent 50
is in sharpening a lead penci 81 a neat .
and vvorkTnsnllks manner. bet certain
woman reporter On dslly pager was