The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-24
RULE OF VICTORIA.
Her Reign Spans a Period Of Near
ly 81 Years.

care OF his widow. Her education was
intrusted TO the duchess Of Eorthum-
berland and her training was better edu-
cationally and otherwise than usually
falls 70 the lot of princes and 3prineesses.
Prudence and economy were especial
features of her education and she was
taught to be self-reliant, brave and sys-
tematieal sra
She succeeded to the throne on the
death of William w. third son of George
ILL.,, June 90 1887. when the crowns of
England and Hanover, which had been
worn by the same person since the ac-
eession Of George !. in l7l4. were separ-
ated, the former devolving upon the
young princess and the latter, by virtue
of the Salic law, falling TO the duke of
Cumberland, the late kings younger
brother. She was crowned in Westmin-
ster abbey June Is. 1888. Some interest
was taken in the fact that from the first
the queen subscribed herself simply Vic
toria and not, as had been expected
Alexandria Victoria.
The early years OF Yictorias reign were
fun of interest and excitement. There
were the rebellion in Canada, the anti
corn league, the chartist agitation, the
Jamaica question, the never~ending Irish
question, the Afghan war and the war
with China. Along with these events
came the introduction of many of the
great discoveries in science, industry and
commerce which are now considered spe-
ciaily representative of modern civiliza-
ton. reign, says one of its clearest
historians, which saw in-its earliest years
the application of the electric current to
the task of transmitting messages, the
first successful attempts to make use of
steam for the. business of transatlantic
navigation, the general development of
the railway system and in the introduce
ton of the penny post must be consid-
cred to have obtained for itself, had it
secured no other memorials, an abiding
place in history.
February 10, 1910, Queen Victoria was
married to her cousin, Prince Albert of
Saxe-Coburg-Got This was a love
match, pure and simple, but the young
sovereign, owing TO her position, had to
conduct the negotiations mainly by her
self. During the previous month she had
formally notified parliament of her inten-
ton to marry her cousin--a step which
she trusted would be Conducive to the
Interests of my people as well as to my
own domestic happiness" The announce
ment was not received with universal sat
isfaction. but cordial reception was ac-
corded Prince Albert on his landing in
England several days before the marriage
ceremony. A squabble arose in parlia-
ment as to the allowance to be made the
prince. The proposed annuity was $3.50
cut down to $4,000,
1t was some years before the people
thoroughly understood Prince Albert. All
his actions were closely watched. 1t was
imagined that he would endeavor 10 over
step his limitations as the conSort of the
queen and try to influence political az
airs, But this feeling wore off as the
excellent personal qualities of the prince
became known. When he died December
IA. 1861, the national grief was profound.
No man, ii was admitted, had ever de-
voted himself more faithfully to high and
difficult ties and words of.eomnenda-
ton were heard on all sides.
For many years after this bereave-
ment the queen led a life OF strict seclu-
sion, She avoided all public and court
ceremonies, though her duties as SOW
ereign were never neglected In 1876 she
opened parliament in person for the first
time since the death of Prince Albert.
Nine children were born as a result of
the union. Their names and date of
birth are: ..-. ... .s. .......g.t. s..
The Princess Victoria, princess Roy
AL" now empress dowager of Germany,
born November q, 1S4O married January
IS. 1855 Frederick William, then crown
prince of Prussia, who died in 1888 as
Emperor William II. of Germany, after
a reign OF only 80 days. Her son is now
emperor, and he has had six sons and
had four song and IL grandchildren.
Albert Edward, prince of Wales. who
now becomes regent, born November 8
lSH; married March TO- 1868, Princess
Alexandra of Denmark. He has had three
sons and three daughters and has three
grandchildren His eldest son died in
1892, and his second SON the duke OF
York, married Princess Mary of Teck
and has two children. lr4y tg>3ga-
Princess Alice born April %, 1913; mar
ried in 1862 TO Prince Frederick of Hesse
died December IA, 1873. She had two sons
and five daughters, of whom the young
est living Is married to the czar of Rus
STA. There are six grandchildren in this
family.
Prince Alfred, duke of Edinburgh. born
1874; married 1874 Marie Alexandrovna,
only daughter of the car of Russia: late
duke of SaNe-Gorfla and Coburg They
bad one son and four daughters, one of
whom has two children.
Princess Helena, born 1876; married 1865
to Prince Christian of Schleswig- Holstein.
They have five children. all unmarried.
Princess Louise, born 1915; married 1871
the marquis OF Lorne. the only one of the
children marrying outside of royalty
They have no children.
Prince Arthur. duke of Connaught.
born 1880; married 1879 to Princess BsPuise
OF Prussia daughter OF Frederick Charles
have come to this union.
Prince Leopold, duke of Albany born
1853; married Princess Helen of WaIdeck
1882: died 1854. Two children, one postum
nous, form this household.
Princess Beatrice. born 1857; married
1885 to Prince Henry of Battenburg The
prince died in 1896, leaving four children.
Death of all the prior heirs to the num-
Der OF % would make the German em-
peror king of England If IS heirs failed
England would have to take the empress
of Russia. provided the people did not
decide otherwise. and Sc heirs would have
to die before the queens youngest child
Princess Beatrice, would succeed to the
throne.
During Queen Yictoria's reign there
were many notable acts of legislation
Several reforms demanded by the chart
lists then considered revolutionary in the
extreme, Were quietly and peaceably eff
fected The corn laws were repealed and
England entered upon her marvellous pros
perity under a free-trade policy. The
Irish church was disestablished and the
odious system of purchase abolished in
the army. There was a sensational feat
ture connected with the last-named meas
ure. II was opposed by the house of
lords and defeated by a trick. An amend
merit was carried to the effect that the
lords were unwilling to agree to the pas
sage of the bill until some comprehen-
sive and complete SCHEME Of army reor
ganization should have been laid before
1t. Mr.. Gladstone thereupon took step
which Is variously criticised to this day.
Purchase was permittSi only by royal
warrant, and in order to checkmate the
lords Gladstone advised the queen to cam
Gel the royal warrant which made 1t le-
gal.
UHowever uniformed on the subject Of
American shipping the present generation
Of Americans may be, the popularity Of the
question in our high schools, colleges and