The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-21
QUEENS LIFE AND WORK.
Sketch of the Long and Busy Reign
of Victoria.


belong to the Duke and Duchess of
Kent the parents of the young queen
As is often the case with remote rela-
uYes of the throne, the duke and Ouch
ess were poor and were living upon the
continent when the time drew near for
the birth of the little Victoria Rela-
yves ~ England who knew the claim
the child would have upon the British
throne felt that it would be a cause for
future modification if the birth occurred
under the ordinary conditions of life to
which the Duke and Duchess Of Kent
were then subject, and hence arranged
for them to visit Kensington palace
There they were when the interesting
event took place and there the little girl
babe first saw the light and breathed
the air Of the British realm. That this
was no ordinary child both parents OF
the young Victoria felt strongly. Yet
the situation was a grave one. 1t was
this The child born to the Duke and
Duchess Of Kent had a distant claim to
the throne Of England-she might pos
sibly be some day queen With this fu-
ture possibility in view it was felt to
be imperative that the child should re-
ceiv~ the most careful training and the
best education that could be given her.
No experience that would spoil her for
the exalted position of ruler of the land
must ever come to her. On the other
hand, the fact was not to be overlooked
that she might pass her lifetime as a
private citizen merely-hence she must
not be taught to feel that she was alto
gether above the lot of other young
women Of her rank. Under such condi-
lions was issued into the great complex
world the woman who has reigned longer
than any other monarch, not only in
modern but also in ancient history Her
life is the story Of a little girl born with
out the hope of the throne. so remote
was her connection to it. Yet that very
slight prospect ever affected materially
the course of her life. From the hour in
which her future possible greatness first
daWned in her parents minds every mo-
ment was spent in preparation for the
high honor that afterward came to her
DOLLS HER DELIGHT
When Queen Victoria was a little girl
it is said that dolls were her special de-
light, and chiefly those from Holland.
With her little fingers she made their
dresses and combed their ffaxen hair
Early in her girlhood she made a study
of the costumes of all nations. and an
assemblage of her handiWork would
have resembled an international con-
gress. On this point it can be spoken
with certainty because the entire col
lection of little Victoria's silent COM
panions, together with her doll house
and its toy furniture. was recently dis
covered at kenSington palace Inc
queen, when informed of the fact, ex-
pressed almost childish glee thereat. and
ordered these relics of her girlhoOd to
be sent to Osborne, her Scottish home
Upon the arrival of the puppets they
were photographed, seated on. chairs and
sofas. and an elaborate illustrated de-
scription Of them has since been pub
1ished.
The embarrassing period began with
little Victoria in the year 1929, when she
was 10 years Of age. With her own
knowledge, assisted by her foreign gov
erness, she made the costumes for more
than fifty little puppets. Several of
them wore the wide, spreading hats of
1880 and some of them the cavernous
cottage bOnnetS of 1910. Many of the
dolls were of wood and. compared with
the pretty creations of France and Ger
many today, We're frights. Most of them
We're devoid of real hair-horse hair or
fax being used. More than half of the
international costumes of the girl prin-
cess have passed away never to return.
Sir Henry PonsOnby is said to be au-
thority for the statement that hermajes-
ty was devoted to dolls and played with
them until she was IA years of age.
Little WictOria's make-belieVe family
consisted of more than $50 dolls, of
wn4ch 132 are still preserved in the Os-.
borne house collection. Most of them
Victoria dressed herself, although she
was helped by Baroness Lehzen, as is
faithfully recorded in the autobiography
Of her majesty. Sir Henry says In this
connection:
Her majesty was very much devoted.
to dolls, and, indeed, played with them
till she was nearly IA years old.
Her favorites were small dolls-small
wooden dolls, which she could occupy
herself with dressing, and who had
house in which they could be placed.
Miss Victoria Conroy (afterward Mrs.
Hammer) came to see her once a week.
and occasionally OJnSES played with QGI,
but with these exceptions she was left
alone with the companionship of her.
CHILDHOOD DAYS.
The little princess day passed in the
following manner: She rose early and
brealxfasted at 8 o'clock in the pretty
morning room Of Kensington palace, sit
ting beside her mother IN a little rose
wood chair, table to match in front
| of her, on which was placed her bread
and milk and fruit, her nurse standing
lie H.
1 sister, the Princess Feedore, retired
with her governess, Fraulein Lehzen, to
study, and the little Victoria mounted
her donkey. a present from her uncle.
the Duke of York, and rode around
Kensington gardens From 10 to II she
received instructions from her mother,
assisted by Fraulein Lehzen; then came
a good romp through the long suit OF
rooms with her nurse Mrs Brock, whom
Z she affectionately called her dear, dear
Boppy." At 2 o'clock she dined plainly
/ at her mothers luncheon table; after
ward lessons again until o'clock; then
/ she went with her mother for a 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 z o'clock. at
which time the princess supped on bread
and milk; she then retired for play in
a further part Of the room along with
dear Boppy. Joining her mother again
little French bed with its pretty chintz
hangings, placed beside that of her
mother. An occasional visit to Windsor
to see her .'Uncfe King" as she called
/ his majesty. George ", a sojourn at
/ Claremont with her adored Uncle Leo
pold and a few weeks at the sea in
autumn were the only breaks in her
little life.
On her fourth birthday she had a
great excitement. no less than being
hidden by her Uncle King to attend
a state dinner party with her mother
ct crff TIM sod IN
a simple white frock looped up on the
left sleeve by a miniature Of the king,
/ set in diamonds. his majesty's birthday
/ present to his little niece whose viyac-
lei 4