Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-21

will make known to dear Aunt Adelaide
that she is no longer to bear the title,' was
Victoras answer
Victoria was crowned queen June 2S, iS3S.
She is said to have been an unusually
pretty girl. with the light hair and blue
eyes OF her Saxon ancestors n. T. Willis,
the well known American author. saw her
about this time and described her as fol-
lows:
The princess was better looking than
any picture of her in the shops, and for
the heir o; such crown as that Of Eng
land quite unnecessarily pretty and Inter-
esting."
Prince Alexander OF Netherlands, Duke
Ernest of Wurtemberg and Prince Adalbert
OF Russia were among the suitors for the
young queens hand. But she was deaf 10
the advice cf matchmakers and chose as
husband her cousin, Prince Albert OF Sake
Coburg. The wedding was celebrated Feb
ruary 10. 1s40.
Avoids Mothers Advice.
Although Queen Victoria and her mother
we're always on the most friendly terms,
the young queen refused to consult her
mother concerning governmental AFFAIRS.
She was educated with particular care. and
the duties OF her Office than any Of her
friends or relatives, with the exception
Of her husband.
As soon as Prince Albert became engaged
to the young queen he travelled extensively
and made n particular study OF constitu.
tional governments. He became the queens
adviser and until his death in 1861 was al
ways consulted in state affairs Of inn
portance.
The queens home life was very happy and
her twenty years OF married life were
idylllc. IL biographies nay be believed
After the death OF the prince consort many
rifmors were circulated concerning the re-
marriage OF the queen. but there was no
foundation for such reports. The queen
devoted herself to her children and re-
mained true to the German prince, whom
she chose In preference to men with greater
titles.
The English queen is credited with being
the greatest matchmaker in Europe and
takes much satisfaction in having her de-
scendants marry into the reigning houses
OF Europe. But the examination of the
queens diary. which was recently published,
shows that there was no less sentiment in
the marriages of her children than in the
love affairs Of persons in humber stations,
| The story of the proposal of Frederick
william of Prussia TO Victoria Maria Louisa,
/ the Oldest daughter of the queen and the
present dowager empress OF Germany, is told
In the following words OF the queen, writ
ten September 20, 1866:
"Our dear Victoria was this day en-
gagged to Prince Frederick William of Prus-
sa who has been on visit to us since the
14th He had already spoken to us on the
goth of his wishes, but we were uncertain,
| on account of her extreme youth. whether
| he should speak TO her himself or wait till
| he came back again. However, we felt
that IL was better he should do so. and dur
| ing our ride up Craid Ban this after
noon he picked piece Of white heather
tthe emblem of good luck), which he gave
to her. This enabled him to make an allu-
sion to his hopes and wishes, rs they rode
down Glen Girnock and led to this happy
! conclusion"
Most Economical Sovereign.
Queen Victoria is the most economical
sovereign England has had in two centuries.
Her income is 93S5, 900 year. This money
is supposed to be expended as follows
Privy purse, 5000 household. E172, 900;
| salaries and allowances, G1S1 ,260; bounty
and aims. e1320O; special service. Gs,04c
The remainder Of the money is not appro-
priated Tor any special purpose. During nc
year since the death Of the prince consort
has the queen used up all Of her allow
ance, with the exception Of golden jubilee
year, when she entertained in a lavish man
ner which recalled the days when the young
queen ascended the throne.
Seven OF the queens children are still
| living and ere at the bedside of the ven
cradle sovereign They are: Victoris
| Adelaide Maria Louisa (dowager empress o
Germany, Albert Edward (prince OF Wales)
| Alfred Ernest Albert duke of Sake Co
burg, Arthur William Patrick Albert (duk,
Of Connaught), Helena Augusta Victoria
| princess Christian o, Schleswig- Holstein)
Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (Prncest
Henry OF Bettenberg), Louisa Caroline Al
berta (marchioness OF Lorne).
An Englishwoman who has a personal &C
quaintance with the dying queen writes o.
her as follows
"a dear old lady, who, were she tn,
chatelaine Of a country house or the school
mistress Of a primitive village. would b,
admired and beloved by her noighbors II
the parish for her wisdom and good works
and by her friends and servants as q goot
mother and mistress"