The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-21
experience and without husband to guido

experience and without husband to guido
ard support her."
year elapsed. Albert revisited England.
bearing letter from King Leopold TO the
Queen. in which he was described "a
good, honest creature, deserving Kindness,
not pedantic but really sensible and trust
worthy" Then began the regular court
ship. which, according to the Queen. must
have been idyllic. She breakfasted in her
room, and after breakfast received the visit
of Prince Albert and his brother. At
O'Clock they had luncheon with her and
her mother. Then they rode for a couple
of hours. There was a great dinner every
evening, with a dance after Ii, three times
a week.
One morning the Queen told her prime
minister, Lord Melbourne, that she had
nrade up her mind to marry Prince Albert
The statesman replied: II am very glad
10 hear it; you will be much more COM
Portable. A woman cannot stand alone
for any time, in whatever position she may
be-"
There was an obstacle in the way. 1t Is
contrary to etiquette for a person in a
private station TO offer marriage to a queen
regent. The proposal must come from her.
Victoria had the required nerve. The
transaction may be best described in her
own words:
IAN intimation was given to the prince
through Baron Alvesleben that the Queen
wished to speak with him next day. He
obeyed the summons and found the Queen
alone In her room. After few minutes
conversation on other subjects the Queen
told him why she had sent for him, and
we can we'll understand any little hesita-
ton and delicacy she may have felt In do
ing so, for the Queens position making IT
imperative that any proposal Of marriage
must come first from her. must necessarily
appear a painful one to those who, deriving
their ideas on this subject from private
| life, are wont to look upon 1T as the priv
ilege and happiness of a woman to have
| her hand sought in marriage instead or
| having to offer il herself"
The prince received the offer without
hesitation and with warm demonstrations
of affection. AS that was what he had come
| to England for, what he had been edu-
| Gated for since his childhood he was nat
urally satisfied The simple little Queen
was in the seventh heaven of joy. She
wrote: II love him more than l can say
| and shall do everything in my power TO
render this sacrifice, for such in my opin-
| ion it is, small as / can. l hardly
know how to write but 1 do feel very
/ happy"
PROPOSES TO PRINCE ALBEIT.
| Happening to mention to the Duchess of
Gloucester that she mad that day to make
grave communication to privy council.
the duchess asked her if the prospect did
not make her nervous. "Yes,'' replied Vic
| toria, but 1 did a much more nervous
thing a little while ago; 1 proposed to
Prince Albert
| Then followed the debates in Parliament
about precedence, rank and an allowance
| to the future Prince Consort. Difficulties
were raised by cavaliers, but were brushed
| aside by the common sense of the Duke
of Wellington. Lord Albemarle, master of
the horse insisted that on state occasions
he. and not Prince Albert, should sit by the
| Queens side In the state carriage. The
| duke answered him: 1.-THE duke sits in
| the coach by the command of her Majesty.
| The Queen can make him sit on the top
4 of fbn aah he %
| coach or wherever else she pleases."
When the wedding day came the arch
bishop Of Canterbury asked the Queen
| whether she wished to omit the word
"obey" from the marriage service by
| no means she replied; Il wish to be mar
ried as a woman and not as queen"
The wedding was just like other we'd
| dings except that it was a triie more
splendid and that the wedding cake
| weighed 300 pounds and cost $500.
Then began a life which was as SIM
pie as that of Darby and Joan. The royal
| pair breakfasted at 9, walked till IL,
| worked at public business or sketched or
played the piano till lunch, then rode or
| drove till evening. Dinner was at 8. and
| there were always guests. among whom
| Mr. Macaulay was a favorite The Queen
| took delight in him; he made her laugh
| so consumedly. Victoria had the German
fondness for music; both she and her
| husband were fair performers She was
| a pupil OF Lablache and constantly gave
little muscales, at which the opera singers
| were honored guests. 1t is remembered
that Jenny Lind was once severely tried
| by careless accompanist. The Queen at
| last took the place of the awkward mu-
stefan, with the words, 81 will accompany
Miss Lind" and seated herself at the
piano.
The Prince Consort held himself aloof
from political parties. He wrote: Vic
toria allows me to take much part in
foreign affairs, and / think / have done
some good. / always commit my views
to paper. and then communicate them
to Lord Melbourne. He seldom answers
me-" After time he was admitted to
the Privy Council and attended the meet
ings of ministers. His participation In
the government was chiefly confined, how
ever, to advising the Queen, which he
generally did in writing II is known that
ii was his draft of a dispatch on the
Trent affair which averted the seemingly
inevitable war between this country and
Great Britain in 1862. 1t was the last dis
| match he ever wrote