The Bourbon news., 1901-01-25
GREAT QUEENS LIFE.
She Was Born in POvcrty-AsccnsiOn
10 the Throne of Engiund-AIer
Marriage 20 Prince Albert.

G
The year 1877 was q memorable one in
the history OF England. Seldom had the
prosperity of Il country which had known
no serious hitch or obstacle for u cen
| tury been more seriously mcnaced never
were the deStnicS of a constitutional
monarchy that had stood the storms Of
500 years envelopcd III Il more fOrbidding
gloom.
The death Of the Princess Charlotte
opened up the prospect OF succession to
cue throne to the youngest son of George
Ill, and had inspired MIN with Il desire
10 marry. AS yet the only sons who mad
taken wives were the duke of York, who
had children, and the duke Of Cumber-
land, whose first living child was not
born till 1918.
/ Thc laird brother was Edward, duke OF
Kent, then 0l years of age. lie was not
on terms Of ordinary friendship with any
of his brothers. Suddenly he determined
to marry.
Victoria, daughter Of Duke Franz of
SaXe-COburS, at that time y years OF age,
had taken the dukes fancy. On July IL.
1878, this lady became the duchess of
Kent, the future mother of the future
When the duke was informed by his
consOrt that he had the prospect of an
heir, it was his wish that the child
should be born on English soil The
Journey was attended with difficulty, for
his grace was much pressed for ready
cash. In the spring Of 1919. however, the
| journey was made. The duke and duch-
! esS We're installed at KenSingt0n palace,
! then. as now. place of residence for the
members and prOtegees of the royal fam
/ lily, and on May "a, 1878, "a pretty little
/ princess, plump as a partridge, was
| born. The duke was delighted with the
| child. He would dandle and caress her,
and ,nen hand her to the arms of admir-
| ing spectators, with the caution, Take
| care of her, for she will be queen Of
| England" His grace did not live TO en-
| JOY his parental happiness long.
1t had been prophcSled that two men,
| berS of the family would die in the
course of 1920. The duke believed the
/ inn alifaif f1rf lao
| his brothers. In the winter of 1919 he had
gone to the sheltered watering place OF
Sidmouth, in DevOnshire, TO cheat as
/ he said, the winter" One day he hap
| Dened, when taking a walk TO get wet
and to catch cold. Acute Inflammation
OF thc lungs sCpervened and carried him
! off.
The poor widow found herself, owing
1 to the dukes considerable debts, in ~
! very uncomfortable position at the time
/ OF his death. Her brother Leopo.-, ena-
/ bled her to return to kensingtOn. where
| she henc2fOrth deTOted herself TO the
eoucation of her child, Queen Victoria"
Six days after the death of the duke of
/ Kent the prophecy above mentioned was
completely fulfilled by the death of his
| father, George III. On Monday. the 3lst.
| the new sovereign, the prince regent was
| proclaimed George ~ The health of the
new king was precaTious; his age was ad-
Yanced; he had no legal heir. The duke ot
1 Iork, the heir apparent, was married.
| mad no family, and his duchess was in a
declining state. The duke Of Clarence,
the next in order. was OF ripe age. he
! had two daughters born to him. Each
! OF them had died in infancy, but fur
| ther issue. though not probable, was still
not an Impossible contingency. The next
! in succession was the infant princess at
| 1>ensinStOn palace. Every year aS ii
/ passed by made il more apparent that il
onIy the lie of the royal babe were
spared upon her the monarchy
| ultimately must devolvc. As a
matter OF fact the prophetic boast OF the
Ike Of Kent was fulfilled earlier than
OF 4 fpd h.a
/ gent reigned for just ten years after his
ascent TO the throne as George "; the
duke OF Clarence just seven years as Will
on August 80 1886, King William. who
had acceded to the throne on the death
/ Of his brother in lou, gave a dinner
] party at Windsor on his birthday.
/ There was one person whom the king
deteSted even more than his ministers
the mother of the princess. Inc duchess
! OF Kent. who had not been sparinS in her
! criticisms on the reception she had met
from the royal family in England. The
duchess had applied Tor q suit of apart
ncntS for her own use in KensiGStOn
J. Jalace, and had been refused by the
/ .1Ing. she appropriated the rooms not
/ withstanding the denial.
Mnen replying 10 a speech in which his
| health had been proposed, the king burst
forth in a bitter TRADE against the duch-
| ess.
II trust in Cod" he exclaimed. that
! may have the satisfaction OF leaving
! the royal authority on my death TO the
| personal exercise OF that young lady
| pointing to the prlncess)-the nciress
presumptive Of the crOwn-and not IN
/ the hands of q person now near me who
| is surrounded by evil advisers, and who
] is herself incompetent 10 act with pro-
| priety in the station in which she would
| be placed. / have no hesitation in say
| ing that have been insulted--grossly Y
and continually insulted-by that per-
/ son. but / am determined 10 endure no
/ longer Il course OF behavior 50 disrespect-
/ full to me-.
! The king particularly complained OF
the manner. in which the princess had
! been prevented from attending at court
4 by her mother.
For the future" he said. 81 shall in
sist and command that the princess do
upon all occasions appear at ny court,
! as il is her duty 60 90