Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-01-25
QUEEN VICTORIA DEAD.
She Reigned Longer Than Any English
Sovereign.

Sovereign.
Queen Victoria died at Osborne
House, England on Tuesday evening
at $50. She had only been sick few
days, and it was the first illness of her
whole life. The record OF the last days
of the reign of Victoria is not easy to
tell. The correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press was the only correspond
ent admitted to Osborne House, and
his interview with Sir Arthur John
Rigge, private secretary to the late
Queen, was the only official statement
that had been given out. For several
weeks the Queen had been failing. On
Monday week she summoned Lord Rob
erts and asked him some very search
ing questions regarding the war in
South Africa. On Tuesday she went
for drive, but was visibly affected.
On Wednesday she suffered paralytic
stroke, accompanied by intense phys
ical weakness. 1t was her first illness
in all her sighty-one years, and she
would not admit it. Then her cOndi
tion grew so serious that, against her
wishes, the family were summoned.
When they arrived, her reason had
practically succumb bed to paralysis and
weakness.
Queen Victoria's parents were the
Duke of Kent, fourth son Of George
III, and the Princess Victoria Marie
Louisa Of SAKE Coburg Saalfeld,
She was born at Kensiugton Palace,
London, May "a, 1919, and was the
Dukes only child. Her father died
at Sidmouth as the result of a chill
caught while playing with his infant
daughter few months after her birth.
His widow, the Duches OF Kent,
brought up the future Queen of Eng
land, and incidentally quarreled good
deal with her brothers in-law, Kings
George " and William ", concerning
the education and training of her
daughter. At her baptism, performed
with great ceremony by the Archbishop
of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop
of London, the infant princess received
the names of "Alexandrina Victoria, -
after the then Emperor of Russia and
her mother. In her early childhood
she was known generally as the 'Prin-
cess Drina.' Her childhood was passed
at Tunbridge Wells, Malvern, Norris
Castle and other quiet rural retreat,
of England and Scotland. ~
Her uncle, King William ", died
about quarter past 2 O'Clock on the
morning of June 20, 1887, in Windsor
Castle, and Immediately the Arch
bishop of Canterbury, DR.. Howley and
the Lord Chamberlain, the Marquis OF
Conyngham, left for Kinsington
Palace to inform the Princess Alex
andrina Victoria that upon her young
head the crown of Great Britain and
Ireland was now to be placed.
1t was about O'Clock in the morn
ing when they arrived at the palace
gate, and for considerable time they
were unable to arouse the porter. The
Princess Was asleep, and her atten.
dants told the Archbishop and the
} Lord Chamberlain that they could moi
disturb her. But the distinguished
} messengers insisted that they had come
on business Of State to the Queen, AND
that even her sleep must give way to
that. In few minutes the awakened
Princess came into their presence in q
loose night robe and shawl, her hall
falling upon her shoulders, her feet in
slippers. tears in her eyes, but perfect
ly collected and dignified. The Prime
Minister, Lord Melbourne, was pres
emily summoned, and at II o'clock the
same morning the Lord Chancellor
administered to this young girl, Only
a little more than IS years of age, the
coronation oath, and the long and il.
lustrious reign of Queen Victoria had
begun. She was crowned with gorge
Gus ceremonies June %, 1888.
There were many suitOrs for he1
hand, but it was bestowed, along with
her heart, for it was love match, to
Francis Charles Augustus Albert En-
manuel, the second son of Ernest,
Duke of SAKE Coburg SaalfeId.
At noon on February 10, 1910, the
royal wedding was celebrated in the
Chapel Royal, st. James Palace.
Notwithstanding that the country re-
ceived the marriage with apparent en-
thusiasm Prince Albert was regarded
with distrust for many years, and be
deferred to the national jealousy of his
influence as foreign born Prince by
rigidly abstaining from everything
that could be construed into an inter-
ference with British politics.
On November 81, 1910, the Queens
first child was born, the Primers Vic
toria Adelaide Maria Louisa, who on
January %, 1858, was given in mar
riage to Frederick, the Crown Prince
of Prussia, and for a few months in
1888 shared with him the imperial
crown of United Germany. Her son is
the present Emperor William II, of
Germany.
In November, 1S41, the Queen IS first
son was born. popularity known to the
world since as Albert Edward, Prince
of Wales. On March 10, 1868, he was
married to the Princess Alexandra,
eldest daughter of the King of Den
| mark.
Seven other children were born to
the Queen, as follows: Alice Maud
Mary, Alfred Ernest Albert, Helena
Augusta Victoria, Louise Caroline
Alberta, Arthur. Leopold, and Beatrice
Mary Victoria Feodoro. The Queen