New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-30
THE NEW ENGLISH SPIRIT.
OPPORTUNITY TO STIMULATE AND
BRACE NATIONAL LIFE UNDER
KING EDWARD

Lady Jeune wife of Sir Francis Jeune. president
of the Probate Divorce and Admiralty Court mas
an article in The North American Review" for
June 1.-The New Influence on the British Throne
in the course of which she saws
There is a great opportunity now for stimulating
and bracng the national life and character. There
perception, of the proportion and importance OF
events , MIL produce manner ient to MAKE
allowances to Justify actions in private life. just
opposite course. we have shrunk from taking up
an aggressive position in public matters IL is not
sponsibiiites which from time TO time confront
secret that the Queen [victoriaI. like many women
WaTs on me side of peace when war had to be
undertaken. however, no one met 1t more coura-
was the cloud on the last months Of her life. she
never wavered in her belief in the rghteoqsness OF
many years of her reign. the Queens advisers Were
she ever was She followed their adviee@often
& noHo ana pT05esnIg cand be
less easily advised or persuaded to adopt such a
to convince him that he must acquiesce In ali the
questions of life and of government he would take
with perfect security, knowing that the country
composition of mans character. as well as his
bearing and education must necessarily create q
mind with regard to affairs and the country would
ndication that it Was under the sway Of stron
of 6e Word M6S Ved ia S touch G With m
The late Queens power lay. In great measure
country: she the throne at a moment when
an example of high conduct was needed; her whole
life and reign was one OF absolute and blameless
purity and the power Of a woman nh in these days
the moral tone of life, gave higher aspirations and
higher standard OF conduct to the world 6 To her
good wife and mother-in fact, the representative
women of the world have not set the same exam
pie to their people-Catherine of Russia and Queen
Purity of life. tenderness Of heart, were not their
role: they governed by right OF birth. and they
the passions t OF man. They suited the times IN
for the influences we look for to-day. They were
age. ability and the instinct OF government well
as real personal power and the times over which
Of control There certain faults and weaknesses
harshly-even to-day. when we demand a high code
OF conduct-which in a woman would be impossible.
descent from the highest would be fatal to her
of and the ne of 9y
made Queen Victoria's reign an epoch quite apart
eye of criticism scans her history that stainless
throne found never WIFI Peass upon
precious example. We owe much to ner great con-
nature but we owe her the deepest gratitude Of all
for the pattern she set US Of what the life Of
or tna5 ex am al over her empire
preservation deep the life of an empire as
in that Of an individual and though those feelings
life IN England and throughout her colonies. the
tghtest of bonds was the common love and respect
for the Great White Queen" If. we said be-
fore, the sentiment of attachment to her, and the
softening influence of woman. gave somewhat
undue impetus to the spirit OF humanitarianism
which affirm has weakened national
character; one can hardly regret it when we look
on the other side of the picture and realize what
the effect of any other influence might have been.
1t has not injured permanently. and. standing
the threshold of a century in which
most powerful influence is masculine one. we
may look for changes in endless directions which
must be the result of the reign of a King There
is doubt that there will be a masculine
atmosphere, a hardy tone Of thought and
mind The position of women. We believe, will be
affected very distinctly by the substitution of a
Queen Consort for reigning Queen. The ruling
monarch must give the tone to character thought
occupation, amUsements. and must indeed. be the
prominent fgure the tenderness. the softness the
humanitariansm the latitude of the past will
gradually disappear. and the influence OF new
order will evolve characteristics OF more vigorous
sort.
Those who deplore the disappearance Of the
harder and stronger characteristics Of EngliShmen
may take heart again. and await with the keenest
interest the development of the spirit.