New-York tribune., 1902-03-25
VICTORIA'S YOUTH.
THE EDUCATION OF A PRINCESS,

THE CHILDHOOD OF QUEEN VICTORIlA13, 1,,,I3y by
Mrs. Gerald Gurn@y dorothy Frances Frances Pto-' 4o
Mrs. Gurney's account Of queen Victoria 5
studious childhood is written in vein OF sim
pie hearted veneration and homage. Exceed
ingIy careful and minute in detail, 1t is largely
derived from family papers which the queen :
death released from privacy TO history.
What was the chief factor in the early train
ing Of the most admirable sovereign Of the
modern world? We should say that II was tle
good sense Of her mother. The German Nlctolre'
Duchess Of Kent. was left A widow when her
blue eyed baby was only eight months oid' ana
from that hour she set herself steadily 10 'he
task Of wisely rearing the child who was pos
sible heiress TO the English throne. The little
creature who was called King George in petit
coats'-her plumpness and rosiness suggesting
her stout and high cOOred grandfather-led d
life Of perfect regularity and simplicity. Inc
plainest food and plenty Of fresh air and eXer-
else established her health; strict devotion TO
duty and scrupulous regard for the rights and
the feelings OF other people braced the young
mind. For gears she was hardly out of the
duchess's sight; her lessons went on under
that supervision, and she never slept out Of
her mothers room until at eighteen, she be-
came Queen. The wilful, joyous little romp was
made happy; but she also made Ito mind"
maternal love and sturdy discipline working to-
gether. Religious instruction the duchess her
self gave the child. relinqushing for her sake
her Lutheran predictions and training her IN
the ritual Of the Church of England
Lessons from tutor and governess began so
early that when she was four years old little
Victoria wrote her first letter. AT eight she
was talking French, learning Latin. reciting the
fables of Mr.. Gay. and wandering through
IT. ssI1y,y ,o,o
History" The perusal by the way, Of the re-
nowned remark Of Cornelia. mother Of the
Gracchi. These are my jewels" evoked a small
Joke from the small princess: she should have
said, These are my comedians" From day 70
day. one study was piled upon another all be-
ing pursued with thoroughness; and so care
fully was the schedule Of lessons adjusted It IS
easy 10 see that the child was at no time over
worked. JudciOus balance was maintained be
tween solid requirement and accomplishments.
and we are inclined TO think that while the
education Of a young lady may be in 1902 more
varied and more ambitious II is certainly not
more effective and substantial. When Victoria
was eleven years old her mother requested two
bishops to examine the child in her graver
studies and report the result We wonder
II their conclusions would apply TO any little
girl Of eleven nova days:
In answering a great variety OF questions
which were proposed 10 her. the princess dis
played accurate knowledge Of the most impor-
tant features Of Scripture history and of the
leading truths and precepts Of the Christian re-
Hgion, taught by the Church Of England, as
well acquaintance with the chronology
and principal facts Of English history. remark
able in so young q person. To questions In
geography. the use Of the globes. arithmetic
and Latin grammar, the prncesss answers were
equally satisfactory. and her pronunciation both
of English and Latin IS singularly correct and
pleasing.
the acquisition Of modern Languages, and al
though il less within the scope Of our in
Quiry. cannot help observing the pencil
drawings OF the princess are executed with the
freedom and correctness Of an older artist
The questions proposed to the princess We're
answered in such a manner as to satisfy that
what she has learned has been learned with the
understanding well with the memory; the
one appears TO have expanded in proportion as
the other has been exercised.