New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-21

I OlnB treated ner Win indiUerence rldiCule1
/ her with cheap satire The Danish court Ike
all the small German courts OF the time, copied
in all possible particulars that of Versailles. It
was frivolous. corrupt extravaganza careless OF
/ decency-no wonder that the fair English child
brought UP in seclusiOn. was frightened IN
happy, dsillusOned. She sank into deeper and
| deeper dependency as she realized that she had
no influence with her husband and could not
/ win his affection. Princess Amelia once asked
/ her nephew Why he could not get on better with
his wife "Pourquoi?" said the royal cub.
/ "Pourquoi?-eIle est ST blonde" MatiIda's
/ wishes were completely ignored By him as the
months went on and she was the object OF
more or less open insult from his fayorites.
She malisued By Juliana Maria and her
! following, and the enmity Of the Queen DOwager
/ grew more deadly when the birth OF Matilda'5
/ son lessered the chances Of succession for her
own son. the Kings haIf-brother. Matilda's
matrimonial misery was at its height when
Christian suddenly resolved 70 visit England.
lie departed-refusins her prayers to be allowed
to go with hiu-and as he went he picked up on
/ the way as travelling physician the clever. dis
solute, coarse minded German who was to COM
pIeteIy ruin the girl Queens Iife-John Frederick
/ Struensee.
i The author has drawn with considerable acute
| ness the character Of this man OF mediocre
\ family and OF boundIess ambition His edUca-
\ ton was superficial but he was widely read
/ He was a thorough materiaIist and had no be-
/ lief in a future life, and he was consequently
. determined % get as much as possible out Of
this one lie adroitIy gained the liking of the
/ King. he overcame the young Queens instinc-
| tive dislike by his skilfuI and tactful treatment
Of her and Of her son In q serious illness. Chris
I tian was fast growing into semi-imbecility from
/ dissipation, and the daring German adveuturer
/ saw that the queen. the mother Of Deumdrks
I future sovereign. u.i-ht easily become the rul-
7 ing power in the State. II was at his per
suasiou that she sought anew % influence her
/ husband. and this time Christian responded
\ presently submitting % the extent that he did
I nothing without her approval Behind her stood
/ St-ueusee. pulling the wires OF these pitifuI
I rulrionettss His treatment OF the Queen, who
/ was fourteen years younger than himself was"
, says the author. an example Of his utter IN
/ scrupuIousness. Her condition when he came to
court would have moved any man to pity. Her
. youth. her beauty and her friendIiness appealed
/ 10 every sentiment Of chivalry"
He quickly gained her confidence: she trusted
him from the hrst. and showed her gratitude by
hsdT.nE favors upon him. Everyt thing that came
to- Strueuzte In the next few yeLrs-hOn0r. place.
and poWer-he owed 70 the Queen, and TO her
/ alone. Common gratitude, part from any other
| consideration. should have led him 20 treat her
| honOrlbIy but from the beginning he was false
! 10 her He who came in the suise Of a deliverer
/ was really her evil genius The young Queen
| was never anything to him but means TO an
/ end. Adventurer and intrguer as ne was,
/ Struensee had marked Matilda down as his prey
| before he was admitted 20 her presence, and
/ she fell an easy victim TO his wies.
| The highest Offices in the State became the
| property Of the German doctor. and while he
/ governed he did it thoroughly. His idea o.
I government. the author says was absolute
/ despotism. combined. oddly enough. with a Id
eraI and enlightened policy" Naturally enough
| this rule drew upon him the hatred Of every
| class and when at last his enemies, headed By
the DowaEer Queen. JuIiara Maria. compasseI
his downfall there was sympathy for him
anywhere How could there be. indeed? The
lowest criminal in the same prison Uisht have
who in the effort to save his own LIE. dragged
into the mud durin~ his examination BY the
ROYAL Commissioners the name Of the queen
who had exalted him. The closing scenes Of the
story are meIodramatic. and Mr.. wilkins sets
them forth with IN appropriately rneloirIultic
. air There is n grim picture OF Strue0see5
hideous execution for treason, watched from
her palace window by JIliana Maria-ant
watched with exultation. though its Incidents
were revolving. MItiIdas divorce. and her res
/ cue from perpetual Imprisonment BY the gallant
English minister. Sir r NJ Keith. are described
with elaborate detail Her brother Of England
gave her a comfortable refuge at C5lle. in Han
over and there for a little time she lived, doing
1f, "a