New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-10
VICTORIA CROSS JUBILEE.
Queen Mother of Holland al, Object
of Ouation by the Dutch.

conferred, took place in February 1854 sc that IL
may &c said that it is during this month that the
Order OF the Victoria Cross IS celebrating jubi
lee. To Rear Admiral Lucas who is still alive. be-
longs ire honor Of having been the first man to re-
ceiye the small bronze on which Inscribed
the words For Valcr," and which Is more highly
priced by soldiers and sailors than any other order
in the gift OF the British Crown Il was conferred
upon him for throwing overheard live shell that
| had dropped on deck during the course OF the
operations in the Baltic against Russia.
AT the present moment the number OF possessors
Of the order amounts TO EOS. Of whom sxty-eight
represent the late war In South Africa Admiral
Lucas wears his cross suspended from his breast
| BY blue ribbon as belonging to the navy. the
red ribbon being reserved for the Victoria Cross
men who belong to the army The cross is restrict
ed to members OF the army ara navy. and the only
civilians who have been decreed eligible have
been those who volunteers bore arms against
the insurgents in India the time OF the great
sepoy Mutiny OF 1857.
A very unusual jubilee has just been celebrated
in the Netherlands with a degree of popular
thusiasm which one would imagine to be alto
gether contrary TO the reputed phlegmatc char
acter OF the Dutch II the twenty-fifth anniver-
sary Of the wedding of Queen Emma, who has
been widow now for fourteen -ears. At the time
OF her marriage she was an object of universal
condemnation. for the union held to be OF
50 loveless nature end obviously dictated by
ambition on the part Of the bride as to DC almost
nlonstrous in character. She was but a little over
twenty years OF age whereas the ruler to whom
she gave her hand was going on toward seventy
years or age. and a man whose appearance was
hoN only repiisive bearing it did the traces of
his long life OF coarse dissipation but whose
shameless prohgacies had for a period of thirty
years rendered his name n very byword and re-
proach among all decent people. Even in Holland
ltselE anxious were the people for direct heir,
the Kings bride received but cold welcome owing
TO tho fact that she German princess. and
that what they dreaded more than anything else
was German influence and German domination.
Queen Enma's ten years OF married life were
something very much akin to nartyrdom. For the
old King. besides being jealous and irasclble. pos
sessed the most ungovernablo temper while during
the last two years OF his life he to all intents
and purposes insane his brief but frequent periods
Of reason rendering it most difficult 10 take steps
TO establish any form OF regency.
The last year the worst Of all. For about
twelve months before his actual demise ne fell into
a cataleptc trance which led official. but
premature announcement of his death. When he
awoke and found that national mourning had been
ordered. that steps had been taken TO proclaim
his con+ort regent during the minority Of his
little girl. and that his cousin. tho ex-Duke Of
Nassau, had actually taken possession OF his
throne Of the Ersndduehy OF Luxemburg. his fury
knew bounds and no chose to look upon the
matter indication that his relatives and
encourage were indeceutly eager for his death.
His actual demise. IN 1890 left his widow in
very delicate position. For her little girl was but
ten years old and widespread alarm prevailed
throughout the Netherlands lest the widowed
Queen should avail herself ~ her eight years Of
regency TO bring tho country within the sphere
Of Germany's influence. at a cost OF its economic
and political independence prompted thereto by her
German birth and German relations.
These fears have been entirely belied. The tact
and the sagacity with which she administered the
government Of the country throughout her daugh-
ter's minority without any urdus leanngs. either
toward Germany or toward France. respecting all
national traditions and prejudices, devoting her
self the training Of her child fer the role az
sovereign. excited the admiration OF every one
abroad and. not merely the gratitude. but the
warm affection the Dutch. The latter are
unanimous in declaring that she has strengthened
the bonds that unite the nation 20 tho House Of
Orange and at the time Of the close OF her re-
gency the people. with view Of expressing their
gratitude organized an immense public suhscrip-
ton in which the poorest peasants and fisher
men took part for the purpose OF making some
tional gift to her. she only consented 10 accept
the money condition or Its being devoted 10 tho
foundation OF n charitable institution, and at the
same time she presented herself 70 the nation her
own palace OF Orange Nassau. with the magnih-
cent park BY which Il is surrounded, for use as a
sanatoriurn for people afflicted with tuberculosis.
During the last few years another subscription
OF tho same kind got up to celebrate the
,venty-afth anniversary OF the day she became by
,n.ry4age Queen OF Holland, and the money, by her
wishes is 10 be devoted in the previous instance
10 charity.
T. &C. only in the private account books OF the
sovereign that any record exists In Great Britain
% ca.es Of multiple births. The latter nrc not
recorded as such at the Registers Office at somer-
SET House IN London. Indeed. not even twin5
are officially recorded such. and a. have just
stated the only approach TO statistical record OF
triple births IL TO be found In the private &C
count books OF the late and the present sovereign
This arises from the fact that the monarch is &C
custoned TO bestow Fift OF three gold sovereigns
upon the PARENTS in each case Of triple birth The
usage originated. like so many other good things.
I'm Ireland on the occasion OF Queen Victorias hrss
visit 10 The Emerald Isle
The case Of n poor peasant woman who mad
given birth 10 three children at the same time was
brought TO her notice Her maternal heart was
touched thereby. and she then and there initiated
this form Of private royal bounty. which has been
kept I'd ever since.
Whatever the sympathies OF the Corean people
NAV be there Is no doubt but that those or the
Emperor OF Corea are with the RUSSIANS taIhs 70
tho influence not only of VI Yong TX who ls Grand
HIa.,cr ~ the Imperial Household. and devoted TO
the cause OK the CZar. but also 10 Mile Sontas,
p,,.xtsn iady sister-in-law OF NJ Waeoer, WI" 4
vas the Russian Minister at Seoul oaioTe 'he a.
r,,,,i % NJ Pavloff. She Is now one OF 'he plihCi
- ,arsonares OF the Corean Court-a stout elderly
n.rson with plain features many accomplish
oo,,s and .o magnetic personality that she mas /
80, accused OF exercising an altogether h!PH0A0
influence over the Corean monarch
IL xvouId be difficult to define her exact position ~
che court Of Seoul. But she seems 20 occupy the
,,,or ~ +, sort a, female major domo. and has
Control OF the Emperors table. most important
office in orienta! countries. where poison Is 50 i0
ouently mingled with food and Drank Ihueeu' "
Cou.tantinople IT is a field marshal one Oh Ne
distinguished commanders Of the war Win huos .
who has charge of this duty. tasting the sultan
80 g, v.,,g,- all his dishes before they are re-