Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-22

In all the countries Of the civilized
world there prevailed a spirit OF SYM
psthetic sadness. Over every city,
town and hamlet in England. Scotland
and Wales there hung a cloud. In
great, rich. ancient London people
walked the streets with grave faces
Festivities were postponed, social
plans were altered. In the old church
e. prayers were offered. One closing
anthem was played with sorrowfui
softuess which made it prayer In It.
self and those who heard passed out
into the air with tears. This because
ono woman--one aged woman-lay dy'
Ing.
Il was "a years after a night on
which giri--a mere child creature In
her teens-was awakened from her
sleep to be told that she was the
queen of England. There is popular
picture Of the incident, in which she
stands, touchingly young and grave.
holding out hand that an old man
who kneels before her may kiss 1t In
doing homage to his sovereign.
Her sense of the responsibility OF
her position was a thing like genius.
In all things touching 1t she was al
ways grave, always sagacious and
beautifully earnest A young girl
even a young woman-might have
been forgiven many things for which
the nation this young creature vas
born to rule was never called upon to
forgive her.
One very interesting feature Of her
Hfe was that people made no habit OF
speaking Of her as a brilliant woman.
II has been said tina: she was good.
it has been accepted that she was
Intelligent, but comparatively little
stress has been laid upon her brain
mower. Yet there has been no other
queen in the history OF the world
whose reign was SO marked by for
ward movement and who herself SO
moved with her time and SO strongly
Influenced It. She had q genius for
rectitude, a genius Of the conscience.
ana, II may be added, the genius Of
a great heart. But she possessed also
n foresight that was extraordinary.
One truth Is surely 1xed-that In the
future no record Of statecraft, politics
or social ethics can point TO an act Of
Victoria Of England which was either
unjust. ignoble or careless. To each
tSlug she did she brought all that the
mods gave her Of the reasoning OF
10th heart and brain All her use o:
mower tended to the development Of
psblic good, TO the aiding Of humane
e.ds, TO the broadening Of the ways
for the intelligent, the striving and
the sane in ambition.
The time has gone by when for q
voqsan to be virtuous was all that
N. demanded Of her. This time
p.ssed in victoria's day. Its passing
v,s the inevitable result Of the de-
ys3opmeat OF the race and Of the in
eroase Of it, mental des,res--but 0;
vuu3d not have passed with such ease
"a rspsdity in England II the woman
vho sat upon the thrope had been
rprely a collection Of moralit.es. how.
soexer excelleu: and necessary 10 So
cssI safefy. Ens'and-conservative.
okuesuate. pasnaciousiy selfcentered
- . ssasulariy large portion Of the
vuxld- Its observation-disclosures IL
0DcSeutly powerful TO be far.reach.
TT. ~ bearing and methods Of It's
rvIsr are 81 Significance and weight.
TIE gSes1 Victorian era was marked
~ - ADVANCE Of al things intelieetu
ISv the esevsfion and fostering OF
o. srss, BY che adoption and encour.
sc.usut q inventiops-by the intei!i,
ens cosssderstiCa Of ethics. This
Vuuaa Of The ninetesnth cra,nry. sho
N. born 70 S3eid Q scepter. vas q
ssudesa--s reader Of sreat works and
ensA, . bserssr q leaSuaSsA . co