Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-27

| While the two infants were still in their
cradles their marriage was agreed upon
by their mothers. After the mother of
Albert retired from Gotha his grand
mother took up the correspondence. and
when 1.-The Mayflower.' as Queen Vic
| toria was called because of the month of
her birth. was only four years old they
4 were discussing the probabilities with
great tenderness and affection.
Prince Albert and his brother. Prince
| Ernest. who was a year older. were
placed under the care Of Herr Florschutz
| Of Coburg, who remained their tutor until
| they went to the University of Bonn,
| when they were sixteen and seventeen
! years old. Their boyhood does not seem
| to have been eventful: they were just like
other children. but were brought up with
unusual care. The diary which Albert
kept during his childhood and the letters
he wrote show that he was a thoughtful,
generous, gentlemanly boy. appreciating
| every little kindness that was extended to
| him and taking great interest in ami
| mails, birds and natural history generally
| He was a model youngster, and letters he
wrote when he was twelve years old show
a maturity of mind and thought that is
remarka BILE.
| The cousins first met at Kensington
Palace in 1885, when they were seventeen
| years old, the Princes Ernest and Albert
| having visited England for several weeks
| at that time. The grandmother of Albert
| had died short time before. King Leo
pold of Belgium testifies that "she had
already. at very early period, formed
| the ardent wish that marriage should
ore day take place between her beloved
grandson. Albert. and the Flower Of May,
! as she loved to call the little Princess
Victoria" Both evidently understood the
! situation. During Albert's visit to Eng
| land they We're constantly together and
seemed TO be satisfied with the situation,
Fatigued by Society. -.
The young prince complains, however,
of the fatigue he suffered from the social
events he was compelled to attend. 1.-The
climate Of this country. the different way
/ of living and the late hours do not agree
! with me- he said. Dear aunt (the duch-
| ess of Kent is very kind to us. and docs
| everything she can to please us, and our
cousin Queen Victoria) also is very
amiable" Queen Victoria, in foot note
! on the page where this letter is printed.
says: yet nothing at the same time.
could exceed the kind attentions he paid
| to every one-frequently Standing the
| whole evening that no one might be ne
| elected
On leaving England the prince went
| back to his studies at Bonn. where he
seems to have been quiet, orderly and
! conscientious student, and. as his biog-
| rapher says, maintained the early prom
! Use Of his youth by the eagerness with
which he applied himself to his work.
I ana Oy the rapid progress Wn1cn ne maze,
especially in the natural sciences, in pO-
| litical economy and in philosophy. Music,
! also, of which he was passiOnately fond
| was not neglected. and he had already
shown considerable talent as a composer
| The prince also eXcelled in manly eXer
/ cises, and at great fencing match. at
| which there were between twenty-five
and thirty competitors. he carried off the
| first prize.
The idea had become generally accepted
! In England and Europe that a marriage
was in contemplation between Prince AL
bert and the Princess Victoria, and was
| frequently commented upon. While he
was at Bonn she assembled the throne.
! The cousins corresponded in friendly,
| matter-Of-fact way, and while their pub
| lished letters are affectionate and full of
sentiment.
Made Tour Of Europe.
| At the close OF his university career
Prince Albert made a tour Of Europe ac-
| companied by Baron Stockmar. and con-
1 tinued to correspond with the young
queen in friendly way. 1t was not UNI
| til March, 1889. that the question of mar
riage was introduced. During that year
| Albert was invited to Windsor Castle.
tobtr. where he met with the most cor
dial and affectionate reception from the
queen. who received them herself at the
! top of the staircase.
queen Informed Lord Melbourne. prime
minister of England. that she had male
up her mind to marry her cousin. and he
| received the announcement with great
satisfaction. Having thus obtained the
approval of her minister, she sent an in
! timatiOn to the prince. through Baron
Alvensleben. that she wished to speak to
i him privately the next day.
| Queen Victorias recollection Of the Incl
| dent is given in his biography. The
prince found her alone and after a few
minutes conversation she told him why
she had sent for him. 1t was delicate
matter for a maiden OF twenty, but the
her. She says that the prince accepted
her offer without hesitation and with