The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-01

HE AOG-l over hundred volumes of her journals written in her own hand. 1t is a unique record. Every page of the extracts given in these two volumes teens with interest of one sort or another, and our respect for Queen Victoria, which has always been very great, increases as we read this private record of her life. The best idea of It's character can be gained from quotation Thus she writes:
 Writes of Birthday
 Friday, 24th May,--Today is my birth day. l am today IA years old. How very oldi! I awoke at F past and got up at 32 past z. l received from mamma a lovely hyacinth brooch and a china pen tray. From Uncle Leopold q very kind letter, also one from Aunt Louisa and Sister Feodora. I gave Mamma a little ring From Lehzen I got a pretty little china figure, and a lovely little china basket. gave her golden chain and mamma gave her a pair of earrings to match From my maids, Frances and Caroline, I also got little trifies of their own work.
 At IA past we breakfasted After breakfast we went into the room where my table was arranged. Mamma gave mo lovely bag of her own work, q beautiful bracelet, two lovely feronieres, one of pink topaz, the other turquoisss; two dresses, some prints. some books, some handkerchiefs, and an apron From Lehzen, a beautiful print of the Russell Trial. From Spath, q glass and a plate or Bohemian glass. From Sir Robert Gardiner, china plate with fruit From Victoria and Emily Gardiner, two screens and drawing done by them. From the dean some books My brother Charles's present was not ready"
 Her Favorite Singer
 Grisi was her favorite singer. 1t is amusing to read her comments, not only upon this prima donnas voice, but her appearance:
 "Grisi was in perfect voice and sang and acted beautifully; but I must say that she shows her many fatigues in her face, and she Is certainly much thinner than when she arrived It is great pity, too, that she now wears her front hair so much lower than she did. It is no improvement to her ap- pearance, though (do what she may) spoil her face she never can, it is too lovely for that"
 The little Princess was very much dis turbed by the tragic death of Malibran, whose singing she very much admired:
 She will be, and is a very great loss iiuetu' lof llOuSn 1 lkeu ana aumlred Grisi by far more than Malibran I ad- mired many parts of the latter's singing very much, in particular those touching and low notes which gave one quite a thrill"
 T was awoke at o'clock by mamma, who told me that the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here and wished to see me. l got out of bed and went into my dressing room (only in my dressing gown and alone. and saw them. Lord Conyngham (the lord chamberlain then acquainted me that my poor uncle, the King, was no more and had expired at F minutes p. ? this morning, and consequently that I am Queen. Lord Conyngham knelt down and kissed my hand, at the same time delivering to me the official an- nouncement of the poor Kings demise.
 The Archbishop then told me that the' Queen was desirous that he should come and tell me the details of the last moments of my poor, good uncle; he said that he had directed his mind to religion and had died in a perfectly happy, quiet state of mind and was quite prepared for his death He added that the Kings suf- ferings at the last were not very great, but that there was a good deal of uneasi- ness. Lord Conyngham, whom l charged to express my feelings of condolence and sorrow 10 the poor queen, returned di- rectly to Windsor. I then went to my room and dressed.
 Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station I shall do my utmost to fulfil my duty toward my country; l am very young and perhaps m many, though not in all things, in- experienced but I am sure that very few have more real good will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than 1 have"
 Enjoyed Her Queenship
 Evidently the young Queen enjoyed hon.