Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-09

Its pageantry and ceremonial, it is
interesting TO note that the most
graphic description OF them all is, in
all probability, contained In excerpts
from the diary Of Queen Victoria.
She called 1t "the proudest day. in
her own life
Through her own simple phrasing
one sees the only child of Edward,
Duke Of Kent, fourth son OF George
III. fatherless since a baby OF 8
months and reared in the greatest
simplicity at Kensington, the old
castle where she had been born and
spent her days, coming as an I'M
spoiled girl Queen of l9 to preside
over one Of the worlds greatest king
doms.
Its pages capture, for the magma
ton, London's fond and eXpectant
crowds enthusiastically packing its
streets from early dawn that Summer
morning while they waited for a
glimpse OF her. the triumphant sounds
Of the assembling bands, the roar of
cannon and the pealing of all of
London's bells, particularly Of sonor-
has since come to know over the radio
from London.
Guns Woke Her Up.
II was awakened at o'clock by the
guns in the park and I could not get
much sleep afterward on account Of
the noise of the people, the bands, etc.
Got up at feeling strong and well.
The park presented a curious spec
tacle, as did the crowds of people on
Constitution Hill, the soldiers, the
bands, etc. I dressed, having little
breakfast before 7 and afterWard,"
the young Queen writes How excited
she must have been, too. at this first
glimpse OF the popular reaction to the
forthcoming awesome ceremonies.
Concerning the placing of the
crown of her Office upon her head, she
continues: 1T was an impressive and
beautiful moment My excellent Lord
Melbourne, who stood very close to
me throughout the whole ceremony,
was completely overcome at this mo-
ment and very much affected. He
4 gave me fond, almost fatherly look,
may say" This is. in itself. a touch
ing comment from the young Sov-
ereign who herself had not known a
fathers affection only the loving and
watchful care of her mothers brother,
her mother and Fraulein Lehzen,
most remarkab BILE governess.
later diary record concerning the
day speaks of "the cheering crowds"
but with the same simple, eager Won
derment that she was the central
figure In this great moving drama and
pageantry.
Physique Is Strong
Concluding her record of her coro-
nation day, she says, The enthusiasm,
Affection and loyalty are really touch
ing, and shall remember the day as
the proudest Of my life. l came home
ut little after really not feeling
tired"
In that concluding phrase it would
appear she was giving evidence OF that
amazing physical residence which was
30 continue with her all Of the years
OF her reign and make it the longest
IN English history, with its duration
Of oS years, seven months and two
days.
Victoria began the diary from which
these excerpts are given shortly after
her 18th birthday, but even before
shat time there seems to have been
upon the part Of this little royal heir, |
who at first had no mind to learn
her letters" q consciousness of that |
destiny which was in store for her. |
A little story about her at the early |
age OF 7 evidences not only that tact
for which she was later to become
famous but her appreciation Of the
nicettes OF certain situations, as well |
a. perhaps, the truthfulness for which |
she was always noted from the time |
ti1at she could talk.
She Amazed George Nv.
Visiting her uncle, George ", be-
wigged. equity, enormous, almost loath-
some and surrounded by the FEM
mine sycophants of his court famous
tor f1outing the proprieties, she was
asked by him to choose her favorite
tune and the band should play it.
Without hesitation she replied God
save the King" to the delight and
Ama1ement of the sovereign and the
assemblage which had gathered about
20 hear her answer.
Concerning her attitude toward her
future responsibilities, she is pur-
ported to have said, II will De good"
This childish pledge she kept as
the ruler of great dominions, being
always mindful of those virtues of
simplicity, truthfulness, regularity
proportion and devotion, which had
been so emphasized In her early train
ing.
Inheriting crown furnished by
aneptitude and vice" she made 1t
Eymbol OF private virtue and public
honor and gained back for it GER
tain long lost values once tittingly
described as royal"
Unfortunately 1t has now come
to be the fashion idly to use the
phrase "Midvictorian" as an epithet
to describe certain "stodginess" of
viewpoint alien to modern thought
and progress and ridiculously at vari-
ance with the facts of history. In
reality the Victorian era was one of
the greatest the world has ever seen
Judged from either material, economic
and business standards, or on the
basis of spiritual, moral or ethical
eriteria.
Inhuman Punishments Banned.
We OF today are happily almost IN
aware, except through the pages of
our history books, Of the cruel and
lnhuman punishments for petty
crimes which were once meted out
30 hapless offenders It was the VIC
eorian era which did away with the
hnprisoning OF men and women for
debt-of hanging them for stealing
sheep or giving them a lifetime be-
yond prison walls for insignificant
crimes.
The admission OF women tn MIL