Gibbon on Fame and Happiness

1910

Edward Gibbon, the historian, was not one to underestimate the pleasures of intellectual occupation or the value of literary fame. "I have drawn a high prize in the lottery of life," he wrote in his autobiography. "I am disgusted with the affectation of men of letters who complain that they have renounced a substance for a shadow, and that their fame affords a poor compensation for envy, censure and persecution.

"My own experience has taught me a very different lesson; twenty happy years have been animated by the labors of my history and its success has given me a name, a rank, a character in the world to which I should otherwise not have been entitled.

"D'Alembert relates that as he was walking in the gardens of Sans Souci with the king of Prussia, Frederick said to him, 'Do you see that old woman, a poor weeder, asleep on that sunny bank? She is probably a more happy being than either of us.'

"The king and philosopher may speak for themselves; for my part, I do not envy the old woman." — Youth's Companion.


Social Requirement

When a young girl appears at the theater with a young man who is a stranger in town, she should circulate a note among her friends telling who he is. It is very hard for the women to enjoy a performance with their curiosity unsatisfied. — Atchison Globe.

A Street Incident and Royalty

1896

A significant circumstance occurred during a visit of the Emperor of Germany to England. The kaiser was for one day the guest of the lord mayor, and the city of London received him and several of the queen's children on that day.

The old city was splendidly decorated, and set for a great public function. The streets from Buckingham palace to the lord mayor's mansion were lined with infantry and cavalry, back of whom was a solid mass of people.

Between these lines the royal carriages slowly passed. They moved in almost absolute silence, save for the perfunctory salutes of the soldiery. The queen was not present, and for mere royalty as royalty, there was apparently no popular feeling save that of curiosity.

When, however, the carriage of the Princess of Wales appeared, and her sweet, kind face was seen, the applause grew enthusiastic. Suddenly a burst of cheers was heard, as a low, black wagon came swiftly down the thronged street. It was the ambulance of a hospital, which has precedence everywhere, carrying some wounded man to receive succor. The crowd paid homage to charity in a sincere though inappropriate fashion.

In it was a hint which the scions of the ruling families of Europe present should have understood. Queen Victoria knows that her people pay allegiance to her more as a wise, good woman, wife and mother than as one of the House of Hanover.

"The divinity which doth hedge a king" must now have its bases in humanity and personal respect rather than in descent or etiquette.


Standardize the Bike

A proposition has been made recently by bicycle riders to several agents and manufacturers of bicycles that the manufacturers get together in a convention and agree to reduce numerous parts of their different machines to standard proportions.

Queen Victoria Dead

1901

Passes Peacefully Away, Surrounded by Her Family

London, Jan. 22. — 7:03 p.m. — A telegram from the Prince of Wales to the Lord Mayor, timed at Osborne, 6:45 p.m., says the queen has passed away. The text of the Prince of Wales' dispatch to the Lord Mayor is as follows:

Osborne House, Jan. 22, 6:45 p.m. — My beloved mother has just passed away, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. ALBERT EDWARD.

Cowes, Isle of Wight, Jan. 23. — Queen Victoria is dead and Edward VII. reigns.

The greatest event in the memory of this generation, the most stupendous changes in existing conditions that could possibly be imagined, has taken place quietly, almost gently, upon the anniversary of the death of Queen Victoria's father, the Duke of Kent.

The end of this career, never equalled by any woman in the world's history, came in a simply furnished room in Osborne house. The most respected of all women, living or dead, lay in a great four-posted bed and made a shrunken atom, whose aged face and figure were a cruel mockery of the fair girl who in 1837 began to rule over England.

Around her were gathered almost every descendant of her line. Well within view of her dying eyes there hung a portrait of the prince consort. It was he who designed the room and every part of the castle.

In scarcely audible words, the white-haired bishop of Winchester prayed beside her, as he had often prayed beside her sovereign, for he was her chaplain at Windsor. With bowed heads the imperious ruler of the German empire and the man who is now King of England, the woman who has succeeded to the title of queen, the princes and princesses, and those of less than royal designation listened to the bishop's ceaseless prayer.

Six o'clock passed. The bishop continued his intercession. One of the younger children asked a question in shrill, childish treble, and was immediately silenced. The women of this royal family sobbed faintly and the men shuffled uneasily.

At exactly half past 6 Sir James Reid held up his hand, and the people in the room knew that England had lost her queen. The bishop pronounced the benediction.

The queen passed away quite peacefully. She suffered no pain. Those who were now mourners went to their rooms.

The body of Queen Victoria was embalmed and will probably be taken to Windsor on Saturday. The coffin arrived last evening from London.

It was thought that the queen was dying about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and carriages were sent to Osborne cottage and the rectory to bring all the princes and princesses and the bishop of Winchester to her bedside. It seemed then very near the end, but when things looked the worst the queen had one of her rallies, due to her wonderful constitution, opened her eyes, and recognized the Prince of Wales, the princes and Emperor William. She asked to see one of her faithful servants, a member of the royal household. He hastened to the room, but before he got there the queen had passed into a fitful sleep.

The Prince of Wales was very much affected when the doctors at last informed him that his mother had breathed her last. Emperor William, himself deeply affected, did his best to minister comfort to his sorrow-stricken uncle, whose new dignity he was the first to acknowledge.

For several weeks the queen had been failing. On Monday last she summoned Lord Roberts and asked him some very searching questions regarding the war in South Africa. On Tuesday she went for a drive, but was visibly affected. On Wednesday she suffered a paralytic stroke, accompanied by intense physical weakness. It was her first illness in 81 years, and she would not admit it. Then her condition grew so serious that, against her wishes, the family were summoned. When they arrived her reason had partially succumbed to paralysis and weakness.


President's Message of Condolence

Washington, Jan. 23 — President McKinley sent the following message of condolence to King Edward VII:

Washington, Jan. 22. — His Majesty, the King, Osborne House, Isle of Wight: I have received with profound sorrow the lamentable tidings of the death of her majesty, the queen. Allow me, sir, to offer my sincere sympathy and that of the American people in your personal bereavement and the loss Great Britain has suffered in the death of its venerable and illustrious sovereign whose noble life and beneficent influence has promoted the peace and won the affection of the world. WILLIAM M'KINLEY.

The Ghost of the Tower

1901

Superstitious people in merry England are busy prophesying many gloomy events because it has been declared that the ghost of Mary, queen of Scots, has again made itself evident.

The story was that an officer of the guard on duty in the constables' quarters in the Tower of London on Christmas eve heard a long wail from the top of the tower. He stopped to listen and heard it again. Footsteps followed, and a third time the wail rang out over the fog bound river and the sleeping city. He went to search for a cause. but found none.

According to tradition the ghost of the unhappy Queen Mary has frequently made itself manifest in the Tower of London. Mary, queen of Scots, was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth in the constables' tower and was led from it to execution in the tower quadrangle. Before the death of every king or queen of England since her day her spirit has been reported as having appeared.

All of this is very unpleasant for those to whom the welfare of Queen Victoria is dear and who believe in appearances after death. But apart from any supernatural auguries it would not be surprising to hear at any time of the demise of the Queen of England. It is well known that her health is far from satisfactory and that she is daily growing more and more feeble. The death of the Dowager Lady Churchill threw her majesty into a condition which is alarming to court circles. Lady Churchill was the queen's oldest and closest companion, and Victoria's grief is extreme.

Should England be unfortunate enough to lose its august ruler there would not be lacking those who would sagely wag their heads and recall the appearance of Mary's ghost. But their "I told you so" would be far from satisfactory to more materially inclined individuals.

Substitutes Mustard for Electricity

1900

A street faker in Kenton, Kansas, had a thriving business selling electric belts until someone examined one of them. Then it was found that beneath a strip of gauze was a layer of dry mustard. When the wearer perspired a little the mustard was moistened and set up a burning sensation and the deluded victim believed a current of electricity was passing through him. Before all this was discovered, however, the faker had smelled danger and was on his way to another gullible neighborhood.


Debts Make Life Bitter

Ex-King Milan finds it more difficult every day to borrow money. His debts and his difficulties make his life very bitter. He has arrived at that stage of his continental career when he is looked on with suspicion and is placed on the ominous black list of Carlsbad's business people, who warn all their friends against "a certain Milan, formerly king of Servia," and announce that no goods should be sold to him except on a cash basis. — James Gordon, in Chicago Record.

Youthful Essayists on the Evils of Drink

1907

In the Hull elementary schools a prize was offered for the best essay on the evils of drink, and nearly 12,000 pupils competed. Extracts from their compositions were given by Dr. Eccles in a lecture before the Society For the Study of Inebriety. He quoted the following gems:

"Today many people are in jail for committing suicide while under the influence of drink."

"Alcohol has an effect upon a medical man's conclusions."

"Doctors say that fatal diseases are the worst."

"Doctors say that the increased death rate shortens lives."

"Some people think that the abuse of drink is right; some take it as a medicine." — London Tit-Bits.


What Is the English Throne?

The English throne — what is it? Is it the stone chair of Westminster abbey? That is only occupied once by each king or queen, and that only at the coronation ceremony. Is it the chair of state in the house of lords or the reception chair at Buckingham palace or the sumptuous gilt thing which the king uses at Windsor when he receives the foreign envoys? It is an interesting question, which some people would like to have answered. Most everybody, however, has come to the conclusion that in the majority of countries the throne is merely a symbol, and the expressions "he has succeeded to the throne" and "speeches from the throne" are only metaphors.