Page:The Queens of England.djvu/608

 546 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. ing power, prosperity and numbers of her people. Yet longer life is granted the Queen, and ten years later the nation rejoiced again and did homage to their sovereign of fourscore years. Who can doubt that these years of peace and prosperity were given for growth, for the development of generations of character, stamped by influence of the Sovereign, to cope with the dark and bloody facts and problems that threaten to shake with volcanic force the 'unchristian continents of the earth ? The development of Europe shows many lurid spots on the background of history, against which the high light of Chris- tianity and science, held by a Christian Sovereign, shines with unprecedented lrster. The beatitude of meekness voiced by the little child and by the young girl when called to the most exalted throne in Christendom, proclaims to the world today the fulfillment of promise in the expanse, quality and influence of the regnant power vouchsafed to Victoria, Queen and Empress, who has held the scepter and love of her people and the world for more than threescore years. Of remarkable constitution and most exemplary method of life, the Queen has only of late shown pronounced signs of fail- ing health. The ravages of the war. in Africa, draining life- blood from thousands of English hearts, many near and clear to the Queen, including Prince Victor, her grandson, have been a great grief to the aged sovereign. Her eldest and favor- ite daughter. Empress Frederick, is suffering with a painful and lingering disease, and it is but six months since the sudden death of her second son, Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg, came as a great shock to the mother's heart. She but recently left Windsor for her beloved Isle of Wight, when Lady Churchill, her chief attendant for many years, is found dead in her bed, adjoining the Queen's room. All these sorrows are telling on the vitality of the Queen, and news comes from the sick- room that she has had a second shock of paralysis. January 22, 1901 ! Today, under the ocean's depths and over mountain heights, the telegraphic nerves of the whole world vibrate with the words: "Victoria has just died at Osborne !" "The light has gone out of a great life." and the world mourns England's Queen. It is nearly sixty-four years since heralds proclaimed a new sovereign throughout the realm, and even now, in observance of the time-honored custom, state