YOUTH'S IMPRESSIONS OF GREAT VICTORIANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

YOUTH'S IMPRESSIONS OF GREAT VICTORIANS

By JOHN DOE

QUEEN VICTORIA, -Mr. Gladstone and W. G. Grace: I recall seeing these three people. Each was an outstanding figure in the days of my boyhood, and all are now historical personages. In the Victorian era they were well known to everyone in England, and to millions beyond the seas. As 1 was a youngster at the time, my most vivid memories are of the cricketer, W. G. Grace. When I first saw him, he was captain of Gloucestershire, and his team was playing its old rivals, tho neighbouring county of Somerset, then captained by a notable personality in athletic circles, the great S. M. J. Woods, an international Rugby and cricket player. He used to come to watch our school Rugby matches, and we small boys gazed at his vast back with intense awe and admiration. W. G. Grace was an impressive figure, with his great black beard and imposing walk. In that match —in which Board, who later was for some time a coach in New Zealand, kept wickets for Gloucestershire —W.G. made 186 not out, a wonderful innings. S. M. J. Woods made two "ducks." In the second innings lie was out first ball, snapped at tho wicket by Board. End of an Epoch A curious incident happened in that match, which Somerset lost by an innings and many runs, on the Taunton ground. A Gloucestershire player was Tamo, so Grace sent Board out to run for him. Now Board was, then, very

First-Class Cricket and State Occasions

spry between the wickets, and good at stealing runs. Woods objected to Board —any other substitute, but not Board. The wily W.G. insisted on Board. I was a small boy, and forget the immediate issue: I think tho rule was not clear, and that the point was submitted to the M.C.C. for its ruling. W. G. Grace was as supreme in the sphere of cricket as Queen Victoria was as Queen. She was an institution. 1 recall vividly the curious sensation of loss, of a strange shock and bewilderment, that affected even me, young as 1 was, on that dull January day when the news of her doath struck Loudon where 1 then was. Truly Regal . The Queen dead! It seemed incredible. She had outlived so many others, men whose names even before her death were but names to us—the Prince Consort, Paimerston, Disraeli, Tennyson. I saw Queen Victoria first on the occasion of a State visit to Bristol. She was then a very old lady, but she looked truly regal—short and plump though she was —driving in solitary state in her carriage through crowded, cheeringlmultitudes. She rarely appeared then on State occasions, but she always liked pomp and circumstance. By contrast, the first time I saw King Edward Vll., as King, he was in a one-horse brougham, unattended. He came in a train to Charing Cross—l happened to bo in the station—no crowds, no soldiers, just one policeman, who attended the one footman from the train to the waiting carriage. Queen Victoria shows her true self well in her "Letters": they are well worth reading. Take this instance. Her eldest daughter is to marry the son

of the German Emperor. Her Ambassador in Berlin hinti that the Germans would like the wedding to be in that dull town Berlin. Queen Victoria will have none of it —and she adds to her letter to her Prime Minister: "It is not every day that the eldest daughter of the Queen of England is married"—a truly .Victorian phrase. " For Valour " Another instance of the Queen's sagacity is alforded by the correspondence regarding the Victoria Cross. This decoration was instituted after the Crimean War: the Crosses are made from bronze guns captured in that war. Her Minister of State at War—to give him his correct title —had written to her, describing the suggested decoration on which were to appear the words "For Bravery." The Queen corrected this to "For Valour: I hope all my soldiers are brave." And "lor Valour" it is. Although Queen Victoria was so short of stature, an interview with her often reduced the person being received to a state of pure "funk," owing to the prestige which in the course of 50 years had gathered round the occupant of the Throne of Britain. Sir Almeric Fitzroy, a former Secretary for the Privy Council, recalls in his memoirs some amusing instances of the trepidation which besot famous statesmen, great administrators, fearless soldiers and sailors who had : to be received by a little, plainly-dressed widow woman, on being admitted as members of the Privy Council. Even Mr. Richard Seddon, who was rather a social "lion" on his visit to London as our Prime Minister, and who could not be described as lacking in courage, was very nervous while waiting with other distinguished men to kiss the Queen's hand. When 1 saw the "Grand Old Man," as Mr. Gladstone was happily named by someone, he had retired from the House of Commons which he had so long dominated. I saw him with Mrs. Gladstone on a visit thev paid to Torquay, where we lived. Mr. Gladstone had remarkable eyes. If you would see what they were like, look at one of those unhappy caged eagles in our zoo: his visage resembled an eagle's. Gladstone's One Joke There is a story that a clover impersonator once, for a wager, actually entered the House of Commons and took his seat for a short time 011 the Treasury Bench and even answered a question, in the absence of the G.O.M. He would havo evaded discovery, but another Minister said to him: "I do not know who you are, but you are not Mr. Gladstone." The Prime Minister wore a black fingerstall on his left hand; the Minister noticed its absence but did not give the impersonator away. Neither the Queen nor Mr. Gladstone, nor, 1 should think, W. G. Grace, had much sense of humour. All three were of a dictatorial temperament, and dictators, as we see to-day, lack that sense of proportion which is necessary to see the funny side of things —and of oneself. One. version of the celebrated occasion when the Q'teen was "not amused" relates to a small dinner party at Windsor Castle, at which a junior officer of the Guard at the Castle was present. He sat well down the table, with some younger members of the Court, and had told a rather feeble funny story. The Queen heard the laughter of the girls, and asked —that is, commanded —the unfortunate subaltern to repeat the story for her benefit. At the end, it is said, the Queen made her famous comment: "We are not amused." Mr. Gladstone made one joke on his life. He was one of a party of guests staying in Norwich at the house of a wealthy condiment manufacturer whose product is a household word, and literally in all our mouths. As the guests waited the summons to dinner, quoth Mr. Gladstone: "Are we all mustered?" It is the man underneath, not the dictator, who needs the saving sense of humour, to keep him sane and healthy in a world a prey to brutal and humourless men.