TWO GOOD FRIENDS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12766, 7 February 1910, Page 1

TWO GOOD FRIENDS.

i A delightful story of the late Queen j Victoria was told by Dr. Sehofiold at a meeting in London of the Federa- ! tion of Working Girls' Clubs. Tlie I doctor said that one day he was oall- ,' ed to a very old and very poor woman, j Maria Vincent by name, whom lie j found thinly clad and poorly fed, aiid I ho asked if she had no friend, to ihelp her. At first she said no, then added': "Well, there might be Queen Victoria." Years ago she recalled how she lived at Southsea, when the Qucon, then a girl, used to greatly enjoy boating, with eight stalwart seamen and a gallant young officer. When tins gentleman fell ill from brain fever, Maria Vincent tended him ,-and received the thanks of the Royal ladies. Dr. Schofield brought the matter to the notice of the Queen who recollected the episode, and sent a generous gift of money, with which the old lady bought herself a handsome plush bonnet, a thick soft shawl and hand-sewn boots, and good blankets, saying she could not spend tho Queen's money on anything short of the best. When asked if she cooild not think of any more friends, >she said: "Yes, there might be another — the Empress Eugenic," as it appeared she had once been able to render -some service to the Emperor Napoleon 111. The Empress was also written to, and as a result of tho two appeals the old lady with only two friends — but such friends — never wanted again during the rest of her lifetime.