THE LATE QUEEN VICTORIA

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 31 May 1919, Page 5

THE LATE QUEEN VICTORIA

IN ITER HIGHLAND HOME. (By W.K.H.) It was a. lovely day in August, 1890, that tho Highland (games at Balmoral were to be held. Usually the games were held at Braemar, but in deference to the wishes of Queen Victoria they were dn tills particular year to be held at Balmoral in an enclosure about a mil© away from the castle, where the Queen, was as usual in residence during the summer and autumn months. A party of Scotchmen, with one young New Zealander amongst them, set out from Aberdeen to sec the games and if possible to see the Queen. Train was taken to Ballater, the. terminus of tho Royal Deesido line, for the Queen did not. wish the railway to go further north past her highland home. from Ballater excellent coach roads lead right into the heart of tho Balmoral and Braemar Highlands, passing through scenery of striking beauty. About seven miles from Ballater, standing on the top of a hill, is the little church of Ora tide,', where Her Majesty often attended service and where she was known by the -himbio through sterling-hearted crofters as “Mrs. Albert.” It is from this little church that the first view of Balmoral Castle is got, that noble mansion the picture of which is familiar to us all. ft stands surrounded by fine trees on a broad haugh, encircled by a sweep of tho Deo, and backed by tho hill of Craig Gowan. The first sight of Balmoral Castle leaves a, great impression on one’s niind. The whole drive from Ballater to Balmoral was charming and eminently characteristic. There are rushing streams and roaring waterfalls on every side. The eye travels up a long succession of long-drawn natural ais It's between the lofty columns of gigantic fir trees, and over glades that are carpeted with tho heather, the bracken, and the bilberry. Let''the eye wander where it will, beauty meets it on, every side. On the way nip, Highland pipers, in honour of the/day and tho games, had been posted on many of the hilltops, and the wild skirling'notes, softened and beautified by distance, added a glory to feelings that no one eould really describe. As the coach got into tho Castle grounds, the Queen was seen with her Highland attendant standing in front of the big Castle door, dressed plainly and with a simple bonnet on of the Dolly Varden pattern tied in tho usual way under her chin. She was very short of stature but was pleased and delighted with the great number of visitors who were flocking to the locality to the great annual sports gathering.. The one groat wish of tire party had been gratified by seeing the Queen, and when later in the day she came and spent over three hours watching tho grpnes from tho specially erected royal pavilion and took an interest in all that went on by congratulating the successful competitors /and in many ether ways, it could easily be seen how Victoria had won tho hearts of her people away near her Highland home, for she was adored hv them all.

The New Zealander soon left again for his backblocks home in the Dominion, and of course, never saw the Queen again, but the centenary of her birth has been, with him a time of deep reflection, and ho wonders how many besides himself had been charmed and impressed by the simplicity' of true Royalty like ho had on that August morning which was so memorable in his history. Tho spot without doubt is one of the most beautiful on earth, and long before Queen Victoria had seen the lovely glen, Lord Byron had rendered famous in song the rugged grandeur of tho hills that gird the infant river Deo. When living on its banks at a place called Ballatric.li it v/as that many of his early love first evoked tho poetic fervour of his remarkable genius.