Ench year as the 24th of May comes round we thankful once again to be able to sing "God Save the Queen" and to know that our Sovereign remains in her usual health and may probably. be spared to us for several more years. This special interest has been added to the int from the fact that Her Majesty has concluded her eightieth year, a great age, especially for one upon whom devolves such minence responsibility as must be involved in governing this great Empire of ours. As [was sitting in St. Paul's Cathedral assisting at the service held in honour of the auspicious occasion, I could not help thinking how much of our rejoicing was due to the wonderful personality of the Woman, perhaps almost as much as to the admiration of the qualities of the Queen.
suppose at no time in the world's history has a woman held a position equal to that enjoyed by our Queen to-day, From North to South, from East to West, wherever the English tongue is spoken, and in foreign countries, where sometimes she is known only by repute, people unite in singing the praises of Bagiani's Queen—and this tne as the world lasts "Victoria the can will assuredly last for all e. So
Good" and her glorious reign will be quoted, but when our children's children ask, why was she so much loved? the answer will be, because she was such a great and good woman, always to the fore in any work for the benefit of her subjects, the first where sympathy was needed, a true mother to her people. On Wednesday telegrams of congratulation literally poured in from all quarters of the globe. In the Metropolis, though the official celebration will not take place till the 3rd of June, flags were flying, bells were ringing and a general air of festivity p vailed. At Windsor there were sp rejoicings in which Her Majesty heartily participated. She was serenaded by the Windsor and Eton Choral Societies and St. George's Chapel and Eton College choirs, then came the Royal Birthday Parade, and subsequently the planting ofa young oak tree in Windsor Park. Although 'a semi-private function, performed only in the presence of her family, it was nevertheless the most interesting event of the day, as when the young sapling shall have wu into a mighty tree it will always be mown as the Queen's Oak and will be famous from the fact that it was planted by one who had reigned over her people for 62 years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.