THE QUEEN’S BOOK IN AMERICA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 172, 2 July 1884, Page 3

THE QUEEN’S BOOK IN AMERICA.

The newspapers of the United States have not treated the Queen’s book with the same amount of toadyism that it has received in England. Life, a comic journal published in New York, parodies it, and such newspapers as the Tribune quote the parody, of which this is a sample :—

*• January 1. —This is the first day of the year, and Beatrice reminds me it is New Year’s Day. What a beautiful coincidence ! We had cream, toast, and muffins for breakfast, and I had two helps to each. Brown said he was delighted to see my old appetite for muffins returning. March B’—Brown has a cold. I made him four mustard plasters, w’hich were applied by the Royal College of Surgeons. He ordered Dean Stanley to sing a Te Deum. He sent back word that, personally, would prefer to whistle it. Wanted Mr. Tennyson likewise to change “ Locksley Hall,” so as to bring Brown in. He replied that he would be delighted to, but the only lines he could find for Brown were syntax, delirium, and meningitis, and he didn’t think any of these would do.

April I.—Brown came this morning with a large placard on his back, which bore the initials ‘ N.G.’ When I called his attention to it he was real angry, and said he supposed it was done by the Piime Minister or somebody. I shall ask Mr. Gladstone about it. The cat had a fit this morning, which quite upset us all. The College of Surgeons was in attendance, and said it was meat. Brown says it is likely to die if it had more than a dozen. Dear me!

April 10.—I sent for Brown, and read him this journal for a year. He sat with closed eyes, nodding his head whenever I came to a favourite passage. He then said that he did not think any distinguished woman had ever written anything like it. I chided Brown for flattery, but he assured me it was honest truth. I will read it to Mr. Gladstone.

April 11.—Mr. Gladstone calle.d I read it to him.

April 13.—Mr. Gladstone is very ill. April 15.—Beatrice and I went out for a walk. Brown accompanied us. We walked up a hill and then we walked down. May 2. —Brown said this morning that Mr. Gladstone should settle that Egyptian matter at once. I sent for Mr. Gladstone and told him. He said that Brown ought to mind his own business.”