Show VICTORIAS 11EIGN The successful reign of Queen Victoria which has just reached its fiftieth year has already been the longest of any with but four exceptions since the Norman conquest Henry HI reigned fiftysix years Edward III fifty years Elizabeth fiftysix years and George III sixty years Victoria has alread reigned longer than the average lifetime and the second generation of her subjects is far advanced in life She ascended the throne when but a girl in 1837 and has ruled her nation with dignity and distinction dis-tinction The advancement of the Eng lish people in social and political ethics has been wonderful and a glance over the changes that have been made both in tho government and in the people reveals re-veals an almost complete transformation During all the fifty years her nation has been involved in but one serious war the d oS G L Jt > > f peace and good aster J osep h B ST I ue and three uull possessions have < a to the monarchy until now o British flag floats in almost every quarter of the globe The general tendency of the reign at home has been toward the amelioration of f the social condition of the lower classes of the people The spirit of constitutional eform has exerted a great influence and wrought a great change The changes which have come about have taken power from the monarch and placed it in i the hands of the people The Queen bas seen this change and has approved of it unselfishly As a woman Victoria has always been been her peoples model as a mother and wife their ideal The example set by her goodness is so bright that its influence fluence has been felt throughout the world and has helped to form the national tional character of the English people Her reign has been a model one and as such the most remarkable that history has recorded Advancements progress and liberty have been sought for by her subjects and granted by their Queen Under another monarch England might have undergone the same changes but she could have made no greater advancement advance-ment under any other possible circumstances circum-stances Looking back over the fifty years that she has ruled the English people Victoria need regret nothing and she can receive the showeiS of congratulations con-gratulations that are now pouring in with the satisfaction of honestly deserving deserv-ing them |