That is truly and finely said, and yet how strangely the epithet "dreadful" sounds to those who have found all the vocabulary of horror beggared by the experiences of the Great War! The opening of the New Year was clouded by the passing of Queen Victoria. In all the sixty years of _Punch's_ existence, even in the moods when his comments on Court and Crown had been frank to the verge of audacity, loyalty to the person of the Sovereign had never failed. His adverse criticism was seldom malicious, and was almost always animated by a desire that the Sovereign should never fall below the standard of _noblesse oblige_. The days of resentment against the Queen's prolonged seclusion had long passed. She had ceased to be "the Royal Recluse," and was unsparing of herself in the discharge of her duties up to within a few weeks of her death. When she spoke in one of her messages of "her beloved people," there could be no question of her sincerity, or of the devotion with which her love was returned. As Mr. Balfour said significantly of her: "Even those who loved not England loved her," and in later years those who came to scoff at her memory remained to praise:-- THE QUEEN Born May 24, 1819. Died January 22, 1901. The tears we disallow to lesser ill Here is no shame for English eyes to shed, Because the noblest heart of all is still-- Because the Queen lies dead. Grief asks for words, yet silent grief were well; Vain is desire, as passionate prayer was vain; Not all our love can bring, by any spell, Breath to those lips again. Ah! had but Death forgone his royal claim, Demanding ransom, life for life the price, How loyalty had leaped to kiss the flame Of such a sacrifice! God knows, in many a need this thing has been-- Light hearts for her have dared the desolate grave; From other hurt their blood has saved the Queen, From Death it could not save. And of the dregs to drink from sorrow's cup This is most bitter, that with life's release She might not leave her children folded up Between the wings of Peace. Yet, for a solace in that darkest hour, When even Kings have found themselves alone, Over a people's love she kept her power Firm as her fathers' throne. [Sidenote: _Candid Friends and Hostile Critics_]