Produced by Chris Curnow, paksenarrion, Lindy Walsh and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE CHILDHOOD OF DISTINGUISHED WOMEN. [Illustration: WINDSOR CASTLE.] THE CHILDHOOD OF Distinguished Women. BY SELINA A. BOWER, AUTHOR OF "FROM ADVENT TO ADVENT." LONDON: JARROLD & SONS, 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS. [_ALL RIGHTS RESERVED._] _To be had also from the Author._ ADDRESS--MRS. BOWER, RINGLAND VICARAGE, NORWICH. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. WINDSOR CASTLE _Frontispiece_ THE TOWER OF LONDON 24 GREENWICH HOSPITAL 36 INCHMAHOME 48 NORWICH CATHEDRAL (copied from a photograph, by permission) 60 ST. CLEMENT'S CHURCH, NORWICH 72 The Childhood of Distinguished Women. I. THE PRINCESS ALICE. The Princess Alice was the second daughter and third child of our own beloved Queen Victoria and the late Prince Consort, "Albert the Good." Our deepest sorrowful interest has recently been excited by the touching and sudden way in which this lovely and gifted woman has been called from her home on earth to her eternal home in heaven. The Princess was born on April 25th, 1843, and was very gladly welcomed by the warm, true mother's heart of Her Majesty, who has ever shown and expressed the deepest love for her happy circle of girls and boys. The first incident in the babyhood of the Princess Alice which attracts attention is the record of her christening. It was a very brilliant one, the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating, on June 2nd. The sponsors were the late King of Hanover, Ernest, the present Duke of Coburg, and the Princesses Sophia, Matilda, and Feodora. We will give the Queen's own words about the important choice of the royal infant's names; Her Majesty thus writes:--"Our little baby is to be called Alice, an old English name, and the other names are to be Maud (another old English name, and the same as Matilda) and Mary, as she was born on Aunt Gloucester's birthday." Again, in writing to her uncle, the Queen's account of the little Princess's conduct was that "little Alice behaved extremely well." When quite a young child, the Princess Alice was remarkably quick, and earnestly enjoyed the acquirement of all the knowledge suitable to her years, and soon displayed intellectual talent of a high order. Peculiarly sweet and amiable in her disposition, and patient and untiring in her love, the young Princess was a favourite in the royal nursery and schoolroom.