‘ERIN’S SONS and stalwart Saxons, Side by side will now be seen, Asking (as a band of brothers) God to bless their noble Queen”.
This stirring verse – which could have flowed from the pen of the mighty Kipling – is, in fact, the work of a poet from – where else? – Dublin 4. No, it wasn’t inspired by the recent visit of Queen Elizabeth but was prompted instead by celebrations to mark the Golden Jubilee of her ancestor in 1887.
Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, celebrated her 50th year on the throne that year and the occasion was the cause of much joy among her subjects. The Weekly Irish Timesinvited its "lady readers" only to submit suitable outpourings of poetic tribute. Under the headline "Important Announcement", the paper offered a cash prize of £3 and three shillings "to lady readers for the best Twelve Lines of Verse upon the Queen's Jubilee".
Irish Timesreaders have always been a loyal bunch but, on this occasion, surpassed themselves with no fewer than 468 women answering Ireland's call. In March 1887, the paper announced that the winning entry was by the delightfully-named Augusta H. Lover of 21 Sandymount Green who was duly paid the sum of "three guineas" for her trouble. Her opening lines – worthy of immortality – suggest that readers' literary taste – not to mention that of the editor – has rather changed with the passing years: "Hark! An anthem slowly swelling Echoes far o'er land and sea, 'Tis a year of joy and gladness, 'Tis Victoria's Jubilee".
The paper revealed that some of the entrants had been disqualified for overlooking the rules of the competition while “others severely censured us because we had the ‘hardihood’ to restrict the poetical powers of our lady friends to twelve lines”.
Thank goodness the editor was such a sensible chap. Some of the entries would put even ardent monarchists quite off breakfast. From Jessie R Turner, Mullingar: “Victoria, belov’d and gracious Queen, Accept our homage loyal and sincere”.
Or this, from Miss M Brabazon, Holly Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin: “Fifty long years since first thy young brow felt The weight of England’s many-jewell’d crown”.
Or, if you can bear it, this, from Georgina Clarke, 1 Llandaff Terrace, Booterstown: “Rejoice! Victoria, Empress Queen still reigns Beloved by all through her vast domains”.
Mind you, the amateurs arguably did a better job than the Poet Laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson whose Jubilee Ode (“Fifty times the rose has flower’d and faded, Fifty times the golden harvest fallen . . .”’) was widely mocked and lampooned.
The entries came from Irish Timesreaders from throughout Ireland and beyond. There were, of course, numerous entries from Belfast and Londonderry and south Dublin addresses – particularly the royalist enclaves of Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar. From beyond the Pale came odes from Mrs Disney, The Vicarage, Abbeyleix and Gertrude Dyer, Ballymacoda, Castlemartyr, Co Cork.
Aspiring poetesses from “o’er the silvery main” (it does rather “get” to one) included Henrietta Maria, Avenue de Rumine 5, Lausanne, Switzerland and Miss M Humphry, Pitlochry, Scotland.
The Irish Timesdecided to publish the 50 "best" entries in a commemorative book which was published later that summer and offered for sale to readers. The verses were printed on green-tinted pages festooned with images of harps and shamrock and beautifully bound by Galwey and Co, Bookbinders of 22 Eustace Street, Dublin 2. Two copies were sent to Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace – where they may still be – but it has not been possible to ascertain if Queen Victoria read the book or what she thought of the tribute.
At a recent auction by rare books auctioneers, Mealy's, of the collection of the late Fred Hanna, a rare surviving copy – in excellent condition – was offered for sale with an estimate of €120-€180. Unexpectedly keen interest and the ensuing bidding battle achieved a hammer price of €900 for A Tribute from the Lady Readers of 'Weekly Irish Times' Dublin, to Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria on the Occasion of her Jubilee, June 21, 1887.
But, happily, there is a copy in public ownership which can be consulted at the National Library of Ireland in Kildare Street. The book is a delightful piece of whimsical Irish history but is also of unexpected interest to students of Irish literature as the, then unknown, author of one of the poems, went on to achieve literary fame. Violet Martin, aged 24, with the serendipitous address of “Jubilee Hall, Bray” wasn’t the most cheerful: “Queen of uncounted hearts: She shall soon hear Impetuous plaudits from her people rise, And turning while the tumult thrills her ear, Shall learn the love that lights a nation’s eyes.”
Violet, using the pen-name of Martin Ross, subsequently co-wrote a series of novels with her cousin Edith Somerville of Cork. Somerville and Ross achieved fame – especially for their yarns about an Irish RM (Resident Magistrate) published between 1899 and 1908. Almost a century later the books inspired a popular television series – The Irish RM– which aired on RTÉ during the 1980s.
Queen Victoria lived to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee – 60 years as monarch – in 1897. She died, at the age of 81 on January 22nd, 1901 – the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Queen Elizabeth may surpass the record. She will celebrate her own Diamond Jubilee in 2012. While the occasion may well prompt some letters to The Irish Timesnext year – a tribute in verse is unlikely.