Victoria rallies

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January 21, 1901

There is little change to report in the condition of 82-year-old Queen Victoria, who lies near death in her bed at Osborne House.   The latest bulletin reports a "slight improvement" in the queen's condition, but the news merely "indicates a postponement of the inevitable."   The paralysis continues to spread to vital parts.
The end "may be a matter of days" or even hours.  Members of the royal family continue their weary visits to Osborne House, knowing that Victoria's death is "merely a question of a short time."

The queen gained consciousness in the afternoon and was still conscious at 10 p.m., tonight, although contrary to other reports she had not seen her eldest grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II, reports the New York Times.

Members of the Queen's family were called four times today to a room adjoining Victoria's bedchamber.  Victoria's doctors used stimulants to try to keep the Queen alive until the arrival of the Prince of Wales and the Kaiser.  They arrived at Osborne at 11:30 this morning, and they were told that the Queen "was a trifle better than had been expected."

Much to the doctors' delight, Victoria rallied a bit, and a 4 p.m., asked for chicken broth.   Privately, however, the doctors have no false hope.  They know that the queen is failing,  and there is nothing they can do to save her.