The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-08-10
PAY OF ROYALTY.
What Europe's Sovereigns Get
from Their Subjects.
Enormous Sums Required For
Them Every Year.

what it annually costs the people of
Europe to maintain their respective SOW
ereigns. The German Emperor heads
the list with yearly stipend of IS, 400,-
0O0, which means, in other words, that
every man, woman and child of the A.
600, 900 of Germans who inhabit the
Fatherland must pay an annual tribute
of about IS cents to sustain the dignity
of the imperial crown. The car of
Russia comes next, with a civil list of
$500, 900, or head taxation of nearly
nine cents for each one of his $1,000
coo of subjects.
The Emperor of Austria, who rules
over IL, 900, 600 of people, occupies the
third place, with an annual income of
S4,G0O, 600 raised by means of an in
dividual personal taxation of 81 cents,
for which every inhabitant of the
Austro-liungarian empire is bound to
pay to assure the personal comfort of
the Emperor and the well-being of the
imperial family.
Queen Victoria receives from the 81
600, 900 of people which comprise the
population of the United Kingdom a
royal tribute of SO, Coo, 600, that is to
say, that every member of the English,
Scotch and Irish families must con-
tribute to the support of Her Majesty
and to that of her offspring to the
amount of 10 cents per head.
With a population of $4,000, 900
Italy favors King Umbcrto with Il civil
list which was raised last year to
5000, 600, or little more than ten
cents for each individual. Spain, whose
population is about 16. 900, 900, pays
her baby king 81, 500, 600 year, or an
average Of over IL cents per head.
Considering that in all these coun-
tries, monarchy is more or less hcredi-
tary, such facts and figures speak vol
umcs and cannot fail to bring home to
the mind of the reader a forcible COM
parison between the republican and
monarchial forms of government.
Barring out Queen Victoria, who is
20 years of age, til, majority of the
crowned heads Of Europe are compara-
lively young, and may be expected to
enjoy for many years to come the gener-
Gus support provided for them by their
subjects. Wilhelm H., the present En-
peror of Germany, is only % years old,
but promises to be a spendthrift, as in
less than half year he has gone through
large amount of his yearly income.
Alexander Ill, the Car of Russia, is
Al years old, and assembled the throne
seven years ago, after the murder of
Alexander H., his father. lie lives be-
You'd his income.
Franz Josef, the Emperor of Austria,
is IS years old, and during the forty
years in which he has worn the impe-
rial crown has doubled his private
debt.
King Umberto of Italy is AZ years
old. He has occupied the throne for
fourteen years, and, at this hour, is said
to be in debt to the amount of twenty
five million francs.
Abdul Hamid, the Sultan of Turkey,
is 46 years old. lie was called to power
twelve years ago. As to his revenues
and expenditures, they can only be sur
missed, but are known to be enormous.
Louis l. of Portugal is so years of age,
and during the twenty years which he
has reigned in the little kingdom he
has never ceased plaguing the bankers
of both Lisbon and Paris for more
funds.
King Oscar of Sweden and Norway is
in his Goth year, and although he has
been king for over seventeen years he
is not known to have contracted any
debts. The same may be said of King
George of Greece, who is now As years
cid and has reigned for over twenty five
years.
Alexander Obrenovik, son of ex-King
Milan and present King of Servia, who
is only ii, and the little Alfonso of
Spain, who is not yet 4 years of age, are,
In the order of things, the last on the