Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-01-23
YOUNG HEIRS TO KlNGsHIP.

Youths Companion.
Every European nation-with the two
exceptions of Russia and Turkey-has
adopted some kind of a constitutional
system of government. In some of
them, as in England, this system ap-
proaches nearly, in its essential features,
to democratic regime. In others, like
Germany, some constitutional features
are combined with despotic element.
But whatever the form of govern
ment, it is still matter of Importance
in each of the monarchies what sort of
person occupies the throne. A bad king,
even in England, where the royal pow
er is reduced to its lowest point, might
yet do great deal of mischief, while a
good one would make the machinery of
government move more smoothly.
Who, then, are to be the emperors,
kings and queens of the future? Who
are the persons in the several countries
who are destined. in the ordinary course
of events, to sit on the thrones, and to
rule with lesser or greater authority?
1t is a striking fact that many of the
heirs to kingship are young people;
some, indeed, are very young.
The heir apparent, for instance, of the
great German Empire and the Prussian
Kingdom is the little Prince Frederick
William, who is only seven years of age.
Should he die before reaching maturity,
now aged six, would become the heir.
The heir to the Portuguese throne, to
which Don Carlos has just succeeded,
is Louis Philippe, Prince Reira, who is
only two years old. The future Queen
of Holland, Princess Wilhelmina, has
recently completed her ninth year, and
is likely to succeed her aged and deerep-
it father ere very long.
The present King of Spain, Alfonso
Kill, is not four years old, and came
to the throne at his birth, his father hav-
ing died before the little king came into
the world. Should he die befLre marry
ing, his eldest sister, the Infanta Dona
Maria de las Mercedes, now nine years
of age, would succeed to the Spanish
throne.
Some heirs to European thrones have
just arrived at young manhood. The
Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, and the
Duke of Sparta in Greece, have recently
celebrated the completion of their twen-
ty-frst year. Young Victor Emmanuel,
Prince of Naples, the heir to the throne
of Italy, was twenty years old last No
vember. Thus it appears that with the
exception of Great Britain and Austria
Hungary the heir to every important
European throne is younger than the
Constitution of the United States re-
quires member of Congress to be; and
Prince Otto, the heir presumptiye to the
Austrian throne, is only twenty-six years
old.
Moreover, the succession in England
belongs to the Prince of Wales, who is
forty eight years old. But it is said
that the Prince of Wales health is pre-
carious, and it is not improbable that
his mother, Queen Victoria, although
she is seventy years of age, may outlive
him. In that case, the heir to the throne
would be Albert Victor, the Prince of
Wales eldest son, who is now twenty
five years old.
A few years older is Gustaf, Duke of
Wermland, who is heir to the throne of
Sweden and Norway, and who is thirty
ty-one.
There are, of course, several heirs to
thrones who are past middle life, but
the large proportion of young people at
this time is remarkable.