The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-30
AN AFFLIoTED FAMILY.
Diseases to Which the Royal Family of
Russia Are Subject.

The fatal illness of Russias emperor
for weeks has been the leading incident
among the foreign representatives at the
capital. Not much is said that can be
utilized in print, for diplomatists are nat
urally close-mouthed. But not since that
terrible March 13, 1881, when Alexander
II was blown to pieces, has there been
such use of the Atlantic cables and diplo-
matte cipher codes as there was Saturday
and yesterday. Prayers have been said
at the Russian embassy during the past
week for the preservation of the cars
life. or. in case he was dead, for the re-
pose of his soul.
The stories of the physical idiosyncra-
cies at the great ruling houses of Europe
are discreetly whispered in diplomatic
condolences. Each royal family has its
particularly fatal inheritance of disease.
The Romanoffs, since the Great Peters
time have been liable to a deadly spinal
trouble complicated with renal affections.
The house of Hapsburgs are hereditary
victims of epilepsy, complicated with fire.
quent open insanity. The Hohenzollerns
have a scrofulous tendency that takes
sometimes a canCerous form, and Eng
lands royal blood imported from Hanover
become insanity. Old Emperor William of
! Prussia succeeded TO his brother, Frede-
| rick William ", because the latter was
! insane Every one who has seen Queen
| Isabella of Spain remembers the horrible
scrofulous scars on her neck, which no ar
tistic covering could ever disguise.
! SO it it with every great reigning fam
! lily of Europe except the kings of the
| Scandinavian states
James Russell Lowell used to tell this
story to intimate friends. 1t was told him
by John Lathrop Motley. I'm 1858, just
| before the Crimean war commenced, the
| venerable Baron Won Humboldt came to
London on a very important confidential
mission. He called uopn Lord Palmer
ston, and said, L know war is imminent
between England and her allies on the one
hand and Russia. If you will temporize,
make diplomatic delays, do anything, to
gain time for a year or two, there Will
not need to be a war 'Why% Palmerston
asked. Because Nicolas of Russia will
die within two years. The fatal curse OF
the Romanoffs is on him. Do you not
know that a great seeress told Peter the
Great that no male member of the Ro-
manoffs would ever live to see his sixty
fifth year? But Nicolas is not yet ff-
ty,' Palmerston answered. L wish to save
an immense flow of human blood said
old Humboldt, solemnly. 1 know that the
czar will die within two years Lord
PalmerStOn was greatly impressed with
Baron Humboldt's statements. But he
could not hold his own hand then. France
in view OF Louis Napoeon's ready recognt,
ton by Palmerston, and all Europe fol-
lowed hts lead, was then ready to take the
field. 50 the Crimean war had to so on
But Nicolas of Russia died within fouI
months Of the two years limit given him
| by Won Humboldt"
Leaving the prophecy out of the Ques
ton, II is a fact Of history that the Rus
sian czars have all died before b5. Alex
ander the Thirds grandfather, the hal
insane Car Paul and the four heads Of
the Romanoffs before Nicholas, all dice
before 80, ana Of the same disease tina
has been so deadly to Alexander II. Alex
ander /, at one time Napoleons grea
| ally, then his enemy, who so aided in III,
downfall of the first French empire, diet
when he was 49, of "monomania, border
ing on insanity" says history. Meter
Mich. the great Austrian premier Of thai
date. bluntly declares h. was insane. Tn,
Grand Duke Constantine. who was really
entitled 10 the Russian throne. waived hi.
right In favor OF Alexander J. lie haC
sense enough 70 be aware that ne VIA not
mentally ht 20 rule such an empire as
Russia lie died I'm his l2i year, az whal
would now Doe called crebo spinal 'uenin.
gifts. The Grand Duke Michael was KILLED
iu his 18th year bv a fam from bis horse
while in ht He had shown SIGNS of
madness so often that IL wns a question