Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01

1t Is midsummer. and times are dull
abroad So we have the rumor again that
Queen Victoria will shortly retire. and give
the Prince of Wales a chance.
The rumor always commands more or
less attention. for the reason that it is al
ways based the Queens age and her
growing physical infirmities. Moreover,
domestic troubles have added to her bur-
dens of late, and hence there is certain
responsiveness about the suggestion that
she is tired of power and responsibility and
meditates closing her days in peace and
quiet.
Would the step, if taken, tend to
strengthen or weaken Great Britain in her
place among the nations? 1t is a COM
handing place, and has been made so
largely during the present reign. Great
Britain, although pressed a little hard on
this hand and that. was never a greater
factor in affairs than she Is to-day. Her
sea armament Is even greater now than
ever before. She has no man af1oat of the
fame of Nelson, but her ships are numer-
Gus and of the highest standard, and she
has in abundance men of training and ca
pacity TO fight them. This of course Is not
work of tie Queens individual conception
or done under her individual direction. but
during the doing of 1t all she has been
recognized both at home and abroad as a
positive force of wisdom. She has always
manifested great quantity of saving good
sense about the most important problems
OF her OWL government. and her influence
has been distinctly sought and recognized
at critical periods by other leading nations
of the world She is sure of a place among
the great women of all history.
cipally man of pleasure. He is a pa
tron of the turf first-nighter at the thea
ter. lover of cards. and an amateur
yachtsman. The world so far has not
taken him seriously nor has he taken the
world seriously. But 1T is said of him by
those who know him we'll and are able TO
Judge that he is a man of excellent capac-
ity for serious affairs, and only needs the
opportunity to demonstrate his powers
His address is easy and diplomatic-aImost
democrate-and he is personally very pop
ular home and on the continent Emil
nent Americans who have met him have
conceived high opinion of his ability.
If this man Were to ascend the throne.
interest in Great Britain would be quick
ened the world over He would hardly go
IN for anyt hing spectacular-would hardly
become a rival of his nephew at Berlin in
grand stand plays. But he would probably
want to impress himself on his people and
his times. and to that end might reason
ably be expected to enter upon some new
departures He is a young man for gov
eminent. and would be surrounded by
young men Mr. Balfour and Mr.. Cham
berlain-the one about forty, the other in
the vigorous ffties-are specimens of the
public servants who would be very close
to the throne with suggestions of new poll
Giles. And if the new king were to exhibit
large capacity for business. the transfor-
nation of a man of pleasure into a man of
successful action would not be new in the
world.
But the Queen has not abdicated. and 1t
Is a safe prediction that as long as she
Sticks to her knitting the English people
will continue to be covered with garments
OF warm and comfortable conservatism