New-York tribune., 1896-01-19

able contras; to his predecessor, whose court was
such as 10 cause 1t to be subjected throughout
the latter part Of his reign to something akin to
ostracism by the other crowned heads of Europe
The late King Charles of Sweden was famous
bon vivant. and while not drunkard. could
by no means be regarded a temperate man.
whereas the Views Of his successor. King Oscar,
are best shown by the significant fact that he
has permitted his Queen to join the Salvation
Army and his favorite son and namesake. Prince
Oscar, to assume the presidency Of the temper
ance movement in Sweden and Norway.
The young Czarina of Russia. with her strong.
high-principled mind, added her ceverness
and beauty may be relied upon to counteract
any disposition that her husband may have in.
hcrited from his ancestors In connection with a
taste for stimulants During his soiourn Of sev-
eral months in England prior to his marriage,
however. he surprised those with whom he was
brought into contact By his very un-Savonic
absteminousness. Russians being noted for their
hard drinking Dropensties. King Charles Of
Rumania. like King Leopold Of Belgium. Is tenn
perate in the extreme, being far too cautious a
ever to permit his brain to become clouded
by smuants, while the King Of Portugal. al
though he delights in convviality and enjoys the
reputation of being good fellow in every sense
of the word. has never been known heavy
drnker With regard to the King Of Spain it
can only he said that from his earliest infancy
he has displayed pronounced aversion to the
bottle and has objected TO being brought up "by
hand" the saying Is. 1t is to be hoped that
this ill-will toward the bottle may continue
throughout his life. Much apprehension need not
be entertained the subject. since the Bourbons
have always been more noted for their eXcesses
in eating than in drinking
QUEENS VICTORIAS INFLUENCE
But the sovereign To whose influence the
growth Of temperance is due more than To any
one else is assuredly Queen Victoria the
doyenne Of all the monarchs of the world. Her
ia ther and her uncles. particularly those who
Immediately preceded her the throne name
ly. King George " and King William ". We're
typical "siX-bottc men" and seldom if ever
went 10 bed sober. Carlton House. the residence
Of King George, being the scene Of some of the
most infamous drunken orgies OF the present
century. At the Same time. the British court
was renowned for the many scandals by which
its atmosphere was tainted No gentleman
arose sober from table. and no gentleman
uttered single phrase without garnishing Ii
with the most frightful and blood-curding
oa tbs. Queen Victoria was but a Young girl
of barely eighteen when she succeeded 10 the
crown; vet. in spite of this. and Of the iniu-
ences by which she had been cnvironed since
her childhood, she quickly succeeded not only
in purifying the court but also IN inaugurating
entirely different tone IN society. the Goa rse
and drunkenness which had nourshed
until then giving way 10 refinement ; nd alb
steniousness She was aided IN her task by
her blame,ess husband the late Prince Consort.
and since his death his good WORK in this par
ticular has been carried by his son. the
Prince OF Wales. TO whom those interested IN
the cause OF temperance owe a far greater
debt of gratitude than most people would be
willing to believe. For no one is more 'ntOl-
Grant Of inebriety and Of the vugarity which
Il invariably engenders than England's future
King EN-ATTACiiE.