The morning times., 1896-05-10
Four Successors to the English
Throne Live Entirely Free
From the Cares of State.
Present Ruler Will
Soon Be II.

London, May SIT is the most singular
fact that. while one of the most powerful
nations in the world is building up COM
merce, protecting herself from encroach-
ment and waging war with intrudCis, the
entire line OF living legitimate heirs lives
a life of the utmost immunity from all cares
OF state. The exact duplicate of this state
of affairs does not exist anyw here upon the
face of the earth.
The living SUCCESSORS to the English throne
are four. They are headed and represented
, by Victoria. the queen. who is no celebrat-
ing her Seyent y-Seyenea birthday, and who
for all matters OF state is useless. For five
years Victoria has been an old woman.
News is broken To her gently, the Windsor
cable having been long since abolished as
far as she is concerned. For three years
she has been helpless in her limbs, re-
quiring the constant attendance of an
Indian servant 10 carry her from place
TO place. When at railroad stations she
walks supported by two men, who almost
carry her.
Her kingdom is mana ged by trusty lieu
tenants whom she has had the good sense
TO leave alone in the discharge Of their du-
ties. Her whole time and her engroSsing
thought is To keep alive. A year OF exist
ence to tier at this critical stage Of her
failing physical power is valued by her to
Such an extent that she does not allow even
her kingdom to give her Il disturbing
thought.
LUCKY DAY.
The most important event in the queens
life for many years is her coming birth
day. Victoria was told many years ago
by soOihSayerS who amused Windsor
family gathering that her majesty would
be i'm peril physically in the latter part of
her seveut y-siXth year. But if 81 G T: ssed
that time safely. her seVent y-seventh
year would be full Of strength and promise
for another ten years OF life. Seven has
always hceu a lucky number with her
majesty.
Another point makes this birthday par
ucularly precious TO The queen. Her high
ness has always had perfect mania for
wautnEtO see chcTdeScCndanJs upon thrones.
The marriage OF AliX. daughter Of Alice OF
England. 10 the car gave he runtCld pleasure.
The faCtthat AliXis Gro wned Smultane Ously
with her birthday IL TO her The greatest
OF all her birthday gifts,
The queens occupation is checker play
ing. After her long morning massage
boards drh wu up IN front of her and lady
OF honor takes her place opposite. The
queen plays fairly good game. and she
likes TO win. Her lady OF honor beats one
game day That is enough to keep royalty
Hnperturhcd. Often little Prince Edward
Is held up 10 the board aud his chubby
finger guided by The lady OF bcnur.
The drive of the day behind the donkey
in the donkey cart is Il matter of neces-
sity. Ii has become painful To the queen.
who would gladly give it up if she dared
DO SO. but with no exercise she becomes
too bulky. The conservatory walks are
things OF the past, and the whole empire
to the queen has narrowed down to a few
castles where the occupant OF the great
est throne in the world looks out upon a
little patch OF English scenery and re-
ceives the congratulations OF her subjects
upon another year of her reign. II is an
even. uncheckered existence. in striking
contrast To the feveFed life led by former
queens OF the throne of England.
The next incumbent of the throne is the
queens son. the Prince OF Wales, but IN
tereSt in his generation centers around his
popular wife. who VIII be the idulized
Queen Alexandra OF 1900. For thirty
three years this woman whom people VIII
ALWAYS call young aud beautiful. has
waited for her opportunity TO rule England
as queen consort. anf in the most amiable
way she has bided her time.
Thelife Ofthe one whn now. in the queens S
weakness. begins to be thought of as
Queen Alexandra is more varied than that
of Victoria. But il is an altogether peace
able life. not like the life of our public
women. Never in her thirty-three Eng
lish years has this daughter OF Denmark
taken a hand in politics. not even when
importuned by her chum, Lady Randolph
Churchill. or her former friend. Lady
Brooke.
ALEXANDRA YEAR.
The life of the Princess of Wales divides
itself into three parts, each as remote
from the throne as the life OF an American
country woman. In the winter she is
south at health resorts. In the summer
she is at one or the other of the pleasant
country places. In spring and fall she gets
TO Sandringham, and there the people
have a glimpse of her sweet face as sht