Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-15
HE'S AN OLD BOY NOW.
ALBERT EDWARD. PRINCE OF
WALES, Celebrated MONDAY.
1Ie Is So Years Old-only One English
!. Prince Has Waited as Long for
the Sceptre.

On Monday, Nov 9, Albert Edward,
the Prince of Wales, was 55 years old.
In all English history only one who
from his birth could regard the throne
as his heritage has waited SO long, and
only two others have, upon ascending the
throne, been more advanced in years
than the Prince of Wales is now.
In the old days long reigns were not
so common. The majority of English
monarchs have accepted the sceptre when,
scarcely out of their youth, only five be-
ginning their reigns when over 40, and
the first of these was James H. He was
60 when called to the throne. William
~. became an English monarch at the
same age, and George ". was So. But
James H. was not born Prince of Wales,
for he had an elder brother, a brother,
too, who ruled before him, as did Will
diam ". The case of Gorge w. furnishes
the only parallel to that of the present
Prince of Wales, this monarch having
been the heir-apparent from his birth,
and he was three years older at his ac-
cession than Albert Edward is now.
OF course, no one supposes that the
Prince of Wales desires an immediate
succession to the throne through natural
causes, but he undoubtedly does feel that
his mother, the queen should retire from
him chance. There is good deal of
justice in this mental position, though
just what is the general feeling of the
English public in this regard it would be
hard to say. Englishmen generally cher
1sh deep affection for their aged SOW
ereign and are very loyal to her. Wheth
er they would care to see her give way
to another while still in the possession
of her faculties, even though that other
he her own eldest son, is an open ques-
G NJ Of n
Victrias subjects really wish such
course, even when they might accede to
it If convinced that it was the queens
own wish and pleasure. Then, too, she
is tried force. conservative and benef-
cent. Many think she is almost too
much the former, but the general run of
Englishmen are naturally themselves
conservative and thoroughly satisfied
with conservatism, so that, aside from
the question of affection, it is really to
he doubted that the people of Britain
really desire any change. The Prince of
Wales is untried. 1t is true that he has
been actively before the people for
great many years. and is usually con-
sentative and dignified; but his opinions
are only fairly well known, and no one
has ever yet been able to accurately fore
cast the course of monarch from his
course as prince.
Still, it is rather rough on the prince
For a long time he has had to do a
out a kings pay. In fact, he has been,
and is, one of the hardest-worked men
in the kingdom, and the greater part of
this work comes to him as the personal
representative of the queen. His posi-
ton as heir to the throne, coupled with
the inability of the queen to fulfill all the
obligations of a monarch, by reason of
the physical feebleness due to her ad-
yanced years, brings upon him social
duties that are enormous. In conse-
fNft h II int
debt, and is getting deeper every year.
He is forced to maintain a. style of living
the cost of which is far in excess of his
income, and has for years, and if he
feels that it is time that he entered into
his reward, he can scarcely be blamed.
There are other circumstances which
have rather aggravated his position. He
is connected by blood, and intimately
a that, with nearly all the royal families
of Europe. Many of their heads are
younger than he, some being even of a
later generation, among these last being
the rulers of the most powerful empires
III Europe. The Emperor of Germany is
his nephew, and the Empress of Russia
his niece, the czar being his wife's
Eephew. He has seen these, who were
still unborn when he attained to man
hood, become sovereigns, while he him
SELF still remains subject
ut the prince is a sensible man, and
naall es the best of things Furthermore
81. He is an able man and should make
IN excellent king when, in good time,
he succeeds TO the throne of England.
In his early days he earned something
of a reputation as "a sower of wild oats,
but there was more fiction than truth
in the stories told of him. and, by strict
attention to business, as one might say,
he has almost entirely lived down that
reputation. He is far better equipped,
mentally and morally for the position
which will fall to him if he outlives the
queen than are most rulers. He is digni-
fed and well posted and sensible. In no
way has he shown the latter quality
more than by the excellent manner in
which he and the princess have brought
up their sons and daughters, who are
credit to their parents and to the English
nation.
And so Americans-not Anglomaniacs,
but Americans-will join with English
men on the princes fifty-fifth birthday
in wishing him long life and happiness,
that, when the time comes, he may en-
joy that which is his DUE