Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-04
ROYAL FAMILY IF GREECE
Capable Danes Allied to the Great
 Reigning Houses.
THE KINGS SUCCESSFUL RULE
Of Thirty-Four Years George, the Huge Sailor The Ambitious Standardization
 Olga Russian Admiral
Springfield Republican.

Springfield Republican
 Of all the regning families in Europe there is none that is so well equipped for the duties of royalty as that of Greece. Mentally as well as physically the sons of King George are superior to the scions of every other dynasty in the old world; and. while the sovereign himself is re- ported after more than thirty years ten ure of the throne to be suffering from kidney troubles ysf the latter interferes so little with his administration of the affairs of his kingdom that 1t may be questioned whether the ailment is not imaginary and devised for the purpose of affording to his majesty an opportu- nity, as well as an excuse, for spending a few gay weeks every year at Aix-le- Rains and at Paris.
 Prince George, the sailor son of the king. who is in command of the Hellenic squadron in Cretan waters, is the Anak of old-world royalty, surpassing In stat ure, weight and muscle every other prince of the blood In Europe, says writer in the New York Tribune. lie Us devoted to athletic sports, and was one of the principal organizers of the revival of the Olympic games at Athens when he was in Japan with his cousin, the present czar of Russia he undoubtedly
 
 ground with blow of his stick the fan atic who, having already struck once at Nicholas of Russia with his heavy, keen edged sword, was in the act Of delivering a second stroke
 Prince Georges stick is familiar ob- feet to the members of the courts of Athens. St. Petersburg and Copenhagen. It is of gigantic size and weight, was cut especially by the prince in the woods around Poros, the naval arsenal or
 
 timbep which cane and umbrella dealers display in front of their stores or in shop windows for purposes of advertisement. This stick was the despair formerly of Georges family and attendants, who re- peatedly urged him to abandon it for less conspicuous and less Goliath-like cane. This, however. the prince refused to do, and even in the act of bidding adieu to his father before his departure for the far east with his cousin, he reso- lutey declined to leave it behind, de- claring that 1t was his mascot" On the other occasion of his visit to St. Peters burg. after his return from the Orient by way of the United States the late czar managed to have 1t distracted from the effects of his young relative, but subse- quently sent 1t after him to Athens, mag nificently mounted in gold and precious stones, and adorned with a jeweled in- scription consisting of the words: .'To Prince George for valor." It would be lnleTtSllHS lO dScefldln WneInef the prince has his mascot" with him on his present expedition for it is difficult to ina agine any Russion admiral or captain, or even sailor raising finger against it's owner.
 It may be added that Prince George has many another act of gallantry to his credit beside the preservation of the life of his Russian cousin. Two years ago, when, during the course of terrible hur- ricane raging in the bay of Piracus, the waves caused boat to capsize in which sailor was attempting to reach his ship, Prince George sprang into the angry sea without moments hesitation, seized the sailor, and after considera ble difficulty succeeded in bringing him within reach of one of the ironclads, where he was able to grasp hold of the ropes which were thrown to him, and to fasten one of them around the body of the entirely ex- hauSted man.
 Prince George has four brothers, of whom two are mere boys, while the other two-Constantine and Nicholas--are grown up. Nicholas is stalwart young artillery officer, not such a Hercules as his sailor brother, but still above the av- craze height and weight. He is popular in French military circles, and is much liked in England, where he has spent a good deal of time with his uncle and aunt, the prince and princess of Wales who are warmly attached to him. He is at the present moment on the Turkish frontier of his fathers kingdom ready to defend it against any invasion by the troops of the sultan.
 Constantine is the eldest of the broth CTS, and has already achieved consider able distinction and fame for his decision of character and for the masterly way in which he has dealt with difficulties of one kind and another that have cropped up during the annual absences of his father. when he is invariably intrusted with the regency of the kingdom. Married to sister of the German emperor, with whom, however he has not been on speaking terms for three years-in fact, ever since his wife abandoned the Lu- theran church to join the Greek national faith-he is probably the most popular member of his family with his fathers subjects. He seems to have his finger on the public pulse, to appreciate the drift of public opinion and to understand the signs of the times. On several occasions, when the government of the day has at tempted to enforce measures that were both unpopular and impolitic, he has in- terfered as the champion of the people, and, brushing aside all obstacles raised by the ministers for the sake of the selfish advantage of their party has made him. self the defender of the interests of the nation at large. It was thus that he brought about the fall of Tricoupis cab inet two years ago, on which occasion there was q great ontcry made by the friends of the ia lien premier to the effect
 
 strictions environfng his office as crown prince but subsequent events, and in particular the general election that fol- lowed shortly afterward. furnished con- vincing proof that. even if he had exceed ed the limit prescribed by constitutional etiquet he had at any rate known how to gauge the national feeling, and to aot, not only in accordance with the wishes of the people, but also for their welfare.
 The Greeks are a war-like people with their heads full of dreams of the revival of all the former grandeur and glory of the ancient Hellenic empire. These are shared by the crown prince. who is sol dier to the core and extremely ambitious. Moreover he is firm believer in the truth of the old national prophecy to the effect that under the reign al Athens of a Constantine and of a Sophia the eastern empire shall be called into life again, and the cross restored to the dome of St. Sophia al Constantinople In place of the crescent, by which that venerable fame Is now Surmounted. The crown princes name is Constantine, while his consorts name is Sophia. By marriage he has be- come 9 grandson of Queen Victoria and brother-in-law of the emperor of Ger mary while not only is his mother one