The times., 1898-09-28
A ROYAL CLINIC.
Efctoria's Family All Under the Care
of the Doctors.
From the Philadelphia Reeord.)

From the Philadelphia Record.)
If there should chance TO be reunion
of the royal family OF England during
the next week or so. such a spectacle
would be presented as has probably never
been noted in the history of the ruling
dynasty. The last contribution to the
chapter of accidents occurred last week.
when the Dowager Empress of Germany
was thrown from her horse and fractured
her ankle. This makes five members OF
the family who, for the present at least,
are hmping through life on crutches, and
the five inyalids are the five highest in
the reigning house starting from the
queen herself A drawing-room, a state
ball at Buckingham palace. OF family
gathering at Balmoral, in scotland, where
her majesty is now staying. would pre-
sent an aspect not unlike that of the con-
valescents' ward in a hospital.
Imagine, for instance, scene in the old
! palace in the Highlands. The various
members of the family are gathered, as
usual, in the big library opening on the
| terrace They are all waiting for her
majesty. Suddenly a door is opened and
through it. preceded by her Indian body
| servants, wobbles the august old lady
She moves slowly and unsteadily, and
leans heavily on her cane. 1t needs no
sharp eye to see that the venerable SOW
ferer from rheumatism for years, and
has found increasing difficulty in locomo-
ton from her stifTened joints as she
grows older. AS the queen enters every
person rises from his seat, and remains
standing until her majesty Is seated.
Then the royal children, though many
of them are half a century beyond child
hoods age, as a matter of fact, proceed
one by one to the queens chair to salute
&c lrxr-
press of Germany. in widows weeds like
her mother. AS the oldest child of the
/ queen, in the family records, she is still
the princess royal Even the queen her
self is spry compared to the Empress
Frederick. whose accident. being Of such
recent occurrence, forces her TO limp pain
fully When she has tottered to her
mothers side and seated herself there the
Prince of Wales begins his ten yards
journey across the room A month ago
he could have walked a mile with more
ease, or have pedaled two miles in as
short a time. But now he ambles along
on crutches, twitching his face in pain as
he approaches his mother.
This made a trio of limpers, and it is
quite likely her majesty, who is quick to
note the funny things of life, Uttered
| somewhat as the prince approached.
Next in order comes the Princess of
Wales. She needs no crutches or canes
1 as she walks, but her lameness is per-
4 ceptible She has been that way for
many years, and the toadying Britishers
found the defect so becoming that many
women throughout the kingdom started
| the fashion of the Alexandra limp
In the order of precedence the Duke of
York follows the Princess of Wales. He,
| too is hors de combat now. for he
wrenched his ankle badly by an accident
on the hunting field about three weeks
ago. His accident is trivial compared
| to the dislocated knee joint of his father
| or the recent injury to his aunt; but Just
| at the present time he is much lamer
| than his mother, and almost as lame as
1 his royal grandmother
1t is a curious coincidence. five limpers
| in the royal family at the same time
and If some enterprising Snowman could
get kaleidoscope pictures of the royal
procession, he would coin a barrelful
| of money. and would secure a historic
record that would be decidedly unique.