The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-14
WHAT ROYALTY COSTS.
Little Luxury Extends All the Way
from % la to 4 2-3 Cents Per
Subject

New York, Nov. 14.-Those who rail
against royalty as a useless and costly
luxury viii find food for reflection in the
fact that the rulers of Europe are
burden on their subjects to the extent
of from four and tWo-thirds cents to
527a cents a head, an impost at which
even the most thrifty can scarcely
grumble.
The thrones Of Europe require every
year for their maintenance a sum of
$30,O00,0OO, or three times the annual
income OF the richest man in the world.
Even this stupendous sum could be
comfortably packed in three large
trunks; although the constituent SOW
erelgns would form a. pathway of gold
nearly yard wide, on which the kings
ana queens or Europe could walk in
stately procession from Charing Gross
to st. PauPs.
In view of this display Of gold, the
Sultan is the cOstlfest of monarchs, but
even in his case contribution of 5275
cents from every subject would furnish
his annual exchequer
The kings of Belgium and Greece
rank next to the sultan in costliness
but at a great interval. Ten cents a
year is all they claim they make on each
SUBJECTS loyal generosity.
austria ranks next, with a contrtbu-
ton OF 912 cents toward maintaining its
imperial throne; Italy is fifth on the
list with cents; Sweden sixth, with 8;
then come Russia. with a modest Z
many, with 1-3 cents for it's almighty
emperor; and the United Kingdom, with
an individual 4 2-3 cents.
Between the cheapest of sovereigns
and the dearest of presidents there is a
great gulf Two cents from each
F'renchman would meet the yearly cost
of three presidents, and each Swiss with
the same modest coin could secure the
services Of twenty presidents.
Victoria is thus the cheapest of all
European soVereigns if a tax were
levied on the United Kingdom alone;
II, however, it be distributed over the
whole of her empire the tax would
amount to half a cent for each Of her
subjects.
AS Victoria is the least costly of mon
archS she is also among the poorest.
Her total income available for private
purposes IS not much more than 81, 000,-
600 a year, or $115 an hOur-a revenue
less than some of her subjects enjoy.
Her entire private fortune is, roughly,
$4,000 OO0-a capital which, converted
into sOvereigns, might be slowed away
in a, trunk six feet long and three feet
in height and width.
Compared with these modest sums
the cars income and fortune are alike
stupendous. His private fortune, in
Guiding his mines, forests, and his 1,000,-
600 acres, may safely be estimated at
$3.50, 100000, and his total yearly revenue
at S12 500, 900, or about $24 a minute.
The Emperor of Austria is passing
rich on $1,5OO,OOO year His daily al
lOwance is $40, $50, or a pile of soVereigns
three and a half times as high as him
self
William, the German emperor, has
$2,500000 a year less than his imperial
brother of Austria, but even this limited
allowance admits of an expenditure
every two days of as many sovereigns
as a strong man could carry to his
palace at POtSdaIn
All these incomes, however, look fool
ish and small when compared with the
$S0,O00,O 900 a year which the sultan is
credited with spending. This sum, by
the way, is more than ten times as much
as his official income; a fact from which
some idea may be CLEANED of the vast
ness of his private fortune. This mon
arch contrives to spend twice his own
weight in sovereigns every day. For
pocket money he allows himself three
hundredweight of sovereigns a. week,
and the same amount for delicacies for
his acres Of tables. Four and half hun
dredweight of sOverefgns vanish every
week in presents, and the same weight
of gold is required to clothe the many
beauties of his harem. Compared with
this lavish expenditure, 1t is really Won
derful how the poor man contrives to
clothe himself on a paltry 81, 500 a week,
to which sum he rigidly limits his tall
OTS.