The age-herald., 1899-09-24
EUROPE'S THRONES HRE
 -SURELY DOOMED

London, September 16.-Europe's heirs ap- parent seem to be in bad way. In at least three of the great powers the men who stand next by right of succession to the throne itself are enfeebed suffering from very present diseases. and one is on the brink of the grave. In several other na- tions the princes next in line to the crown are sickly and it is only by careful sup- pression of the real truth that distressing rumors are not circulated about them. It is truly most remarkable state of affairs for the royal families of Europe.
 The most serious and most potent dan ger lies in the Russian empire. Nicholas II has no sons, and though there are three daughters, woman is not allowed to rule in Russia; so the czar is without a direct heir. During his time the Grand Duke George was the Czarevitch, but now that he is dead the title descends to the third brother, the Grand Duke Michael, who will soon enter upon his twenty-first year and will some day be emperor of all the Rus slas. unless 1t so happens that a son is
 born to the czar and czarina.
 In Austria the Archduke Ferdinand Fran cis, heir presumptive, is in most precar- ious state of health, being victim of con- sumption, Ever since the death of Ru- dolph, the crown prince. in 1889, the hope of Austria has centered in this young nephew of Emperor Francis Joseph. On the death of the crown prince the right of succession to the throne passed to the em- perors eldest brother and father of the present heir presumptive, the Archduke Charles Louis, but he was an old man then, and died few years after without ever experiencing the joy of being a king. The Archduke Ferdinand is now 36 years of age, and though he has been frequently reported engaged Is still unmarried
 King Humbert, ot Italy, does not find in his only son and heir a man of an iron frame and masterful will like his. Of an entirely different calibre is the young Prince of Naples, a slight, delicate fellow, just thirty, who has SO delivered himself to the obsequious hattery and the cajole- ments of the foreigners in Naples and Rome that he has weakened his frame by dissipation, and bids fair to have very short lease of life, indeed His condition is even more serious than is hinted at in the Italian news of the day.
 The prince, three years ago, married Princess Helene of Montenegro, but there are no children and should the fates de- cree that there shall be no male heir born into this family the right of succession will pass to the house of Aosta.
 If the remaining royal families are carefully investigated, a strange fact may be noted-that there is, with one exception, Il and lusty and gives promise of vigorous reign after the present ruler passes away. T6e possible exception is Prince Royal Gustavus of Sweden, a man of forty-one years of age, the of King Oscar IT., who married Princess Victoria of Baden, a granddaughter of famous old William |, of Germany, and who has developed no vices and acquired no maladies. This prince is an energetic athletic young man, has literary tastes. and will in all likeli- hood enjoy a long life.
 For years the King of the Hellenes George I. has been the victim of a dis ease of the kidneys, hereditary com plaint, and he has successfully visited Ak les-Bains for treatment. There is little question that Prince Constantine. his eldest son, is in the incipient stages of this disease, though there is nothing very marked or serious as yet.
 But should things change for the worst the Crown Prince Constantine would not be as badly off as the majority of the heirs presumptive, for since his marriage to the Princess Sophia, a sister of the present emperor e Germany two more little princes have made their appearance into the royal family of Greece, namely Prince George and Prince Alexander. George is the elder having seen nine summers and winters. He