Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-20

10 uoSSIIo0U DIS OPTIMISTIC. Il6lr
vagueness in describing the
Queens ailments may be accepted
as merely evasions Of the facts.
The information obtained by
Reuters Telegraph Company to the
effect that it is paralysis from
which the Queen Is suffering, is
based upon the highest possible
authority.
By Monday 1t is likely that the
truth will be announced. to tho
nation. The extreme weakness of
Her majesty and the loss of her
faculties appear to be at present
the chief cause for anxiety.
Stimulants are being freely adj
ministered
In the opinion of those best quail
flied to judge. the Queens present
serious condition was precipitated
by intense worry over the losses
and hardships suffered by the Brit
ish troops in South Africa Ere
quently she has remarked to the
court attaches that another war
would kill her.
In this connection Reuters -ele-
gram Company learns that she was
most seriously i'll while last at Bal
moral in the autumn. No word of
this became public but it appears
that she was then almost dying,
though that rigorous etiquette
which she imposed alike upon her
family and attendants prevented
her condition becoming even spok-
en- of as dangerous. The present
stroke is a sequel to that which
occurred at Balmoral. II she sur
wives it she will not only be the
longest lived monarch in England's
history, but also the possessor of
the most marvellous constitution
with which woman was ever en-
dowed. Locally 1t is taken to be a
sad coincidence that Sunday is the
anniversary of the death of the
Prince, Henry of Battenberg, for
whom special memorial services
are always held.
The arrival of the Prince of
Wales at about o'clock this aft
ernoon, accompanied by Home Sec
rotary Richie, and the arrival of
the Princess of Wales at 10 o'clock
tonight occasioned no scenes of
any kind. They embarked upon
the royal yacht Alberta, and went
up the little river separating Cowes
from Osborne. Entering royal
carriages they were driven through
the half gale which prevailed,
straight to the royal residence.
Mr.. Richie, it is understood, was
especially summoned to supervise
the details of handing over to the
Prince of Wales the necessary au-
thority to transact state business.
Though no official announcement
of this transfer appears to be con-
stitutionally necessary or likely to
be made, the tiny town of Cowes,
and across the Medina river sep
arating them, East Cowes. are both
filing up with correspondents from
all parts of the world, and rents
have risen to fabulous prices.
Fearful sorrow, not unmixed
with expectation, is written broad
upon every face. That official sec
recy which stops all callers at the
lodge gates does not serve to miti-
gate the general dread that pre-
vades these islands.
Located almost as Key West is
to the United States. they hold in
their bosom the most precious and
revered personality that nation
ever worshipped, and it is the gem
eral impression that 4S hours will
bring the crisis of that feeble life
upon which so many international
threads hang.
The countrywomen paused IN
their Saturday night shopping
tours to pray that the hand Of
death might be stayed from falling
on the big house over the Medina
river, but their prayers find little
echo in hope, for those who have
seen the Queen down there say she
was only shadow of death. Yet
the policemen on duty at the gates
respectfully refers to all callers the
last bulletin and says mechanical
ly:
Slight Improvement"
The dread word paralysis" Ii
carefully kept from the nation.
TO SUCCEED DAVIS.