, 1901-01-21
VICTORIA IS DYING
Continued from page ~

NSOuIiLueu lTOu page H.
Osborne house is buried amid a gloomy
park Of frs. 1t Is brightly lit outside
The wind m up from the canal ant
surges through the trees like a death
diIge. A mile away stands the lodge
Beyond its potals none but the house
hold can pass. On them, without the
sovereign's knowing, are posted hulle
tine announcing her condition.
A Sad Day for England.
Beyond the bulletins nothing official
is obtainable but not a soul connected
In any way with Osborne house seems
to believe that her majesty can sur.
vive this attack. In fact, locally the
announcement of her death is awaited
with something approaching equanimi-
ty. Never in the memory of her sub
Jects has the queen been i'll before. and
now that at her advanced age she has
been stricken, it seems to those who
have lived around her that it is impos-
sible for her to recover. The village
w~iseacres, who have seen her from
eirlhood, wag their heads today and
say it is a sad day for England.
The official bulletins may safely be
described as optimistic.
Their v~agueness in describing the
Queens ailment may be accepted as
merely official evasions of the facts.
The information obtained by Eeut-
er's Telegram company, to the effect
that it is paralysis from which the
queen is suffering, is based Upon the
highest possible authority. By Mon
Gay it is likely that the truth will be
announced to the nation. The extreme
weakness of her majesty and the loss
of her faculties appears to be at pres
emit the chief cause of anxiety. Stimu-
lants are being freely administered.
In the opinion of those best qualified
to judge, the queens present serious
condition was precipitated by intense
worry over the losses and hardships
suffered by the British troops in South
Africa. Frequently she has remarked
to the court attaches that another war
would kill her.
Former illness Kept Secret.
In this connection Reuters Telegram
company learns that she was most SER
icusly i'll while at Balmoral in the au.
tumn. 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 even being spoken of as dan
gerous. The present stroke is a SEQUEL
to that which occurred at Balmoral, II
she survives it she will not only be the
longest-lived monarch in England's his
tory, but also possessed of the most
marvellous constitution with which wo-
mar was aver endowed. Locally it is |
taken to be as a coincidence that Sun |
day Is the anniversary of the death Of
Prince Henry of %Battenburg, for whom
special memorial services are always |
held.
The arrival of the prince of Wales
nj about 6 o'clock this evening, accom-.
panied by Home Secretary 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
f1om Osborne. Entering royal car.
riages, they were driven through the
half gale which prevailed, straight to
the royal residence.
Wales Now Virtually King.
Mr.. Richie, it is understood, was es.
pecially summoned to supervise the de-
tails of handing over to the prince of
Wales the necessary authority to
transact state business.
Though no official announcement Of
this transfer appears to be %constitu-
tionally necessary, or likely to be
made, the tiny town Of Cowes, and
across the Medina river separating
them, East Cowes, are both filling up
with correspondents from all parts of
ordinance for vessels of their class, up
on a trial displacement Of about IA, 900
tons each, to have the highest practi-
cable speed and greatest radius of &C.
ton and to cost, exclusive Of armor and
armament, not exceeding $3.50, 900
each, and two u~nsheathed armored
cruisers carrying the heaviest and
most powerful ordinance for vessels Of
their class, upon a trial displacement
Of about $4,000 tons each, and to have
the highest practicable speed and
greatest radius Of action, and to cost,
exclusive Of armor and armament, not
exceeding 5 1000, 900 each. Maximum
cost of the vessels herein authorized,
exclusive Of armor and armament,