Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-09
EDWARD A FAVORITE
Britain's New Ruler Very Popular
With Young Element.
QUEEN ALEXANDRA OVERLOOKED
Rumor That the King is Suffering
With Cancer.
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

LONDON. February an all the
homage paid to King Edward Queen
Alexandra is little heard of. "Procla-
ma ton by the king" in big, black type,
parades itself curiously on the London
boardings, and the young blood of England
is nsensfbly fired by the idea that manly.
almost martial, ruler once more controls
their destinies. There exists something of
that feeling with which the London APP
prentices hailed the accession of the last
Edward, 50 there is little wonder that Queen
Alexandra, for the present. comes in for
but a small part of this virile enthusiasm.
A diplomat thoroughly conversant with
court details informed a representative of
the Associated Press that her majesty as
sGmes her increased responsibilities with a
feeling almost akin to regret. Il am grow
ing DID, she said the other day, that I
almost feel unable to face the arduous
duties before me-
The queens appearance bellies her words.
1t Is her growing deafness which is likely
to prove her greatest handicap. Before
long, it is feared, she will have to use an
ear trumpet. In other ways, she is not SO
strong formerly.
King Has Not Cancer.
The rumor that King Edward is suffering
from cancer probably arose from the fact
that Sir Felix Semon is attending Queen
Alexandra for sore throat. to which, re-
Gently, she has been extremely susceptible,
though there are no traces of serious dis
ease She would be only too glad if destiny
had permitted her to finish her days in
England as Princess of Wales, the greater
freedom and simplicity of the minor title
being much preferable to this woman. who,
by her kindness and goodness, has endeared
herself to her adopted people. Since the
death of Queen Victoria Queen Alexandra
has frequently expressed herself de-
termined to carry out as far as possible
those old-time public and private customs
which made the former rulers of the court
50 different from any others in Europe.
According to report, King Edward and
Queen Alexandra will visit the Dowager
Empress Frederick in March. and will
spend Easter at Copenhagen with the King
of Denmark. But, if this program is car
ried out. ii will be done in the quietest way.
Speculation is rife as to the date of King
Edwards coronation, some people main
tanning that it will occur early Sep
TENDER. But probably. the year of court
| mourning will be strictly observed. the cor
onation not occurring until February or
later, in 1902.
The curious fact of the kings birthday
coinciding with Lord Mayors day, Novem-
Der 3, may cause alteration in the date
of the other of these celebrations in
the immediate future.
The Opening of Parliament.
King Edwards time is busily taken up.
The most important event, of course, is the
| opening of parliament, February IA. which,
next to the coronation. is likely to be the
most brilliant spectacle of his reign. Peer
esses and others clamoring for places
in the house of lords, whose seating ca
pacity is limited that only a few can
| hope TO be successful. Whenever the king
has previously appeared in the. upper house
it was as an attentive auditor of the de-
bates, sitting on the ordinary benches The
only time he voted was in favor of legal
| izing the marriage of deceased wife's sis
! ter.
shortly to be performed by the king is the
reception of loyal address from the cor
porations Of the three capitals of the united
| Kingdom. which will be presented at Buck
ingham Palace.
Every prison in the united kingdom Is in
a state of keen expectation, for the inmates
hope the king will sgnalize his accession
by issuing some pardons. The friends Of
Mrs. Florence Maybrick are taking new
heart.
By giving up the duchy of Cornwall to
his son King Edward sacrificed an income
Of over fl 600 a week. though he now re-
| ceives what is estimated to be about fl 900
day.
| Queen Victoria has not been dead fort
| night, yet advertisements are appearing in
! the papers advising the public to guard
! themselves against possible loss by insuring
against the death of the king. 1t is said the
insurance companies are rapidly approach
| Ing the limit Of the risk they will accept on
| King Edwards life.
| Sir Richard Wyatt's Dinner.
| One of the redeeming features of what
| was naturally dull week, socially, was
| a dinner given by Sir Richard Wyatt, the
government parliamentary agent. in honor
of his American son-in-law, Mr.. J. A. Bar
raft, who has just been admitted to the
| English bar Mr.. Barratt was formerly
member of the New York bar Among
| those present We're Mr.. Joseph H. Choate,
! the United States ambassador; Mr.. William