The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-19
stirring Events of the Past Year OF
Two Have Been n Great Strain
on the Aged Sovereign.
POSSIBILITY OF A REGENCY
CAUSING APPREHENSION AMONG THE
PEOPLE OF BRITAIN.
Comments OF the London Press-Prep-
arations for Taking the Queen
to the south of France.

LONDON, Jan. 19-Alarming rumors
were in circulation yesterday in regard to
Queen victoria's health, but they were all
denied. 1t was admitted. however, that
Her Majesty was not as we'll as usual
finally the following Official announcement
regarding the Queens health was made
from Osborne:
'The Queen has not lately been in her
usual health and is unable, for the pres
ent, to take her customary drives. Tho
Queen, during the past year, has had
great strain upon her powers. which
has rather told upon her nervous system.
1t has therefore been thought advisable
by Her Majesty's physician that Her
Majesty should be kept quiet in the house
and should abstain for the present from
transacting business"
Yesterday afternoon it was reported that
the members of the royal family had been
summoned to Osborne. Isle Of Wight. the
Queens winter home, but this proved to
be untrue, for the Prince of Wales re-
mained at Marlborough House and the
Duke of York went to Sandringham in the
afternoon. The Associated Press COM
municated with Osborn House at 6
o'clock last evening, and the master of the
Queens household, Lord William Pelham
Clinton, replied that he was unable to dis
cuss the matter, but that statement on
the subject would appear in the Court
Circular to-day. Later the Associated
Press received assurances from the For
eign Office that there was no reason for
apprehension regarding the Queens health.
TROUBLED WITH INSOMNIA.
In spite of the denials the rumors
alarmed the public and adversely affected
the Stock Exchange According to Cowes
telegram the Queen was not well on Thurs
day and had not improved yesterday. but
later news from Cowes said the Queen had
been suffering from insomnia, but was
better last evening. Sir Francis Hacking.
surgeon to Her Majesty. has been called in
to consult with Sir James Reid, Her
Majesty's resident physician.
Although 1t is fully understood there Is
no cause for alarm beyond what would
naturally be felt at the indisposition of any
one Of the Queens age, the official an
nouncement issued last evening has caused
a shock to the country, the effect Of which
1t would be difficult to exaggerate. Her
Majesty's absolute freedom from illness
during the longest reign in English history
has led her people to regard her almost as
more than mortal: and the mere novelty OF
having to face the possibility of a regency
alone suffices to create unnecessary appre-
hension. 1t is necessary to go back to a
date prior to 1920 for a similar situation
Since that time there has never been an
interruption of the smooth working of the
constitutional machine. No one. not even
the Prince of Wales, can act for the Queen
without the authority Of Parliament. and.
as no steps have been taken to summon
Parliament, it may be taken for granted
that her Majesty's physicians have only
adopted measures of precaution and that
she Is still able to sign any absolute I'm
perative documents, although relieved of
the worries of routine affairs.
The illness of the Dowager Empress
Frederick, of Germany, the sudden death
of her Majesty's old friend, Lady Churchill,
together with the death Of the Duke of
Saxe-Coburg last summer and of Prince
Christian Victor subsequently. and the in
cidents of the war In South Africa. have
been great trials to the Queen; but, even
within a week, she has received Lord Rob-
erts and sent a message OF coincidence to
the widow of Dr. Creighton. late Lord Bish-
op of London.
MAY GO TO FRANCE.
1t is understood arrangements for the
Queens visit to the south of France are
proceeding on the lines originally laid
down. and it is quite likely that rest and
abstention from work will enable her to
undertake the journey earlier than was
originally intended.
All the morning papers comment on the
unlooked-for possibilities of the situation.
but they do not regard ii as alarming The
Daily News says:
Eve fear IL cannot be doubted that her
Majesty's health is precarious. but II seems
impossible to believe that she should be
i'll. We must hope and trust that short
period of repose will restore her strength
of body and mind The fact that the Prince
or Wales attended the banquet to Lord
Roberts given by the United Service Club
may serve to dispel an alarming view of
the case though the Queens age must
make any illness the cause OF anxiety"
The Graphic. commenting on the Queens
''untiring self-sacrifce." says: I'VE hope
|. is only passing warning to her TO spare
herself in the future"
The lines. which takes a similar view,
remarks that IL is only since Tuesday that
the Queen has abandoned her daily drives
and points out that to-day she attains
an age one day greater than that OF George
III. thus having not only reigned the
longest, but lived the longest of British
sovereigns. Proceeding to dilate upon the
immense changes and progress during the
Queens reign and upon the .'unexampled