The age-herald., 1901-01-19
HER MAJESTY IS
 NOT SERIOUSLY ILL Though Physicians Advise Her
 to Abstain from Work GREAT BRITAIN IS ALARMED Queen Victoria During Past Year Has Suffered Severe Strain Upon Her
 Rather Nervous System-
 Muct Remain Quiet.
GREAT BRITAIN IS ALARMED

London, January 1S.-The following an- nouncement regarding the Queens health has been made known:
 .'The Queen during the past year has had great strain upon her powers which has told upon her rather nervous system. It has, therefore, been thought advisable by Her Majesty's physician that Her Ma jesty should be kept perfectly quiet in the house and should abstain for the present from transacting business.
 Although it is fully understood that there is no cause for alarm beyond what would naturally be felt at the indisposition of any one of the Queens age, the official announcement issued last evening has caused a shock to the country, the effect of which it would be difficult to exaggerate Her Majesty's absolute freedom from ill., ness 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 regency alone suffers to create un- necessary apprehension.
 Tt is necessary to go back to a date prior to 1920 for a similar situation. Since that time there has never been an inter- ruptlon of the smooth working of the con- stitutional machine No one not even the Prince of Wales, 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 Majestys physicians have only adopted measures of precaution and that she is still able to sign any absolutely i'm perative documents. though relieved of the worries of routine affairs
 Great Trials of the Queen.
 The illness of Dowager Empress Fred erick of Germany the sudden death of her majesty's old friend Lady Churchill, to- gether with the death of the Duke of Saxe- Coburg last summer and of Prince Christ ian Victor, together with the war in South Africa, have been great trails to the Queen. but even within a week, she has received Lord Roberts and sent a message of con- doence to the widow of pr, Creighton, late Lord Bishop of London. It is understood that the arrangement for the Queens visit to the South of France proceeding and it is quite likely that rest and abstention from work will enable her to undertake the journey earlier than was intended.
 All the morning papers comment upon the unlocked for possibilities of the situation, but they do not regard it as alarming. The Daily News says:
 We fear it cannot be doubted that Her Mejesty's health is precarious, but it seems
 
 ill We must hope and trust that short period of repose will restore her strength of body and mind The fact that the Prince of 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 a cause of anxiety"
 Untiring SeIf-Sacrifice.
 The Graphic, commenting upon the Queens ''untiring self-sacrifce," says:
 We hope it is only a passing warning to her to spare herself in the future."
 The Times which takes similar view, remarks that 1t is only since Tuesday that the Queen has abandoned her daily drives and points out that today she attains an age one day greater than that of George IT., thus not only having reigned longest, but also lived the longest of British soy- ereigns.
 The Daily Telegraph, which comments upon "the needless and unjustifable alarm caused by the very solicitude of her people for the Queens welfare says:
 This gave a character to the news which we are glad to say the news does not bear and drew inference not involved in the real facts of the case"
 It is especially noteworthy, as the Times points out, that until Tuesday the Queen went out driving daily.