Evening star., 1902-05-03

batting the disease by taking frequent nour-
ishment
The loyal devotion which her subjects feel
for the youthful queen, whose personal
charm has won their hearts, is intensified
by their proud consciousness of her descent
from the illustrious house of Orange.
Should Queen Wflhelmina succumb to her
present illness without leaving an heir to
the throne the question of succession
might well give rise to most critical Eu-
rOpean situation.
There are several German princes ready
to put forward their claims for the Dutch
throne; but the Dutch people fear that their
independence, to which they are strongly
attached, might be endangered by the in
fiuence of Germany arising from the pres
ence of one of her princes. This was the
origin Of the antipathy shown to the prince
conSort.
Holland equally dislikes the prospect of
the Germanic confederation or a Zolver-
Elm. SO strong is their antipathy to the
Germans that, according to a recent decla-
ration of her first minister, DR.. kuyper, the
nation would have recourse to arms rather
than yield to Germany. From the stand
point of European peace alone the recovery
of the queen is consummatiOn devoutly to
be wished.
The succession to the throne is regulated
by articles 10 to % of the constitution of
Holland. The throne would in the first
place pass to Prince Bernard Of SAKE
Weimar. the grandson of Princess Sophie
of the Netherlands, sister of the late king
who, being a grand duke would have to
lay down his present government. If he did
not, the throne would pass to his aunt
Mary. Princess Heinrich VII of Reuss
SchleiZ koestritZ, or in the case of her re-
fusal to her eldest son Heinrich. There
forty descendants from the Stakeholder
William " living in all who claim success
sion to the Dutch throne. 1t is not unlike
ly, however, that the people would prefer
a republic to the reign Of a German prince
or princess; but in that case a revision of
the constitution would be necessary.
Vandalism at Westminster Abbey.
1 must say that 1 feel rebellous and ex-
perience a sense of shame every day as 1
pass Westminster Abbey since 1t has been
closed in preparation for the coronation It
seems absolute vandalism to doctor up that
magnificent old church as the builders and
decorators are now doing for the few hours
1t will be needed on the crowning day The
church will have been closed to the public
for more than two months, which is a mis-
take in itself.
Then, wagon loads of lumber have been
carted into 1t and dumped down beside ven-
cradle tombs and relics of past ages dirty
workmen are passing to and fro, calling
and shouting to each other in their work.
and altogether the place Is dismal a
spectacle as could be found for lover of
the ancient and beautiful: and who does
not admire the abbey! The space in front
has been boarded up. and a temporary
building of some sort is in process of erec-
ton.
Trees in the abbey grounds that have
been cultivated for years, and only recently
brought to a flourishing condition, have all
been Topped Of their branches in order to
allow stands for spectators to be built in
the grounds. 1t will take years for the
trees to recover. In front Of st. Margaret's
church beloved of Americans. are placed
workmens shanhes. The whole thing is
disheartening, vulgar and unnecessary and
makes ones soul revolt against kings and
coronatfons and their attendant stupidities.
The only redeemng feature in the whole
affair lies in the midday service held each
day in the cloisters for the workmen. Nat
urally. this has caused a display of idiocy
and Irrational temper on the part of those
who sanction the despoiHng of the abbey
because the men are allowed to smoke dur
| ing the service.
A week or SO ago Archdeacon Wilberforce
| invited the workmen at the abbey to Join
in very short service which he conducted
In the cloisters during their dinner hour.
So many people know the Westminster
cloisters that 1t Is almost unnecessary to
say they form a covered walk round
quite open to the air. The service is not
| In building at all, and the suggestion that
| there Is either fear of fire or irreverence in
what the men do would not be entertained
by any one who has seen the service con-
| Quoted.
In fact, one of Its pleasantest features is
| to notice the reverent attitude of the work.
| men, and especially the manner in which
they at once doff their hats and take their
pipes from their mouths when the time for
prayer is reached. Archdeacon Wilber-
forces action in starting these services was
happily conceived. The familiar hymn
tunes, led by Mrs. Wilberforce on a har-
monium and the bright CHEEKY, anecdotaI
addresses of the archdeacon are much ap-
preciated by the men. L. H. MOORE.
The submarine torpedo boat Fulton,
which was damaged by an explosion Of
naIa