The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-06
SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF SOVEREIGNS.
How All Monarchca Countries Is Affected by the Ex
ample Set by Their Rulers

bility, cannot be considered otherwise
than healthy in the extreme
This church-going y but another in
stance OF the usefulness Of King Ed
wards influence. de makes IL point
10 never miss putting in an appearance /
at church every Sunday. The classes
have scrupulously followed his example
IN the matter. and 50. too have the
masses. Much mere might be written
Of the excellent results achieved by
means of his influence. among which
should be mentioned the altered senti-
ments OF both classes and masses Of
England with regard TO the Jews. II
the latter are no lcnger subject TO UNI
friendly discrimination. but are now 10
be found in the very front ranks Of
English society. and if they are treated
with more distinguished consideration
I'm Great Britain than in any other
country in the world. save the United
States. il is again attributable 90 the
example Of King Edward
The German Emperor
In Germany the sociU influence Of
the Kaiser has been o. so wide-reach-
ing q character and has impressed itself
20 such a marked degree on every phase
and feature Of Teuton life that il is
difficult within the limits Of q letter
such as this 10 convey any notion OF
the extent thereof. Among other
changes which he has brought about is
the revival Of religious sentiment.
Since their accession to the throne
the Kaiser and his consort have made
charity and. above all, religion, fash
ionable IN Germany They have given
people 10 understand that the surest way
10 win their favor and their goodwill
was TO build new churches and 70 en-
dow and 10 create philanthropic insti-
tutions. Twenty years ago men rarely
attended church in Germany, the women
constituting DrOba. Nv nine-tenths of the
congregation, especially in the towns
and cities, while the social status OF
the pastor was far from being an en-
viable one. Today men. as well as Wo-|
men. consider il TO be their duty to put
IN an appearance at divine worship.
Piety has become popular, while the in
cFeaslng frequency of matrimonial al
liances between the women Of the arts
tOcracy and the members Of the clergy
speak volumes for the Improvement or
the social position OF the latter All
this is due wholly and entirely to the
social influence Of the Kaiser and Of his
kindly and estimate empress.
Conditions in Spain.
Nowhere has the social influence Of
the Crown. which 'Anglo-Americsn
denounces in the '.Nerth American Re
view as being so deleterious. worked
greater results than in Spain. where,
thanks TO the Queen-MOther Christina.
conditions exist today that constitute a
striking contrast TO those which pre-
vailed in Madrid during the reign OF
Queen Isabella. and even during that Of
her son and successor. The entire at
mosphere of the royal palace has
changed, and, thanks TO the purifying
| influence of the queen-motheT, quietly
exercised during the last seventeen. or
eighteen years. a court which was for
merly one Of the most pronigate in Flu
rope is today among the most respect
able and purest
Following the example Of Queen Vic
toria. Queen Christina set her face
against everything that was question
able. and closed the gates of the palace
to people whose lives were such as 20
invite unsavory comment The new
tone thus introduced at court has ex-
tended 10 Madrid society. which. in the
T time of Queen IsabelIa. was noted as the
1 most dissolute Of any capital in Europe,
4 whereas today it bears favorable com
/ parison with that of the other metro
I pOlitan cities OF the Old World.
In Italy. although King Victor En-
manuel has been but few years on
/ the throne. his influence exercised in
/ the direction Of economy, sobriety. and
purity of home life. is making itself ap-
parent in many ways, and the example
which he sets alike to the classes. as
well as to the masses. is productive Of
/ excellent results. Indeed, there are few
I rulers Of the Old World at the present
/ moment who have Het in one way Or
/ another improved TIE moral tone Of
I their people, and raised the standard Of
/ life Of the latter by Lceans of their So
| cial influence. EX-ATTACHE.