The Saint Paul globe., 1903-10-14
KINGS AND QUEENS
AS SPECTATORS
Some Remarkable Figures Concern
ing Royal investments.

LONDON, Oct. 13.-Sovereign, like
other people, are very much on the
lookout fer sound and, if possible,
profitable securities in which to invest
their spare cash. but their mode of in
vesting money differs somewhat from
that of the ordinary individual
For instance, if King Edward wished
to put 6 900 into railway stock. he
would purchase the stock in the names
of two members of his household, one
being usually" the keeper of the privy
purse. A month or so later, if his
majesty decided to hold the stock as a
permanent investment, the stock would
be then registered in his name; if, how
ever. by selling the stock good profit
could be made, King Edward would
probably instruct one of the purchasers
to sell, and the amount made on the
transaction would be placed to the
credit of his majesty's private banking
account.
AS a matter of fact, King Edward
rarely puts any money into speculative
securities, and since his accession to
the throne has confined his financial
dealings altogether to first-class Sc
eurities, which are purchased as per-
manent Investments
The late queen invested a great deal
OF money very profitably, and was
guided in all such matters by the ad-
vice of certain well known member Of
the court who Is one of the soundest
financierS in England. He at one time
held over e 100000 worth of stock in
his own name which he purchased for
Queen Victoria, who placed unlimited
confidence in his judgment.
The most systematic speculator
among European sovereigns is the en-
peror of Russia, who has the keenest
insight into the workings of the money
bod IL
ment. The czar has made 1T a rule
never to lose more than e 10000 In one
twelvemonth in financial speculations.
This sum seems no doubt very large,
but it must be borne in mind that the
emperor Of Russia is one of the richest
men in the world, and the loss of such
a sum in one year would cause him
but little, if any, inconvenience. Only
once did the czar actually lose in one
year the limit to which he is prepared
to go.
That was five years ago, when his
imperial majesty purchased a large
number of shares in a Russian gold
mine that turned out to be absolutely
worthless. They were purchased on
the advice of a certain gentleman in
whom the car had great confidence:
but 1T afterwards turned out that this
individual knew the shares to be a
very bad investment, and induced the
cZar to buy in order that he himself
might get rid of his own shares in
the mine, which he probably could not
otherwise have done.
The czar conducts all his financial
transactions through an agent, and
his imperial majesty wishes to retain
for any time are registered then in
his own name.
The czarina, like all great Russian
ladies, was at one time a keen specu-
lator on the stock exchange but some
years ago she lost heavily over certain
transactions in American shares, and
since then has rigidly avoided any
risky SpeculationS. The cZarina in her
dealings in American securities is said
to have lost e $4,000 in one week
The Austrian emperor has a great
deal of money invested in land, a form
of security he prefers to any other.
Some years ago he deputed two agents
to go to England with a view to pur-
chasing building land that gave prom
ise of becoming valuable. The agents
were over two years in this country,
but failed to do any business owing
to the niggardly policy of their royal
master, who is one of the closest men
in Europe as regards money.
His agents could have secured him
some building land near Birmingham
for e 500 per acre which a short time
ago was actually sold for 91,OOO per
acre. The Austrian emperor, however.
declined to pay a farthing more than
G $50, and so lost what would have
turned out to be a profitable invest
ment
The sultan of Turkey used to be
most reckless Speculator. Some years
ago he. however, lost very heavily ow-
ing to the defalcations of the minister
entrusted to look after his financial
transactions. The minister fed for his
life to the Argentine Republic. where
he died some time ago, and the sultan
has since practically given up all
speculative operations in stocks and
shares.
The empress of Germany is the finan-
cial adviser of the kaiser. In all mat
ters relative to his private purse the