The Washington herald., 1907-01-13

King and Queen Of Norway. while In
Denmark King Frederick now reigns in
the place OF his father, old King Chris
tiau. In the issue Of 1896 Korea figured
as an independent empire. without any
reference to its vassalage 20 Japan. or 70
the protectorate which the latter has
assumed over H. This year, however,
Korea is included among che dependencies
% Japan, though curiously enough de-
scribed as AN absolute monarchy" and
the national independence Of which has
been recognized BY all the foreign pow
ers." A note is added 20 this to the ef-
feet that by treaty bearing the date Of
November II, 1866, Korea has "c0naded
the direction Of its foreign relations 10
the japanese government" This some
what conflicting and confusing descrip-
ton can hardly be said 70 convey any
idea Of the extent Of the supremacy q
Japan over Korea. tae former having not
only assumed control OF ali the foreign
relations. but also Of the internal admin
lstratlon Of the latter, Gepriving the En-
peror and the native statesmen and or
Gals or every vestige Of power. IL the
true condition Of affairs has not been set
forth In the AIuanach. II IS because
Japan alone o. all governments declines
20 furnish the publishers with any official
dala or information. The japanese have
iong borne grudZe against the Alma
/ naeh. owing 70 the refusal Of the pub
fishers TO include the Emperor and En-
press Of Japan among the sovereign
/ houses IN Part ! Of the volume Turkey
Monaco and Montenegro are comprised
therein. but not the reignlng dynasty OF
Japan, despite the fact that the latter
IS now recognized as great power. All
sorts OF influence has been brought to
bear upon the editors ia behalf Of the
Mikado. But the Almanacn is extremely
conservative, and il is probable that some
years more will eIapse before the pub
fishers at length consent 70 find a place
Tor the Tenno. and for the members Of
his house. in Part !. among the other
dynasties Of civilized nations.
Three years ago the editors OF the Al
manach were obliged 70 announce that
IL view Of the ever-increasing number OF
the demands made upon them for inser-
ton in the Gotha, no house Of the no
biilty from theneeforth would receive
mention which did not have its honors
duly recognized BY the government Of
the country TO which II belonged Up
till that time no strict rule existed as
TO the admission or exclusion Of names in
Part III The consequence was. that
what with the wholesale distribution Of
titles by the Papacy, and the stiI more
extensive usIrpation Of ilustrious names
and dignities without warrant. especially
IN France, the editors found that il they
were 10 attempt TO satisfy all the de-
he ~~fafHr a.
have to be increased 20 at least four or
FIVE times its present size. and would at
the same time lose much Of its value.
The result OF this ruling was the disap-
pearance from the Aimanach Of a num-
Der OF names which had figured in its
pages for years, thus giving room 70
many who should have been comprised
thefein, but who had been left out for
lack OF space. Thus. for instance, Il
/ brought about the elimination Of all the
ROumanian titles, since these have not
merely been abolished but likewise for
hidden by the Roumanian government
The same Is true with Greece: while many
Frenchmen, whose titles. obtained from
/ The Papacy, had not been registered and
recognized by the government In Paris In
accordance with the law, were banished
/ from the Gotha.
/ No attempt s made by the Almanach
/ TO describe the somewhat anomalous con-
dition Of affairs which prevails at the
present moment N CUBA The latter still
I figures as an independent republic. But
I IN the place Of a daily elected President
there is a provisional governor in the
! person Of Charles 8Iagoon, appointed by
I the United States government The read
/ ers OF the Ainanach receive no exp.ana-
/ ton of this, and are left, so far as the
/ book is concerned, TO draw their own con-
/ illusions.
One OF the most interesting additions
10 the Almanach is that Of the name and
family OF the young Duke Of Medina-Celt.
which now appears for the first time in
the Almanach, although he is the pre-
mier duke and the premier grandee Of
Spain. holding nearly a score of historic
ldukedoms and possessed Of a colossal
fortune. Moreover, he is a claimant TO
the throne Of Spain. in spite Of the fact
that he is one Of the closest friends OF
King Alfonso Few. indeed, save those
connected with European courts, are
aware Of his professions which he has
inherited. He is a direct descendant Of
King Ferdinand and queen Isabella. the
ipatrons Of Christopher Columbus, and for
him and for his family the dynasty that
now holds the crown OF Spain are moth
ling more than usuTpers; that is to say,
lin theory. For the duke is Don AlfonsO's
lprincipa! chamberlain, while his mother.
now married to the Duke of Santo MaurO.
lis a lady-in-waiting 10 the young Queen
and principal goyerness OF the young heir
lpresumptive. For the last four hundred
years. whenever a new King OF Spain has
I - -e-s~. Of p 10
been proclaimed, heralds Of the Duke OF
Medina-Celi, arrayed in tabards gor-
geously emblazoned with his coat-of-
arms, have appeared before the royal
palace and have protested in the name OF
their lord against the alleged usurpation.
/ have set forth his claims to the throne,
AID have challenged in his name all those
ventuTing 10 dispute the legitimacy Of
the dukes pretensions. calling upon them
/ TO defend their opinions in a duel 20 the
death. ION the mountain or on the plain,
/ by day or by night" No grandee OF
/ Spain has ever seen fit to take I'D the
challenge seriously. nor has the royal
! family offered any serious objection to
this manner Of formulating the preten-
sions of the Dukes OF Medina-CeI. and
the ceremony has been kept up more as
( a sort OF tradition and hereditary Gus
/ tom than anything else. may add that
on each occasion a change in the tenure
of the Spnish throne the Duke Of Me-
| dina-Celi sends a solemn note Of protest
against the usurpation Of the crown to all
the foreign governments. which is cour-
teously acknowledged, and there the mat
/ ter remains.
The duke is the twentieth Of his line TO
bear the title OF Medina-CeH. accorded by
Emperor Charles V when he founded the
Grandezza by granting it TO twelve Of his
peers. His principal home is Dlagni-
| ficent palace at Madrid, on the Carrera de
San Jeronimo. uhich dates from the sew