The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

the Court Circular, that Is 70 say, the
daily record issued by an official OF his
household 10 the press, Of his dOings, his
utterancss. and his movements, and Of
those Of the Empress, while It may serve
10 diminish his popularity with the
masses. is calculated to increase the
prestige of his throne.
The policy OF making the people ac-
quainted with the various phases Of the
existence OF the reigning house, and with
the intimate features OF the lstter's home
life, has its drawbacks as well as its ad-
vantages. For while on the one hand
it brings the reigning family into closer
touch with their fellow-citizens Of less
exalted rank. and creates a bond Of sym
patny between them by showing that
sovereigns and princes and princesses OF
the blood are subject TO the same lis
and the same weaknesses as ordinary
mankind. il Likewise emphasizes demo-
cratic teachings 20 the effect that roy
alties are after al mere mortals like
ourselves. made OF much the same clay
This is an impression which 1t is obvi-
ously dangerous 10 develop and promote
in these days OF the twentieth century,
when the doctrines Of equality ana fra
ternity are being carried 70 the lengths
Of socialism and anarchy. When men
become alive TO the fact that the mon
arch is Just one OF themselves. it may
increase their feIlow-feelinE. but Il di-
minishes their sense OF inferiority 10 him
They grow TO resent his superiority as
uniustifabic. and to become rebels to
his authority. In one word, II familiarity
has not bred contempt, at any rate Il
has begotten the destruction OF the old
time aUe for the an8OInted Of the Lord
That awe subsists only in the countries
where the ruler envelopes his existence in
a shroud OF mystery. and where little or
nothing is known by the people Of his
private life; where they only see him as
their sovereign, but never as a mere
fellow-ci1izen. Thus, while nothing is
hidden from the Danes. the Swedes and
the Norwegians Of the doiRgs Of their re-
spective kings. wha are treated with
good deal OF familiarity, HaakOn being
often addressed by his subjects At Chris
tisnia as Mr. King. the most profound
ignorance prevails. even IN Japan. con-
cerning the Mikado. Il Is thanks 20 this
ignorance that the leaders Of his people
entertain the deepest venerati0n for his
person and his throne.
japanese who have achieved pre-emi-
nence. even in Western capitals. as
princes Of the most modern branches Of
science. and decline TO accept Christianity
on account OF its alleged contradictions,
and absence Of reason and logic. accord
TO him reverence which IN this country
the deeply religious might concede 10
their creator, but 20 no one else. Even
Ito. the cynical, masterful statesman.
who has been received and banQueted by
nearly every crowned head in Europe.
from the Car 10 King Edward. never
dsres 10 raise his eyes from the ground
when consulted by his own sovereign.
while Il is said that Marshals Yamagata
and Oyama. as well as the other veterans
Of the army. do not even enter the i'm
peril presence without trepidatiOn, and
refer 20 him with bated breath.
AS for the ordinary people. they do not
even presume 10 mention the EmpeTor's
name. 1t is far too haIlowed TO be print
ed or spoken while he lives To them he
Is not 4 real man. with human weak
nesses. such as the Gar, the Kaiser. or
even the Pope, but an abstract ideal, al
most a god Thanks TO this. his authority
over them IS unquestjoned and supreme
Were his people TO become farnillaTized
with his person. with his environments
with his mode Of life. were, in one word.
this singulsriy Wide-awal5e and up-to-
date people TO be convinced thereby that
he was after all a mere mortal. such as
themselves, they would no longer concede
his superiority, and the most ancient
mo IN q ra
out Of existence
There IS no doubt. therefore. that while
publicity concerning the private life Of
the rulers OF the Old World may tempor-
arily increase the popularity by promot-
ing ties Of sympathy between themselves
and their people. f. diminishes their
prestige. and the belief OF the masses in
their superiority, upon which the entire
nonarchicaI system is founded
But leaving aside the question OF pol
icy in connection with the privacy and
the publicity Of the existence Of royalty.
there is another phase thereof TO be con
sidered. Many. especially here n Amer
ica, have an impression that the Occu-
pancy of a throne, or even Of a footing
on the steps thereof, must be extremely
enjoyable. They are convinced that 10 be
the objects Of public adulation and sub
serviency. TO be invested with all the
glam0r the pOmp. and the glitter Of
royalty is the acme of happiness. Pos
sibly il does not occur TO them that
while 70 be the cynOsure Of all eyes has
its fascinati0ns Il has also its drawbacks
Il IS al very well TO be in the limeiight
for an hour OF 50. as IN the case Of actors
and actresses on the stage, at matinees
and evening performances. But 10 be IN
the limelight al the time. morning. noon,
and night, 70 feel oneself always and for
ever TIE object Of eager scrutiny and
all-prying gaze, becomes not only terribly
trying, but downright torture. Even foot
light favOrites. 70 whom the applause Of
a theatrical audience Is as the breath OF
life, would find Il intoleTable in the long
run
Yet emperOrs and expresses. kings anad
queens. and even the minor fry OF the
sovereign houses Of Europe. are COM
PEELED 10 submit TO this. remaining on
exhibition at all hours Of the twenty
four. The strain on the nervous system
IS intolerable, especially upon those
whose health IS fran
Some OF them, although endeavors are
made from their earliest youth 10 accus-
tom them 10 be stared at by hundreds
and thousands OF curious and sometimes
unfriendly eyes, never become Injured
thereto and always regard it as tor
ture, among the number being the daugh-
teTs Of King Edward. the Empress Of
Russia, Queen Helene Of Italy. Queen Vic
toria OF Sweden. in & lesser degree Queen
Alexandra, and her mOther-in-law. the
late Queen Victoria; and last but by no
means least. the late Empress OF Austria,
who developed q positive aversion for
the Fiennese. owing TO the inconceivably
rude manner n which she was stared at
not only through iorgnettes. but through
opera 2nd even huge marine glasses, /
whenever she made any public appear
ance. Is. for instance. in the Cornus