Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-10

LONDON. December 60, 1903.
TNGLAND is just recovering from one
r. of the greatest scares of recent
- years. Although every effort has
been made 10 conceal the real facts from
the general public, 1t has become known
that King Edward is slowly recovering
from an extremely serious breakdown.
His recent ''indisposition' was officially
referred to as cold, but the press,
which was in possession of the real facts.
but did not dare print them. gave ample
| indication of the real seriousness OF the
kings illness by devoting columns OF
space to the subject To the uninitiated
such a display of alarm over a mere
cough appeared ridiculous. but in the
peculiar conditions which surround and
! hamper newspaper work in this country
it was the only method OF conveying news
that could not be stated in plain terms
The medical advisers OF King Edward
have for some time past spent many
sleepless nights over his state of health.
There has been gradual but steady
weakening of the system. and 1t is the gen.
orally accepted opinion that he would not
be able to shake off any of the more seri-
GUS diseases to which kingly flesh. in
common with that of the rest of human
ity. IS heir to. To add to the medical
anxiety. neurosis has set in. and within
the past year or two the king has visibly
aged. to the CONSERVATION of all those in
attendance upon him. and extraordinary
precautions have been taken 20 shield him
from such mild complaints as cold, chils
and influenza, which it was felt might
prove to be entering wedges for more
complicated illnesses.
x =
When his recent Illness set in Sir
Thomas Barlow was hurriedly called in.
the ease. Sir Francis Laking was imme-
diately iafterward summoned in cossulta-
ton. After thorough examination an
immediate change Of climate was inl-
peratively insisted upon by the two
famous doctors. Hurried orders were
sent out. tciegra phic messages were dis
patched over the eater part OF England
and the king was bundled off to Brighton
The long string of social engagements
which. as usual. were down on the kings
books was Cancelled with regrets.
Under the finest medical care in the
world and the fine bracing air of Brighton.
the danger TO the kings health temperate
ly passed.
So punctilious is his majesty in the mat
ter of his social engagements that he in
sisted upon resuming them soo1
possible. This resulted in relapse in
his illness. He had arranged to spend
a short time at the country seat of Lord
Burton and. as he had several times been
hndered from paying expected visits 10
the brewery peer. he insisted upon coming
up from Brighton and making all ar
rangements for keeping his latest promise.
But the setback to his cure became SO
alarming that eventually. at the eleventh
hour the royal visit was called off and
the king was again bundled off to Brish-
ton.
One of the most conclusive evidences
of the kings impaired health is the fact
that some of his official duties have been
lifted from his shoulders and deposited on
those of the Prince of Wales, Aside from
his constant round of social duties the
king is not a busy man. Yet il was felt
that the daily round of routine work was
q strain on his ma jesty. and. so far as has
been possible. that work has been taken
over by the future king.