The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-18
DOCTRINE OF DIVINE RIGHT
Though Rdicued Here 1t Believed by Millions of Educated
People Abroad
People Abroad.


to the exhortations OF his chaplain with
the exclamation. But one thing consoles
me. Monsieur rAbbe. and that Is tnat
up there, in the paradise OF the stars
shall still be the dauphin. ! kpo" that
the good God is my cousin. and cannot
fail 10 treat me according 10 my rank
Although some two centuries have
passed away since the death OF this
little dauphin, there are to-day many
rulers. as well as princes and rrineesses
OF the blood. who, II. they do not openly
describe themselves as first cousins OF
the Almighty, are at any rate convinced
that they are possessed OF sort OF
semi-divine superiority above their fellow
creatures, and that the rights and priv
ileges which they enjoy are OF sacred
origin The existence of this belief can
be readily understood when the peeu-
liar atmosphere in which they i've Is
taken into consideration.
From their earliest youth they are sur
rounded by retainers, mostly Of noble
birth. whose sole duty il is to hunor
their every within. 20 divine their wishes.
even before they are expressed, 10 say
yea 10 their yea. and nay to their nay,
without venturing TO have any opinion
Of their own, and who are supposed 20
preserve their royal and imperial charges
from anything that can possibly prove
offensive or even disagreeable. When ~
this is added the pomp and glory OF the
military honors which are rendered 10
them by officers and soldiers alike. and
the adulation which they receive, not
only from the masses. but also from the
classes, II becomes only natural that
they should end by possessing the most
exaggerated notions concerning them
selves. Even their very faults are de-
scribed as virtues, and their most flag
rant offenses are apt 10 be construed as
mere harmless and amiable eccentncities
Stories Not Authentic.
The stories OF the Spartan rigor with
which royal princes are reared must be
taken with a good deal OF salt Old
Prof Hntzpeter. the mentor OF En-
peror William and PriHce Henry during
their schoolboy days. taught them much
that was useful. and was largely instru-
mental in the Kaiser's being sent. first 10
the gymnasium or public high school at
Cassel. and afterward 10 the University
OF Bonn But when his royal pupil ven
tured 20 shake hands with a classmate
OF plebeian rank. or with an inferior
such as an artisan. a laborer, a peasant,
or some domestic. he would incur bitter
reproaches from the professor, and would
be compelled 10 al once wash his hands
in order 10 escape contamination.
4 handshake from royalty is a rarity
just because OF this belief on the part Of
thu snointed Of the Lord in the species
OF sacred character Of the royal touch.
Thus. during a period Of over half CEN
fury the late Queen Victoria was In fire.
quent intercourse with William (. Glad
stone. who was called upon 10 repeatedly
visit her each year. as Cabinet minister,
as premier, and as leader Of the opposi-
ton. For in England the sovereign is
held, not by law. but by public opinion.
20 such strict impartiality between the
rival political factions that Queen Vic
toria. - Well as King Edward. while re-
framing from discussion OF public affairs
with the leaders of the opposition. always
mads a point Of inviting them. not mere
ly 10 all state functions. but also TO en-
tertainments of a more private cherac-
ter. such as, for instance. 70 dinners and
weekend parties at Windsor. Osborne.
SandTingham, and BalmoTsL Yet dur
ing all that long period Of fifty years or
more Queen Victoria only once shook
hands with the famous statesman who,
during the latter portion OF his life. was
known as the Grand Old Man" and in
the Life OF Gladstone, published by Lord
Morley, who had access 10 all the pa
pers and correspondence OF his illustri-
Gus friend and colleague. there is a brief
and pathetic little note OF the latter,
mentioning the fact that the first and
only time that Queen Victoria had shaken
hands with him, was in the last year OF
his life, a few months before his death,
after he had finally retired from politics.
and was making a vain attempt 10 re-
cover health and strength IN the south OF
France. where bis aged sovereign was
then staying with the same object in
view
II would be a mistake 10 construe this
incident related by the great Liberal
statesmen as a manifestation by her late
majesty of the unfriendly feelings which
she is generally believed TO have enter
tanned toward this oldest and most tried
of her public servants. II she refrained
from shaking hands with him. II was
because the members OF the reigning
houses of the Old World, and in particu-
lar those who WELD the scepter, are ex-
tremely chary about offering their hands
in greeting. Why so many Americans