The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-21
old GENERATION
QUICKLY PASSING.
Deaths Of Florence Nightingale
and Lord Spencer Recall
Sad Memories.
.sPE :: 9 q: LIFE IRA G nc
Would Have Been Prime Minis
r. terSof England Had He
Lived.
ny WILLIAM n. STEAD.

Especial to The Times Dispatcl,.1
London, August 20.-The death OF
Florence Nightingale and Lord Spencer
reminds us once more Of the rapid
passing of the older generation. Twenty
years ago Europe was dominated by
men born In the first half Of the nine
teenth century. To-day tho number
OF those who date back to the forties
Is very few. The twentieth century is
emancipating itself from the dead
hand of the nineteenth. Tho era Of
the airship is. succeeding the era Of
the railway and steamship, and the
air man is old enough to remember
the last great European war.
Florence Nightingnle's funeral on
Saturday revived many painful mem
cries and evoked many reflections.
The Crimenn War that was to have
rehabilitated Turkey and destroyed
the Russian COLOSSUS failed in botlits
primary objects. But it deserves to
be remembered, in history with graft
tude because 1t discovered Florence
Nightingale. Not on the battlefield,
but In the hospital. the most lasting
single-handcd against the world. Not
the Treaty Of Paris, but the institu-
etion Of the Order OF Nurses was the
chief trophy OF 1S53-1S56. To super
ccdc Sairey Camp by Florence Night
ingale was one Of the most memorable
achievements of the nineteenth CEN
fury. We owe 1t to st. Tilomenn, the
lady with the lamp, the secular vestal
virgin of the religion Of health.
Z. Spcnccr's Life Tragic.
Lord Spencer might have been Prime
Minister in 1906 had he not been
smitten down with paralysis. There
was something peculiarly tragic in the
fate Of the second men in each OF our
great parties suddenly struck down
by disease at what they hoped to be
the browning moment of their career.
For four years Lord Spencer. like
Joseph Chamberlain, fingered helpless
awaiting the tardy summons to rest.
Now he has gone.
How long Chamberlain's release Will
he deferred none can say. His death
in life inhicts upon him the misery of
Tantalus.
The eightieth birthday of Francis
Joseph. the Austrian Emperor. reveals
him probably for the last time as
conspicuous figure on the European
stage De Blowitz used to prophesy
with intense conviction that the death
Of Francis Joseph would bring about
a great European war. De Blowitz
has been dead long and Francis
Joseph has not long to remain with
us. But mono expects his death will
cause political convulsion. His sue
cessor will without doubt have his
troubles. but none anticipates the
general scramble which ten years ago
was regarded as certain.
Francis Joseph Lonely.
E>ra ole IoconEt 81 fan
lonely as he looks over the lsovereigns
OF the world They might. most Of
them. be his grandsons. He towers
saloft as the solitary survivor OF the
great group of older sovereigns who
have rehabilitated the monarchies Of.
Europe. BOYS sit on the thrones of
Spain and Portugal and Norway. A
/ girl Queen reigns in Holland. Russia.
England and Germany are ruled by
grandsons of Queen Victoria. Only in
8Roumania and Montenegro are there
elderly sovereigns. Monarchy Is now
in the stewardship of youth.
Aeroplnncs mt $4,000 Each.
The success of the Chica goan in
augurating the first passenger service
across the English Channel by the
aerial route is worthy Of Chicago. It
will give a new flllip to the rush sky
wards hear OF the formation Of
aeroplane companies on all sides. One
of the first in tho field Is to be a
company which has Prince Roletoff as
managing director. He only has q
moderate capital, but II, as he prom
Uses. he can supply .triplanes ut $500