The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20
KING EDWARD IS
 VERY SICK MAN Said to Be Much Sicker Than the Public Realizes. THE STRAIN OF ELECIoNs Will Talk short Hoiiday--The Rev. Horne Is the First Clergyman
 to Enter English House
 of Commons
THE STRAIN OF ELECIoNs

London, February 1s.-(special)-King Edward is a much sicker man than the public realizes I called attention to the state of his majesty,s health in these let ters several weeks ago. His condition at that time gave alarm to. the Kings fam fly and intimates. The very severe strain of the general elections, the mighty in terests involved. the indecisive results of the election, and the necessity of King Edwards deciding whether or not he will agree to the notifications in the powers of the House of Lords which the government will demand, or precipitate another general election, have greatly ag gravated his majesty's symptoms and it is an open secret now that he is very sick man.
 While no official information as to what Is the matter with the King can be obtained, there are indications that he is suffering from Brights disease.
 He is lethargie. inclined to drop off to sleep at odd moments and under almost any circumstances and every efferot is made to have him take more outdoor ex- ercise.
 Everybody about the King has received the hint to make him walk. The Marquis de Several. the Kings favorite compan- ion, is himself an indefatigable pedes- trian. Croquet and golf have both been tried to induce his majesty to potter about, but the most successful agency is his favorite little dog The pretty wo- men about the King are almost all over 90, and after that age most self-respect- ing women walk daily for the sake of their figure. Beguiled by amusing stories in which he delights, the King walked much during his recent visit to Brighton.
 It Is hoped that his majesty will be benefited by his regular spring holiday, arrangements for which are now com plete.
 His majesty will leave this country on the afternoon of Monday. March 21. and will cross to Calais in the royal yacht Victoria and Albert He will halt for one night in raris, staying at his old apartments in the British embassy there. The British ambassador, Sir Francis Der tie. proposes to give dinner party in his majesty's honor. and it is understood that the President will attend this, as well as the heads of the French government. On the following morning the King will leave for Biarritz. where his usual suite in the Hotel Rgina are now in readiness for his reception. His stay there will be limited to about three weeks, during which time he will have several meet ings with the King of Spain.
 Subsequently his majesty will proceed to Marseilles, where he will join the Queen and Princess Victoria for short cruise on the royal yacht. It is also pos sible that the Empress Marie of Russia 1.- ,t -z fTx aot,k h. will then proceed al far as Genoa or Venice, where the King will leave II and return overland to this country. The Queen, however. will not return until some weeks later. It is regretted that affairs of state will not permit the King a longer holiday.
 Rev. Sylvester Horne, pastor of Whit fields tabernacle in Tottenham Road has the honor to be the first active clergy man to become a member of the House of Commons. He has been elected as liberal from Ipswich. Under the law a clergyman cannot be member of the House of Commons, but it is held that a non-conformist minister Is not legally a clergyman and the disability does not apply to him. MT. Horne is one of the leading non-conformists in the city, an or ator of recognized ability and man of force.
 One of the most important measures to be pushed in the new parliament will be the reform of the electoral law by which plural voting will be done away with.
 The power of the plural voter has never been more fully exemplified than during the present election In one case Lon don man travelled $50 miles in one day in a motor. car and recorded his vote in six county constituencies.
 The liberals arc determined to put an end to this style of voting by adopting the American plan of one man, one vote. The first British naval airsIip, which is being completed by Messrs. Vickers, Sons, anu Maxim, at Barrow-in-Furness. will be Launched" within the next few weeks. Already the crew, consisting of six officers and men from the school ship Vernon, have been selected and they are now undergoing a course of instruc- ton. The airship. which has been de- signed for the purpose of patrolling the North sea, is of the rigid type. and will be the largest of the kind in the world, with the exception of the sseppelin air ships. Although the strictest secrecy has been observed as to details 1t is known that it will be of a far more ad- vanced type than any hitherto con- structed. One special feature is a mag azine for carrying explosives. The en- gtnes are expected to develop about 200 horse power. The airship would, if re- ,quired, be able to carry from 20 to 20 men, but the crew has been limited to six in order to allow for the carriage of as much war material as possible. It Is understood that the admiralty airship will not be attached to any fleet or squadron, but will have permanent head quarters on the northeast coast. .fs
 Speaking of airships. England has the first real 'ssky pilot and he bears the very appropriate name of Swan, the Rev Sidney Swan, vicar of Crosby. Mir Swan is an enthusiastic aeronaut and has built an aeroplane of his own construction. He made a flight recently at Liverpool and while the wind tipped over his ma chine and bruised the reverend flyer to some extent, he is not at all discouraged and announced he. will keep at it.