Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1901 — QUEEN IS IN DANGER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

QUEEN IS IN DANGER.

VICTORIA REPORTED TO BE SERIOUSLY ILL. Britain’s Aged Sovereign Collapses, Mentally and Physically, and End Seems Not Far Distant—Court Physicians Are Said to Fear the Worst. The news that Queen Victoria is, dangerously ill startled England Friday. No court circular appeared and eminent physicians hurried from London to Osborne by special trains. It is the first , time that there has been any official admission that the Queen, who is the oldest sovereign that has ever reigned in England, Is otherwise than in excellent health. Ten days ago her majesty’s digestion became impaired, her appetite failed and she has since been rapidly going down. Her physicians have privately admitted the .seriousness of the problem confronting them. The proclamation of the fact that her majesty’s physicians insist upon her being kept perfectly quiet in the house, and upon her complete abstinence from the transaction of all business, is construed as indicating that there has been not only a physical, but likewise a mental collapse, in which case the end of this eventful reign cannot be long delayed.

The South African war has been a tremendous trial to Victoria. The killing and maiming of her troops has borne crushingly upon her, and it is said that she has thought of nothing but war for many months. The death of her grandson, Prince Christian, proved a shattering blow to her nervous system. When Lord Roberts visited the aged sovereign two weeks ago he found her intellectual-

ly alert and apparently physically well. Unfortunately, the field marshal could not encourage the fond dream in which she had begun to indulge that the South African struggle was at an end. This mournful fact seems to have pierced her despairing heart like a knife. Since the commander-in-chief’s visit the Queen has withdrawn herself from all save her immediate family and taken her meals alone. When Victoria dies and Albert Edward succeeds to the throne monarchy in England will have .received a severe blow. The present generation has been brought up with the Queen as the beneficent and gracious head of the State. It is impossible to think of the British empire without the Queen as its ruler. However

excellent may be King Albert, be can never hope to occupy the position which his mother has held for nearly sixty-four years. He will of necessity follow in her footsteps. Sixty years precedent is hard to change, and the hand of the Queen, although absent, will long direct the policy or the British empire. When the Queen dies, the greatest personal influence of the age dies also. She stands as the head of the great family of European monarchs and even those not directly related to Queen Victoria have always been accustomed, before they came to their thrones, to see her seated firmly at the head of the British empire. To all European monarchs she has been counselor, guide and friend.

Since President McKinley has had the grip he has received enough cure-all from all parts of the country to stock a goodsized pill shop.

Spain (in a whisper)—Don’t get the old man riled. I did once.—Chicago Inter Ocean.

QUEEN VICTORIA.

LOCATION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES.