There will be a deep feeling of sympathy in this
country for the Emperor and Empress of Russia in the serious illness of their little son of eight. Owing to the secrecy in which the Imperial Palace is shrouded, it is difficult to make out exactly what has happened, but evidently the poor child is very ill, though Friday's telegrams report that his temperature is lower. It is hardly necessary to say that all kinds of wild rumours are afloat as to how the illness arose. There are indeed stories, which of course are ridiculous, of poison given by those who would prefer another succession. Now we are told that the boy fell from his pony, and now that the illness is due to the Tsarevitch having a fall while he was clambering on the spars of the Imperial yacht Standart.' Support is given to this last version by the fact that Admiral Chagin, who commanded the Imperial yacht, committed suicide on Thursday last " because he con- sidered himself officially responsible." Other stories, however, attribute the suicide to a love affair. In all probability all these sensational rumours are without foundation whatever, and the child's illness is as simple or as obscure in its origin as are the illnesses of children less highly placed. We feel certain that the anxiety and the unhappiness of his father and mother are not less acute than in the case of humbler people. They may be sure that the sympathy of the whole British people is with them.
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