ROYAL TITLES.

Evening Star, Issue 11662, 24 September 1901, Page 3

ROYAL TITLES.

The King's new title, imposing as it sounds, is less impressive than it might have been if our rulers had token a page out of the books of some of the Sovereigns of old. The Kings of Achem, for example, were not to lie confined to mere dominions oversea. I'hoy were "Sovereigns of the universe, whose bodies were luminous ay the sun, whom God created to be as accomplished as the moon in her plenitude; whose eye glittered like the Northern star; Kings 'as spiritual as the ball is round ; who, when they rose, shaded all the people; and from under whose feet a sweet odor was wafted." I he monarch of Kandyar modestly assumed the name of the Deity, "the protector of religion ; whose fame is infinite, of surpassing excellence, exceeding the moon and the unexpanded jessamine buds, the stars, etc. ; whose feet are as fragrant to the noses oi other kings as flowers to bees." There have been Lords of the Sun and Moon, Masters of the Universe, and Monarchy of the Four-and-Twenty Umbrellas among the world's ancient kings; and His Majesty of Arracan, besides being "Possessor of the White Elephant and the Two Ear-rings," was, in virtue of this possession, " legitimate heir of Peru and Brama. lord of the twelve provinces of Bengal and the twelve kings who place, their heads under his feet." Not even King Edward can boast of having a dozen majesties under his feet, and he must sigh in vain, if he sighs at all, for the glory of the King of Arracan. We are getting much simpler in our titles. Perhaps it is that the onword march of democracy is affecting these last strongholds of aristocracy. At any rate the days are over when the Popes of Roriie lay claim to being the " Masters of the World/' as some of them styled themselves not very far back in history; and the papal titles of "Universal Father " and " Monarch of Christendom " have disappeared. Leo X. must have been an amiable if somewhat woiiihtv individual. He was: "Divine Majesty, Husband of the Church, Prince of the Apostles, tho Pastor and Phvsician possessed of all power both hi Heaven and earth. His successors were contented for a tune with the name " Lord God the Pope " and " Vicegerent of the Most High " '