England has been spending a very busy week celebrating the Queen's
Jubilee.

On such occasions, when the attention of the world is centred upon a
country, it seems to be the custom to publish startling rumors, to keep
up the excitement.

The Jubilee has been no exception to this rule. The wildest reports have
been circulated.

One account declared that the Queen was totally blind, and would not be
able to enjoy any of the festivities prepared in her honor.

This was promptly contradicted, but was soon revived with the addition
that the story was "strictly true," but that London was hushing it up
until the Jubilee was over.

Following closely on the heels of this came a new story, that Queen
Victoria was about to abdicate. This story stated that the Prince of
Wales would not be crowned King while his mother lived, but would occupy
the throne.

Abdication is the act of giving up or relinquishing the right to hold an
office. It is the same as resigning, but the word is almost without
exception used in the case of a sovereign or ruler of a country.

Abdication should be an act of free will on the part of the person who
resigns.

Queen Liliuokalani claims that she is still the rightful Queen of