After the Fashoda incident France gradually lost her African provinces, leaving England in undisputed sway over a continent that in wealth and resources proved far superior to her great Indian Empire. In 1999 Alexander II, of Great Britain, ruled over a mighty empire. In the nineteenth century British kings and queens were just plain, every day royalties, transacting a legitimate business in that line and otherwise enjoying the respect and confidence of their patrons. It was generally understood that the "king can do no wrong." This was indisputable for the simple reason they never did anything at all. But when great Africa became a British province, it was then felt necessary to add still another title to the British Crown and in 1999 Britain's Sovereign became known to his chums and acquaintances as King of Great Britain and Ireland, D. F., Emperor of India, Mogul of Africa and Right Bower of the Americas, because, in 1999 none of England's important deals were regarded as complete without a Yankee plum in the pie. Sometimes England contrived, as the phrase goes, to "get her foot in it" but cousin Jonathan across the salt pond, always managed to yank her out. In 1999 England still held a firm grip upon India. The secret of Samson's herculean [How England Holds India.] strength was due to the fact that a lawn-mower had never tampered with his hair. But the secret of the British lion's power in India did not consist in the fact that the lordly beast cultivated a full mane. India in 1999, as in the year 1899, still continued to remain the world's most brilliant illustration that nations which are divided among themselves must inevitably fall. In 1899 the question was repeatedly asked, how can England with a mere corporal's guard, hold together the vast, mystic India under her sway? How can a nation of 40,000,000 people, like England, hold under her sway a far distant continent like India with its population of 350,000,000 people?