A Troublesome Duke.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 1 September 1886, Page 4

A Troublesome Duke.

TiiKitE are several stories related by the cou't chaplain respecting tho eccentricities of tho King's brother, the Duke of Cambridue, who would give vent quite loudly to tho thoughts current in his mind during divino Service. When the clergyman said, "i et us pray," tho Duke added audibly, " With all my heart." On another ccrasion, as wo have heard, ho said, " Why the devil shouldn't we?" Once, aa the unfortunate cii.f.te was readiag the story ot Zacobeus, "Behold tho half of my goods I give to the poor," tho Duko astonished the eongrcgalion by Baying aloud : "No, no ! I can't do that ; that's too much for any man -no objection to a tenth." in answer to " Thou shalt not steal," tho Duke remarked : " No, I never did steal anything except some apples when 1 was quite a littlo boy." Onco the duke objected to the prayer for rain on account of tho wind. "No use praying for rain in a northeast wind." Tho prayer for rain sometimes causes quarrels in country parishes. We knew a case of a farmer rushing to tho squire to complain of hia parson's selfishness. " Directly he gets up his own rubbishing piece of hay " sail tha irritated agriculturist, "he begins to pray for rain." Tho court chaplain informs us that the curate of Kew got so norvous at the continued interruptions of his royal highncs.i that ho resigned his appointment.