RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRINCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 14, 18 January 1892, Page 3

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRINCE.

INTERVIEW WITH ONE WHO KNEW HIM.

INTERESTING PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.

Suriily never a great and important personage died of whom so little was publicly known as of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale. The various works devoted to men of the time and reign were remarkably inefficient wibh regard bo bhe late prince, devoting bub the smallest space and fur-' nis'hing the scantiest details anc-mt his life. Of course, it ia only within the lasb two years that tho young heir presumptive has taken any active part in public affairs. During the last eighteen months ho has assisted his father in those public social functions —opening of institutions, laying foundation stoneß, attending public dinners, delivering addresses of welcome and other dutic- which are cho lot of hard-working princes of the present day. But few

records of these duties have reached the colony, and, as has been said, there are singularly few authoritative facts known about his early life, his habits, personality and fittedness for the high position he was supposed one day to till. Hearing that there was a gentleman living in Auckland who had personally known and lived wibh bhe young prince, having been an officer on bhe ship on which he served, a reporber sought an interview, and obbained the following extremely interesting reminiscences of Princo Albert Victor's early days. From motives of modesty and delicacy which do him credit, the gentleman does nob wish his name to appear, bub the interview itself is the best proof of its bona fide and truthful nature. A. PERSONAL . FRIEND. Would you kindly state what you remember about the late Duke? Certainly. I was brought in daily contact with the two sons of the Prince of Wates whilst they were between the ages of 13 and 15 years. You might tell me from your person_l ob-, servations what was the disposition, appearance and character of the late young heir presumptive. Ab that time and-until quite lately he was always known as Prince Edward. I remember him as a naval cadet on board the training ship Britannia. NICKNAMES AND APPEARANCE.' Their youthful messmates nicknamed these royal youngsters with the applications "Spud" and "Sprat," Mr Spud being understood to indicate Prince Edward. Air Spud was thon a tall boy for his age, very slim, elegant figure, with rather a long face, handsome deep blue eyes, and always clear complexion. He was rather shy, and listless. Interesting outwardly to contemplate, but wanting in activity, he was not like the usual English schoolboy. He had not the average " go " in him, but it must be remembered that his royal mother brought him prematurely into the world through a fall on the ice while skating. This no doubt affected Prince Edward's constitution during his short lifetime. ALWAYS SUFFERED ILL-HEALTH. In each term he was on board the Britannia he would be laid up in bed for three or four times during the term, ,_nd for three or four days euch time suffering from slight intermittent foyer. Though there was never any danger, yet it weakened him considerably. I vvas frequently requested by the Rev. J. M. Dalton to take a spell ab the invalid'a bedstead alone, so as to while away the tedioustiess for him. I found him always amiable and most courteous. 1 used to read Kingsloy's boy books to him and spin nautical yarns. These he seemed never to tiro of, and displayed great curiosity to know what was going on in the outer world. A CHILDISH LAD. Tho young princes, through having '-previously to joining the Britannia never mixed with any other boys, were very childish indeed for their years—quite a marked contrast to the other cadets, but [ this childishness wore off gradually. They r were breatod exacbly bhe same as bhe obher cadets, and the Prince of Wales showed a strong common sense in having bhese (measures carried oub. No bobber school in the universe could be found for them. A high-standard of "honour Is maintained amongst the cadets. HONOUR ON THE BRITANNIA. If a cadet is paraded on suspicion of committing an offence, and if that cadet declares on his honour thab a"-mistake has been made aud he did nob commib it, his word is taken and no punishment follows. This confidence is rarely, if ever, misplaced. If ib is, the cadeb is mosb severely punished by the aubhorities, and his gmessmates "send him to Coventry" tp mark their disgust of the unbrubh. Messrs Spud and Spratb had to keop in their spheres as new boys. If they cheeked a senior cadeb THEY WERE CUFFED ABOUT, and for the first three months one or both of tho princes generally appeared-on parade with a black oye, the result of some fistic exercise. For slight offences, such as throwing ink about or making a noise during study, they were often under punishment, which consisted of being placed under bhe insbructions of a sergeant of marines for riile drill on deck—whilst bhe other cadets were ashore at the cricket ground, and behold! there was our possible future king with a musket on his shoulder, being marched up and down the deck right and lafb turning, halt! front! and all the rest of squad drill, like the humblest private of any of H.M. regiments. SCANTY POCKET MONEY. The Prince ox Wales allowed his boys to bring back from holidays as pocket-money only 10s each quarter, and in addition to. this they received one shilling a week, the same aa the obher cadets. I remember well the mustering of the cadets on a Saturday, waiting in aline till their names were called, then marching up to the paymaster's table and picking up their modest "Roberb." I used to bo much amusod bo see how eagerly bhe young royaltios picked up their earnings, bub if they had been up a certain number of times for punishment during the week the shilling was stopped, and they would step past the table, cast a wistful look ab the silver which was not for thorn, and pass on. WHAT THEY WERE TAUGHT. They were taught to swim, row, sail a boat, seamanship, navigation (theorebical and practical), French, bhe higher branches of mabhemabics, with Scripture history on Sunday afternoon. They did nob show any marked proficiency above bhe other cadets, and Sprat (Prince George) was decidedly tho smartest lad. They were always scrupulously clean, Prince Edward even to foppishness ; as to jewellery, the Prince of Wales restricted them to a silver watch and chain only. No rings of any sorb. It was my duty on half holidays to superintend bhe cadets' sports in the huge cricket hold consisting of 2,000 acres (part of the royal estate on tho bank of the Dart), and I noticed that Spud and Sprat were FONDER OF LAWN TENNIS THAN OF CRICKET, and many a bag of lollies would "Mr Spud " get if he was on my side ab tennis nnd we won. lf not, he bad to go without so as to encourage him to play better. Now I think, Mr Reporter, I have given you all the details I can think of at the passing-moment. What did the officers call the princes, by the way—not Spud and Sprat, I presume ? Oh, no; bhey wore addressed by bheir bibles, but they bnd to touch bheir caps to any superior officer, just as any obher cadet. Were they bullied ? No, not any more or loss than other new 'boys. There was a sorb of mutual feeling amongst the boys against making bhe slightesb difleronca one way or the other. The death will bo a great blow, nob only to tho royal house, but bhe country at large. From what I gather, however, the late Duke was scarcely strong enough to have borne with pleasure to himself tho onerous post of King of England. Alter a pause, the interviewed gentleman remarked : Prince George Is far more fitted by nature—ab least, such is my opinion from having seen both--and ought to make a better king than his brother could evor have done ; this entiroly without disrospect to the dead Duke, who wa3 goodness and amiability itself, but as I have already said, Prince Edward. 1 vvas unfortunately constitutionally and physically weak, like a hothouse plant, that : I is too much forced for its strength. .1 THE NEW HEIR. ; Prince George waa a merry urchin, brim- ■ ■ ful ol fun and mischief, ot a non-vicious

sort,alwayslaughingand joking. Yebhehad plenty of dash, activity, and good sense, and though lamenting thab our young prince of such a harmless disposition should be suddenly cut off just as he was enbering the threshold of life, yet since you have | hinted at the matter, in my humble opinion j the ancient echo of the populace years ago, I "the king is djead, long live the king,''' iapplies now. I wish you good morning.