KING EDWARD IN MARIENBAD.

Auckland Star, Issue XXXVI, 21 October 1905, Page 13

KING EDWARD IN MARIENBAD.

This year, as before, His Majesty's visit has furnished the gossips with a number, of stories. It is said that one enterprising tradesman, with whom the King had dealt, displayed an elaborately engraved. cheque in his shop window, purporting to bear His Majesty's signature. The police,, however, suggested the removal of tula striking advertisement.

The King's purchases of Jewellery, toys, and other souvenirs for the members of the Royal family have been as Heavy as Usual, and the Princess of Wales' children have already been delighted with a huge box of Austrian soldiers purchased! by His Majesty for their special benefit.

Lately, now that public curiosity and Interest is less 'pushful" hi its methods, the King has moved about with comparative freedom. Forty detectives of tiie Austrian and British secret service keep watch and ward over His Majesty. The King, however, occasionally manages to give these gentlemen the slip, and to enjoy quiet walks.

His adventuress on these occasions have often been more diverting than formal. Once, according to an Austrian newspaper, a little girl, playing "bears" in the woods, came -out from behind a tree on all fours and said "Boo!" to King Edward, without haying the faintest idea whom she was "frightening." His Majesty laughed so heartily over this incident that the child gravely explained to him that she was a dangerous beast and he ought not to laugh.

As a rule interlopers with autographbooks are frustrated by the police that surround King Edward. A charming American girl, with the dreaded volume in one hand and a fountain pen in the other, j-ecently approached His Majesty and proffered her request before the police could interfere. The treasured autograph was, of course, graciously accorded.

Needless to say the übiquitous "snap6hotter" is ever on His Majesty's track, and., frequently, so persistent are these photographic fiends, the King is seriously incommoded. At such junctures a gentleman, who appears to be a visitor, usually jostles the would be portraitist, and the camera with all its works becomes a hollow mockery. The person who has collided with the impertinent kodaker is invariably on eof the secret police. A. number of damaged cameras are consequently to be bought for a bargain at Marienbad.

Here, as elsewhere, the King's clothes are strenuously copied by the more stylish visitors, and. so far have some of thes.e imitators carried their flattery, that it is often difficult to tell at a distance which is the real King Edward.

One dandy, it is paid, makes a note of every piece of clothing that he sees ov His Majesty's person, and each evening he sends long .telegrams to his tailor and hosier in Vienna, describing the article, and ordering one of exactly the same pattern.

When the King turned up on the prom- ■ enade one morning, wearing a pair, of • snowy buckskin boots this exquisite became' distracted, for in all Austria he was unable to find a marker who was able to.build him a similar pair without sending over to England. However, by a judicious use oi pipeclay he has managed to fc*r cure a teraftorary. suhstttEii-