SOME NOTABLE INCIDENTS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 13

SOME NOTABLE INCIDENTS.

_='_-.P__J WTe re * UJJIa of King's life in no i_j r IM,c - te » *be manifold duties which, as Ifi^f 0 ? * Wale*, his Majesty was called W$° a to perform. His was a'difficult poei- |||* D ' and he applied himself faithfully to XXK Xb * «»d various' tasks in which ■E»mßtad the Queen, He has laid B-ii. T . _W_-tion-stone*, including that oi Effi£* G»*Mn. opened ho«p itali. town

halls, railways, bo_t_r», exhibitions, both international aad local, art galleries, and parks, held reviews, entertained and been entertained by Royalty, and presided at innunserable functions of every sort and variety. His life was one exacting round of social and ceremonial duties, of which the most inveterate pleasure-seeker must have wearied. That bf never showed bow bored he was—he must often have been—is high testimony to his unfailing courtesy, patience and kindliness of heart. Yet he more than once made remarks that showed his high position—one of never-ceasing publicity, yet without the responsibilities of State — wearied him. Speaking to a friend one day about the difference between his nephew the Kaiser and himself, "Look at my nephew," he is reported to have said. "He is but a. youth, but be is the centre of everything. He orders everything, directs everything, is everything, whereas I am not alowed to do anything at all." One gets another view of this same feeling of irritation at being simply a ceremonial functionary in his confession _of "Likes and Dislikes" in an album belonging to his daughter, the Duchess of Fife. "I am happiest," he wrote, "when I have no public engagements to fulfil; when I can smoke a good cigar and read (must I confess it?) a good novel on the quiet; when, like plain Mr Jones, I can go to a race meeting without it being chronicled in the papers next day that ' His Royal Highness the Prince ot Wales has taken to gambling very seriously, and yesterday lost more money than he can ever afford.' . • •. • When I can spend a quiet evening at home with the Princess and my family. I am unhappiest when I" have a raging toothache, and have to attend some social function where I must smile as pleasantly as though I never had a pain in my life." In spite of all his social duties, however, the King, as Prince of Wales, managed to get as much amusement out of life as most people. His love for field sports, no doubt, helped 'him to keep young. He is a thorough sportsman. He has raced with success, yachted, shot big game in India and on the Continent, stalked deer in Scottish forests, grouse on Scottish and North Country moors and pheasants and partridges in many parts, bunted, and played golf. His cycling, it is said, has been confined to tricycles, but he is enthusiastic in motor cars, and has several of his own, with which he has frequently run down from Windsor to London. The King's career as a racehorse owner was almost meteoric in its brilliancy. It began; it is true, as far back as 1871* but was not marked with any etrikmg success until the latter part of the nineties, though in 1894 Florizel 11. had won five races. Then came Persimmon's year, when that fine horse won for his master the Derby, St. Leger, and the Jockey Club Stakes, and in the succeeding year the Ascot Gold Cup, while Thais carried off the One Thousand Guineas. Two years later Diamond Jubilee made "the Prince's year" memorable in the annals of English racing, when the great horse won in succession the Two Thousand Guineas, the Newmarket Stakes, the Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, and the St. Leger. Out of seven starts he won five races and was second once, his winnings for the season amounting to over £27,000. The Prince did not confine himself to flat racing, and after making several attempts to win the Grand National, his colours were borne to victory in 1900, the year of his many turf successes, by Ambush H. Since' his accession the King has disposed of his stud, but that he still retains his love of racing has been shown by his presence at Epsom and Ascot this year. As a yachtsman the Prince attained considerable distinction, and was a strong supporter of the pastime, being Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and before that Commodore of the Royal Western Yacht Club and the Royal Thames Club. During the summers of 1893 and 1894 he raced his yacht, the Britannia, in most of the chief regattas round the British coasts, and secured many victories.

The Prince's tour of the Indian Empire was undoubtedly one of the great events of his life, soon to be repeated by his son, the present Prince of Wa__. His reception everywhere was marked by the greatest hospitality and enthusiasm, and the delight of the Feudatory Princes at his visit sought expression in loading) his Royal Highness with enormously valuable present.. Their generosity had to be restrained, though, it was with the greatest difficulty that one Maharajah was induced to reduce the value of his gifts from £50,000 to £500. This same ruler made thirty miles of new road for the Prince's special convenience, and when he had done this and entertained his Royal Highness he declared he had nothing left to wish for in life. The total value of the presents received by the Prince during this tour exceeded a quarter of a million sterling. During his progress he visited all the most famous and ancient cities of India, and his tour irreatly strengthened the influence of England i_ the Indian Empire.

Probably the King has been never so happy as at his Norfolkshire house of Sandringham, which, with 7000 acres, he purchased in 1861. There he lived the life of a country landlord, on his own estate, and there he established herds otf Shorthorns and flocks of Southdowns of a high degree of excellence. Some of his sheep have come to Canterbury, to improve the quality of New Zealand fiocksLater on he started horse-breeding on an extensive scale, and his studs of thoroughbreds, hackneys, and Shire horses made his annual safes a feature of the stock-breeder's year. He has greatly endeared himself to his tenantry, and no better-managed estate, nor no more comfortabl« labourers' cottages can be. seen in England than at Sandringham.

The King in 1894 enormously strengthened his position as Prince of Wales, and added to the affection with which he was regarded, by his .action in connection with j his visit to Russia, whither he hastened with the Duke of York on the death of tlie Czar. By his courteous attention to Russian etiquette, and constant att.nd- | anoe at the prolonged funeral ceremonies, jhe gained the affection of the Russians to a marked degree. Such intimate relations sustained so long, could not fail to impress the imagination of Europe. A corl respondent of a Parisian paper, writing on this subject, said: —"No other Prince in the world, perhaps, likes his ease better than the heir to the English throne, yet see the terrible task undertaken by him for more than a fortnight from Livaila to the day of the funeral of Alexander HI., accompanying the Russian family twice a day to the religious ceremonies solemnised before the open coffin of the late Emperor, and after each service mounting the steps of the catafalque behind the Empress and Nicholas H. to kiss the brow of the august deceased. His attitude was not less remarkable in the private circle of the Anitohkbff Palace. There he endeavoured after each of these sad ceremonies, to effect a consoling reaction against grief, being affectionate towards all, and even going the length of playing with the children. Tliis attitude was certainly deliberate, but who can say that it was not sincere? How couSd it help being highly appreciated, and how could it help bearing fruit. The Russian Royal family, particularly the Emperor Nicholas and the Empress, are <feeply grateful for it." Other correspondents wrote in the same sense. In St. Petersburg much influence was attributed to the Prince of Wales, to whom both the Emperor and his young bride were said to look up with affection and respect. The Emperor especially was reported to have said that the life of the Prince of Wales was exactly wha* he should like his own life to be, and between him and the Duke of York a warm friendship was struck up. Possibly the permanent effect of this affectionate feeling between the ruling houses of England and Russia was exaggerated, but at the time the English people looked upon the Prince aa a sort of special envoy, to whose Sood offices, courtesy, and sincerity of cart were due the strengthening of the cordial relations between the two countries, and they were grateful to him,accordingly. Latterly the King has deeply interested himself in the welfare of tbe London hospitals, and has exerted all his great influence to extend their usefulness by increasing their funds. In 1897, Diamond Jubilee year, was inaugurated the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund. He appealed to the public for subscriptions to enable him to raise a fund which should be devoted to the permanent endowment of the London hospitals, and also to free them from debt. Before ths close of the year he received nearly _ quarter of a million, including some £30,000 promked as annual •übscriptkma.