PRINCE'S PRESS CUTTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 19442, 28 December 1926, Page 12

PRINCE'S PRESS CUTTINGS

BIOGRAPHY IN NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS Nob long since (writes Walter T. Roberts) I was permitted to see the collection of Press cuttings concerning the. Prince of Wales which are kept..at York House. These cuttings fill over forty large volumes, which form what is probably the largest collection of its kind in the world—and the most interesting. The largest of the volumes of cuttings is one that was presented to the Prince of Wales at the end of his first visit to America by the United States Government. The volume is a foot in depth, and contains over 6,000 cuttings. The Prince has at times derived a good deal of amusement from this volume, for it contains many bantering but entirely good-humored references to him. For example, there is a short article headed ‘ Don’ts For Those Who May Meet the Prince.’ Among the “don’ts” were the following:— Don’t call him Jim; it is not his name. Don’t ask him to have a drink; he might accept. “TEN THOUSAND AVAILABLE WIVES.” Another article is headed ‘ Ten Thousand Wives for the Prince in the States —Will He Choose One?’ In one volume of the Press cuttings there is the story of the Priiico’s first oratorical effort It was made, when he was a hov of eight, at a luncheon party. The hostess had, previously presented him with a silver sword, and it was the King’s wish that the young Prince should formally thank bis hostess for the gift in a speech alter lunch. It was a trying ordeal, for there was a number of strangers present. Standing at the table, ho said to his hostess: “I thank you very much for the beautiful sword you have given me; I shall always keep it and treasure it.” And that sword is to-day among the Prince’s possessions at York House. From these Press cuMings nay be gleaned the story of how the Prince of Wales set up ins own establishment at, York House. That event actually occurred on July 1, 1919, when the Court Circular announced that “ the Prince of Wales has left Buckingham Palace to take up his residence at St. James’s Palace.” DRESSING-ROOM BEDROOM.

But some few months prior to 'that date a Press cutting states how the Prince of Wales had gone over York Blouse with Sir Sidney Greville to see how it would suit him as an independent residence. It was then furnished almost exactly as it had been when Lord Kitchener was lent the house by the King on the outbreak of Avar. There was a spacious bedroom, once occupied by the present King and bjueen as Duke and Duchess of York. This was to bo the bedroom of the Prince, but His Royal Highness had other notions on this matter.

Off the bedroom is a small dressing bqqhu “Cl«t ft bed out in there,” said

the Prince to Sir Sidney Crevillo; 111 make it my bedrpom,” And this little room, together with a sitting room containing the furniture the P.nnce had in his sitting room when in residence at Magdalene College, Oxford, are the only two rooms at York House furnished with the personal possessions of the heir to the throne. Much of interest concerning the Prince may he gathered from these Press cutting books. H,e dislikes all card games. He has never even learned to play bridge. _ It is interesting to note in this connection that the Bath Chib, which the Prince of Wales so frequently uses, was the ;’rst club in London where auction bridge was played. But the Prince never enters the card room of that famous club. SP.EECHMAKING PAINS. Nor does billiards appeal to him. On ono occasion it was suggested he should get lessons in the game from a famous professional player. “ 1 should never like walking round a table,” was his reply. One gleans much concerning the way in which the Prince of Wales prepares his speeches. Of necessity he has to speak on many subjects oi which he has not an extensive or intimate knowledge. His method on such occasions is to ge his material from an expert authority on the subject on which he is to speak. Ho then writes out the speech—he may rewrite it several times ---and commits it to memory. Ho seldom speaks fr.,m notes. In November, 1919, to a, great gathering in Toronto the Prince delivered what was perhaps the most difficult speech he has ever made, i't dealt with the position of the Crown and the dominions. It was a speech beset with difficulties. The Prince wrote it arid rewrote it many times, but- he was quite resolved that it should not be a mere bundle of platitudes, it was a fearless speech, and dealt quire fearlessly and firmly with the subject. It was a great success, and got a great reception, both in the Canadian and American Press. A DAY' OFF A MONTH. The records of the Prince’s special engagements throw an interesting light on how busy the Prince normally is when at York House. Usually his tune is occupied with official duties from 10 o’clock in the morning to the dinner hour, an.l often, ol course, he attends a dinner in an official capacity. How busy the Prince is may be judged from the fact that he regards himself as lucky if he is able to get, one day a month quite free from official engagements when in London. These Press cuttings form a most interesting record of the Prince’s life from his earliest years, and will some day he of immense use to his official biographer.