GUSTAVE OF SWEDEN

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 1

GUSTAVE OF SWEDEN

TWO EXPERIENCES IN SUSSEX King Gustave of Sweden is one of the world’s most popular monarchs. He is beloved by his people, and mixes with them as few kings do, while his love of tennis and his appearance at times in tournaments has increased the regard in which he is held. King Gustavo has paid many visits to Great Britain, and amongst many stories Mr Basil Herbert tells in * King Gustave of Sweden ’ two of his experiences in Sussex: —

“ On one such occasion an old shepherd with whom the Prince had been having quite a long conversation, remarked confidently ,to one of his entourage:—

“ ‘ That be a mighty nice young feller, that friend o’ yourn. Knowledgeable, too, Pso 'e be! 1 wudden be surprised if be dun get to be somebody one o’ these days.’ “ ‘ Why, no,’ responded the other drily. ‘ Neither should I, now you come to mention it 1’

“On another occasion the Prince was talking to a village cobbler, who, as was usually the case in those days, was the local Radical and democrat. The Prince had been telling him something of’ rural conditions in Sweden, and the cobbler seemed much impressed.

“ ‘Dang me if that don’t sound a foihe country o’ yours, that there Sweden!’ says he. ‘ Looks loike they don’t take much stock o’ royalty an’ such loike. An’ that be roight, too—neither do I, so fur as that goesl’ “ ‘ Why, as to that,’ replied the Prince quietly, ‘ y T oii may bo right. In fact, I think perhaps you are!’

“ One would be interested to know what the cobbler’s reactions would have been had he discovered that he had been talking to the heir to the throne of the very country they had been discussing. “Apparently on one occasion at least during his tour of the rural the Prince deliberately gave away his identity. “A landau had been hired from, a local jobmaster to take the party out to view some adjacent beauty spot, and on the journey the Prince noticed how very proud the driver was of his horse, which had been a fine animal in its time, but had now grown very old. “ With his usual graciousness, when the journey was completed Prince Gustave had a little chat with the man, and remarked, anxious to please him:—

“ ‘ That’s a very fine old horse of yours.’ “ ‘ Aye, sir,' answered the driver with enthusiasm. ‘ Bin a better one in his time, too. -Fit to draw royalty. >L reckon he was,, &no time.’ * *4 ‘ I suppose hasp’ “ ‘ Afraid not, sir, worse luck. I’d be a proud man to-day if he had, 1 reckon.’ “ The Prince lowered his voice and said in a confidential undertone:—

“ ‘ Well, you can be a little bit proud after this if you like. You see, 1 happen to be the Crown Prince of Sweden.’ “ The Prince rounded off this charming little incident by shortly afterwards purchasing one of those brass medallions which horses sometimes wore in those days and having it inscribed: ‘ To “ Jim,” who once took me for a very pleasant little journey. Gustave, Prince Royal of Sweden. 1879.’ ”