ROYALTY'S QUEER PRESENTS.

Mataura Ensign, 20 March 1909, Page 4

ROYALTY'S QUEER PRESENTS.

——4 SOME EMBABKASSLNt; GUTS On Queeu Alexandra's labt, liirthdry the tu tho recipient ol a curious pre*ent, which took the form ol a box <>i sprats sent by tho Altlehurgli .spratteis. The lid of tho box was painted with the borough arm* hearing an inscription to the efioct that the hshermen hopci Her Msjefcty would accept their tribute of respect. At pnt>eiit tho King's health is not at all satislm-tory and •cores of cures and prescriptions -sent hy sympathetic subjects arc found in HiMajesty's post-bag every 'lay- Winn the King was Prince of Wales, suffering from tynhoid fever, ho was tho recipient of a hop-pillow, which the donor declared would bring complete restoration to tho Royal patient. The Czar. when ho was suffering a year or two ago from the same complaint, received aTjottlo of Jordan water, which was delivered at his palace by ono of his devoted subjects who had uiado a special pilgrimage, to Palestine for it. When tho Prince and Princess of Wales started on their tour to visit the outskirts of tho British Empire they received scores of antidotes against- seasickness. Ono firm of chemists sent their Royal Highnesses si huge box containing a sample, of hundreds of potions and powders, 6ome of which they declared would render them immune from attacks of mal-de-mer.

Sorao of tho presents received arc rather embarrassing. Frequently they take the form of wild animals. A menagorio proprietor sent three lint' elephants to tho German Emperor some yoars ago. His Majesty, not wishing to hurt tho feelings of his loyal subject. accepted the oner and handed them over to tho Zoological Gardens. Berlin. A huge Polar bear ©nee arrived at the Roval Palaco at St. Petersburg, much to the" astonishment of tho officials, addressed as a birthday gift to the "little Father." Tho Czarina took a fancy to the splendid beast with its shaggy white coat and tho bear was housed in an outbuilding of tli* Winter Palace. Perhaps the most notable gift in "Royalty of rocent times is the beautiful littlo Sunbeam Inland which lies in the Godo Sound, on the west coast ot Nor--.way. It was presented by Miss Mus•grovo onlv last year «<> the young (Grown Prince Olaf of Norway.