PRINCE OF WALES' CAP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 15

PRINCE OF WALES' CAP.

LOST IN THE ATLANTIC. REQUEST FOR A CIGARETTE. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] VANCOUVER. Av.g. 10. The Prince of Wales' check cap, famous in many of his photographs, met its end in the Atlantic, during the voyage to Canada. During a game of deck tennis on board the Empress of Australia, Prince George tossed his brother's cap across the net to him. A sudden puff took it, and it went overboard in a " capful of wind." The Prince climbed over some of the machinery on deck, and bent over the side, to take a last look at his beloved cap. The Prince, as he always does, captured the hearts of all the young women aboard the steamer during the voyage, but a white-haired woman of 60 was one of his favourite dancing partners. She was a Montreal lady, who was chaperoning her daughter, returning from being presented at Court. The voyage shed new light on the character of Britain's future ruler—his boyish enthusiasm, his* courtesy and kindness, his dislike of ostentation and his unfailing charm. It was the first time he had crossed the Atlantic as Prince of Wales. Hitherto, he had crossed the " pond " as the Earl of Renfrew, to be freed of the formalities attending royalty on tour.

The ship was built for tho Kaiser, who called it his "Dream Ship," in which he intended to travel among his posseswhen he had conquered the world. Noble work by its captain and crew in the Tokio earthquake gave it the name of " haven of refuge." The Prince held ..loof generally during his voyage. He promenaded only with Prince George, his equerries, and occasionally with Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin. He arose about 9.30 or later, breakfasted, exercised in the gymnasium, swam, and played deck tennis and medicine ball Dining at 8.30, he danced every night. His Royal Highness one day accosted two girls, sitting in deck chairs, who were smoking. He begged a cigarette. They, gave him one. A match ? But by this time the girls were so thrilled that they leaped to their feet and ran below, to apprise their father of their good fortune of having had a tete-a-tete with the Prince of Wales.