A Prince's Revenge.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 37

A Prince's Revenge.

In European countries, where princes become titular colonels at the age of 10, and assume actual command of a regiment before really entering upon their practical military education under the guidance of some veteran general, it occurs quite frequently that a prince should assert the authority which hia station as a member of the Imperial family ensures to him over any higher commissioned officer to remind his tutor of his superiority over him as a prince even though he be his subordinate as an officer in the field. On this score an amusing story is whispered in well-informed circles about the Archduke Johann Salvator, a nephew of the Emperor of Austria. The prince is described as a wanton, fun-loving character, and many are the anecdotes of his humour at the expense of others, though to his credit it is said that in all his escapades he never exceeds the bounds of the innocent harmless. Recently the prince commanded his regiment at a manosuvre held under the auspices of an old and tried general who had lately been the favourite target of the prince's humour. Here the general saw his opportunity for retribution. When at the olose of the manoeuvre, as is customary, the officers collected about their leader to receive his criticisms of the different regiments, the general expressed his satisfaction with the troop in the main, but continuing in a tone of infinite sarcasm : " I cannot refrain to remark that the defile of No. — " (the prince's own) " was very unsatisfactory. The bearing of the troop was bad, and in iact all through the manoeuvre it showed poor drilling and bad leadership. A- rapid and radical change would be desirable." So speaking, with a self-satisfied smile he turned in his saddle, and entering into a conversation with an officer at his side he entirely ignored the presence of the prince, who with a cold salute turned his horse and galloped away, for even he while in the charaoter of a soldier would not dare to ucter a word in disrespect to his superior ; but if revenge was denied to him in his present position he could easily achieve it in the character of a prince, and he was not plow to avail himself of this opportunity. A few minutes later, ere the group around the commander had yet dispersed, to the surprise of all there sounded the well-known bugle signal announcing the approach of a member of the Imperial household. The general as becomes his position was at the head of the staff to receive so unexpected a visitor, when, much to his chagrin, he perceived that it was Johann Salvator, who had returned accompanied by his attachet. With unconcerned mien the prince galloped forward, and returning condescendingly the salute of the general he demanded from him a report of the manoeuvre, which the commander could not deny to his Imperial Highness ; then he expressed his desire to witness a defile of the troop, to which the gen end had to submit, and gave orders accordingly. Closely the prince scrutinised each regimentj and when the last company had passed him he turned to the general, and amid the respectful silence of all he expressed in dignfied language his dispaproval of the manoeuvre. "General," he continued, "it shows poor drilling and bad leadership. A rapid and radical change would indeed be very desirable. Entirely satisfied, however, am I with No. — " (again it was the prince's own), "Will you kindly transmit to its commander my thanks and my hearty approval of, the excellent bearing which that regiment has shown durincr the defile?" So saying he turned abont and galloped away, leaving behind him a cloud of dust and the stupefied general. —C. 8., in " Harper's Magazine." The Keeping of Secrets. A secret, like an oyster, cannot be kept too • close, for the moment it is opened it O3ases to exist. A French philosopher says: A man is more faithful to the secrets of another than to his own ; a woman, on the contrary preserves her own secret better than that of another. The explanation given for woman's proneness to let the cat out of the bag is that she is afraid she might die, and then there would be no one left to keep it. ■ Nonearesofondof secrets as those who don t mean to keep them ; such persons covet secrets as a- spendthrift covets- money— for the purpose of .oirpqlation.. • ,*, „ ;. .. ,VMy dear.,Murphy,'!csaid',an Irishman, -to

his friend, " why did you betray the secret I told you ? " "Is it bethrayin' you call it 1 Sure, whin found I wasn't able to keep it myself, didn't I do well to tell it to somebody who could?'.' Secrets are poor property, anyhow. If you circulate them you lose them, and if you keep them you lose the interest on the investment. "What are you seaijng up in that envelope so carefully, Jones 1 " "Important instructions that I forgot to give my wife before I came down town this morning; going to send it mi to th« house." " Will your wife open it at once ? " "Of course she will. I've arranged all that." " How ? " "I have addressed it to myself, and put a big • private ' on the corner of the anvelope." The Arab's Ileniy. Hejaj, a captain of the Saracens, was warlike and eloquent, but very cruel. One cay he was taking a walk, when he chanced to meet a wild son of the desert who did not know him except by report. So Hejaj stopped and said to the Arab : " Who is this Hejaj that everyone is talking about ?" The Arab answered he had never seen him, but he believed he was a wicked wretch. " Indeed," replied Hejaj, " then don't you know who I am ?" " No, indeed, Ido not ; neither do I desire your acquaintance;" said the Arab. " Then know," exclaimed the other, in an angry tone, " I am Hejaj himself." The Arab remained quite calm and showed no sign of fear. In a few moments he said to Hejaj : " And do you know who I am ?" " Not I, indeed," replied Hejaj. " Well," said the Arab, " I am one of the children of Zobeir, and we are all doomed to become fools three days in each year, and 1 suppose this happens lo be one of them." Hejaj burst out laughing, and pardoned the Arab out of esteem for his wit and courage. Why They Didn't Marry. We sent out a fesv days since a note of inquiry to a number of bachelors in the city, asking them why they never married. Over one-half of them have answered, and we give our readers some of the causes assigned :— "I am only 45 years old. Consider myself too young." " Haven't been properly urged." "Some other fellow married the girl. I owe him a debt o£ gratitude. She made it lively for him." " Heard that my fiancee snored, and I broke off the engagement." " My best girl had fits." " Came near being married once. I asked a girl and she said ' no !' " "The happiest man I ever saw was one who had just been divorced." i " I had a friend who was married. He sent me a book called ' Don't.' " " I know a man who put in his resignation at the club the same time as the invitations. to his wedding were sent out. In three months he was re-elected in the club, and now spends the evenings from 8 until 12 o'clock with the boys. This makes me wonder." " Am afraid to get married. I know two or three married men who congratulate each other when their wives go out of town. Think they ought not to do so, but there must be some cause." "Find considerable difficulty in bringing my diverged rays of affection to focus owing to the beauty and charms of so many Richmond girls. — Richmond State.