LIKES, DISLIKES, AND FADS, OF ROYALTY.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 64

LIKES, DISLIKES, AND FADS, OF ROYALTY.

. That emperors, kings, and queens have -^"dislikes" as well as "'likes," lads," and various other weaknesses common to ordinary mortals, is amusingly illustrated in the following : — . Dlie Emperoi of Austria hates letterwriting. He once said to the Duke of Connaught : "I spend three miserable hours aearly every day of the -week. One hour in thinking about the letters I have to write, one jiour in writing those letters, and one hour in pulling myself together after I have written them." The Emperor confesses that when he iommences writir^g a letter 'he generally finds some excuse to end it almost immediately — some sudden complaint or illness.

A.nent this, the following story is now told for the first time. A certain wellknown Ambassador, one of the most influential of European noblemen, in fact, •,-,nd one who has much correspondence with the Austrian Court, quite _ recently arrived in Vienna, and had an interview with the Emperor. "I trust that your Imperial Majesty is now better after your many terrible illnesses,"' gravely said the Ambassador. "Illnesses ! What do you mean?" said the Emperor utterly puzzled. "Whj, I've not had a complaint, let alone an illness, for 12 months. Illnesses ! I really can't understand you, "ir!"

"Pardon me mentioning the fact, your jtlajesty, but in the last five letters you honoured me with you apologise for their brevity by mentioning that you have been suddenly attacked by various terrible complaints which prevented your Majesty .writing more than three lines at a time ; •therefore, you " "Ah ! Yes, yes ; certainly," interrupted the Emperor, look,ing somewlial guilty. "But really, as a mater of fact, I—lI — I ■ Well, look here, man, I may as well tell you that I never had one of those complaint? in my life ; but, d — n it all, sir, you must write about something !" His majesty of Belgium, King Leopold, has one special weakness — i.e., old boots. •There is «££ fcs&esjfcage ia being a king,"

jocularly said his Majesty recently to the Prince of Wales, "and that advantage is in being able to wear old boots without being 'looked down upon.' When people see a king wearing somewhat seedy-looking boots they simply say, ' Really ! How Bohemian like ! And yet how becoming !' I don't mind the 'purple and fine, linen' business generally put down to kings in the latest novels, but I do object to 'kingly' boosts."

His Majesty was once staying for a few days at the residence of one of his richest subjects, a multi-millionaire, who had more money than manners or delicacy. "Your Majesty, I hear, is rather economical about boots," pompously said the millionaire, without the slightest .tact or diplomacy. "Now, your Majesty, I am very particular about my boots ; I have a pair for every •week in the year. Fifty-two pairs of boots, your Majesty !" "Ah !" very quietly answered Kink Leopold, "I knew you were a rich man, Monsieur S., but I never knew before that you had made your money in the boot line !"

The King of Greece, although strongly approving of plenty of physical exercise for women, yet has a distinct horror of what he terms "manly women." His Majesty is, as is well known, always fearless arid candid in his opinions, whether they be ex- 1 pressed to man or 'woman. > Quite recently a celebrated Court beauty, who is, however, considered somewhat "tropical," said to the popular King : "Your Majesty, I noticed, saw me on mv bicycle this morning. You noticed, I daresay, that I was wearing 'bloomers.' Now I want your Majesty's candid opinion. How did I look in them?" "My candid opinion you want, madame?" said the disgusted King. "Yts, you shall have it. You looked a perfect fright, madam !"

The Emperor of Germany confesses that his great dislike is a long sermon. His ' Majesty, a few weeks ago, said to a cele- ! brated ibut rather- showy and conceited German preacher, "Heir Pastor, please do not be offended when I tell you that your' sermons are too long." "But, your Ma- j jesty," replied the pastor, "when I get ' warmed to my subject I forget everything and everybody, and get quite carried away, your Majesty." The Kaiser, who had had an hour's torture from the reverend gentleman that very morning, curtly answered, "Like you, sir, in one way — when you preach I forget everything ; but unlike you in another respect — I am not fortunate enough to_get 'carried away!'" - Tihe very popular and. at present, much- j written-about young ruler, Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, also has very decided dislikes. Her Majesty recently told a lady journalist that her bete-noire was the man who "curled his hair and used scent." "I would rathei have a man who never combed his hair at all, and who smelt of tobacco, than such a creature," said her determined young Majesty energetically ; and there is no doubt but what she meant what she said.