THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE STABLE BOY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 50

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE STABLE BOY.

The recent death of Janissary, the sire of Mr J. \V. Larnach"s Jeddah, who is the greatest outsider who has scored in the Derby, recalls a characteristic story told by Mr Larnach (cousin of Mr Donald Larnach. of this city) of the King (then Prince of Wales). It appears that the Prince and three other patrons of Marsh, the trainer — the three being Lord Wolverton, Mr Larnach, and Mr Arthur James^ — were at Egerton Housc^ Marsh's residence at Newmarket, and in the course of conversation Lord Wolverton asked the trainer what had become of the piano he had presented for the use of the stable boys. The answer was that they had ruined the instrument by thumping on it. "Buy 'cm another," said his lordship : but the Prince interposed, eaying, "No; it's my turn this time. Can any of your boys play?" "Yes." replied Mar.«h; " one_of the boys plays rather well." " Fetch him in,"' said the Prince. " Jeff," a Welsh lad, and son of Mr Tom Rees, Union Hall, Llan^tephan, sat down at the piano, and played and sang "That's the time to catch 'em," to the manifest delight of his distinguished audience. The Prince then atked him his name, and on finding out that he hailed from Wales, asked him to play and sing something Welsh. Young Rees remembered that he knew one Welsh song, and sang 1 " Sospan fach " ("The little saucepan "), the Llanelly football melody. The following week a new piano arrived at Egcrton House, locked top and bottom, with instructions from _his Royal Highness that Rees was to have charge of the key.