KING EDWARD VII.

Southland Times, Issue 19492, 5 March 1925, Page 5

KING EDWARD VII.

INTERESTING BIOGRAPHY SIR SIDNEY LEE’S NEW BOOK THE KING AND THE EX-KAISER. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 3. (Received March 4, 11.30 p.m.). Newspapers are devoting many columns to Sir Sidney Lee’s “Life of King Edward V 11.,” which was written at the King’s request, and is based on private letters. The book is more interesting owing to a controversy aroused by Sir Sidney’s article on King Edward in the Dictionary of National Biography. Since then, he has largely modified his opinion of King Edward’s character. THE KING AND .EX-KAISER. The most important revelations deal with the estrangement between King Edward and the ex-Kaiser, which began at the Emperor Frederick’s funeral. It is believed that the late Emperor Frederick had in mind the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine to France. King Edward made some guarded remarks which Prince Bismark resented as criticism of his annexation policy. The Kaiser, i/ding his time, later snubbed King Edward and actually refused to meet him in Austria, which necessitated King Edward leaving Austrian territory during the Kaiser’s eight days’ stay in Vienna. Later, the ex-Kaiser, during his visit to Cowes Regatta, taunted his uncle with never having been in action. EX-KAISER’S HATRED OF ENGLAND. Though the ex-Kaiser sometimes tried to curry favour with England, Sir Sidney shows that simultaneously he was instigating Russia and France to attack England. During the South African War, the exKaiser tried to foist a plan of campaign for the British Armies upon the Royal family. He actually said that a military defeat in South Africa would bring no more disgrace to England than the recent defeat of the English cricket team in Australia. The ex-Kaser’s schemes miscarried, as France and Russia refused to join the combination against England. EDWARD’S EARLY LIFE. Other interesting pages reveal the grim discipline of King Edward’s early education when he was a pretty delicate looking boy with a touching belief in the omniscience of his father. The portentous figure in the boy’s life was Baron Stockmar, his father’s life-long mentor. The Baron was always his Royal parents’ Court of Appeal. German influences were strong in his childhood and even King Edward never quite lost the residue of German accent, though later he had an exact knowledge of French. LOVE OF ADVENTURE. Sir Sidney Lee says that games of chance appealed to King Edward’s love of adventure. Sometimes he risked heavy stakes at the card table on a challenge by highly speculative companions. Late hours were congenial and he openly indulged in pigeon shooting at Hurlingham. He was ready to accept Blondin’s proposal to wheel him in a barrow on a tight rope over Niagara Falls. As Prince of Wales, King Edward horrified his old-fashioned courtiers by driving about London in hired cabs. He had a genius for friendship and never forsook a worthy friend and never forgot a face. He particularly valued turf friendships. He gave evidence in the Mordaunt divorce case calmly, denying the allegations against him. The allegations were ill-supported, but King Edward was hissed the next time he appeared in public. IN FOREIGN POLITICS. A feature of the biography is the amazing record of the late King’s activities in diplomacy, politics and social reform; indeed, it was only when King Edward started his series of foreign travels that his insight into the ways of the world revealed h : s interest in public affairs and brought him into conflict with Queen Victoria, who had a certain jealousy of her son. It was many years before the Prince was allowed access to official documents. As peace-maker, the King was in touch with all the leading personalities of bis day. His opinion was freely canvassed on foreign affairs. A TONG STORY. Some 800 closely-printed pages carry the story to King Edward’s coming to the Throne. The second volume coverinc his reign will be issued at the end of 1925.