TRAINING A PRINCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 4

TRAINING A PRINCE.

("Mrs Bull.") Very useful was the training the Dowager-Queen Margherita of Italy gave to her son, now the King of Italy, and well known to be .one of the most skilled conversationalists in Europe. When the little Prince was nine years old bis mother had a large empty salon - arranged with a half-circle of empty chairs. These all had labels rsn them, such as " Archbishop of Milan," "Minister of Justice," "General 00-and-So," and "The French Ambassador." Prince Yictcr Emmanuel used then to be ushered into the room irith ceremony, imagine all these great personages awaiting him. and be obliged to go round and greet each 0110 in turn, using the right ~ titles and formula, and conversing 011 some topic ; af real interest to the supposed guest. jL'he Queen acted -as critic and umpire. To laugh in the niidclle got a bad mark, and as the priaes offerer! were ponies md guns and new uniform?, and to oji, the Prince honestly'tried to earn them. ii«> is .novr, as a Kinj:. r» singularly gracious and perron to meet.

and has that tremendous charm—tlio power to sny the right thing to tlio right person. He- is also extremely critical, and studies the jKTson ho speaks to as others study hooks.