A Court's Influence for Good.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7190, 25 June 1902, Page 7 (Supplement)

A Court's Influence for Good.

" Munsey," the leading and most popular American magazine, writes as follows:—

There always has been a disposition, especially in republican countries, to sujff at royal courts, and to regard them as hot-beds of petty intrigue, of hypocrisy, of vanity, and of profligacy. To such an extent is this ilie case that the very word

"courtier" lias come to be looked upon as a term of reproach, implying a fawning, dishonorable, and contemptible disposition. As a matter of fact, this is a very prejudiced and unjust view While there is much in the atmosphere of court life that lends to develop the vices mentioned, since the tenure of court olliecs usually depends upon a royal favor that is some times capricious and unstable, on the other hand the existence of a court undoubtedly does much to maintain a certain standard of morality, of honor, and of manners. In medieval times all that was most brilliant, enlightened, and intellectual centred about the Koyal and Imperial Courts, and their influence contributed 10 civilise the classes as well as the masses. When Charles V. made his triumphal entry into Oouai, the local authorities, in deference to the sentiments of delicacy on the part of his Court, actually went to the length of putting a clean shirt upon the rotting body of a malefactor, which was banging in chains at the city gate as a warning to evil doers. To this day the knowledge that connection with any serious scandal entails exclusion from Court is sufficient to constitute a very ssalutory restraint upon the behavior of society in monarchical countries.

The visitor mounts the stairs to the and enters the Confessor's Chapel, where stands the chair beside the one made for Queen Mary, (he wife of William HI. Close to it also are the long rusty sword and hide-bound shield duplicated in the design above.

father, His Royal Highness The Prince Consort, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Duke of Saxony, which took place at Windsor Castle, at ten minutes before eleven o'clock, on. the night of the 14th uliiiiio, after a short illness, in the 43rd year of his age. You can well conceive the utter desolation and grief of the Queen under the unexpected bereavement which Her Majesty, Her Family, and Her Country have undergone. In these deeply afflicting circumstances I have been commanded to write, in this one instance, on behalf of my disconsolate mother, for the purpose of announcing to you this fatal event. The Queen is persuaded that you will kindly receive this notification as from herself, and that you will give Her your friendly sympathy under the heavy trial with which it has pleased Divine Providence to visit Her. And so I recommend you to the Protection of The Almighty. Osborne House, the Sth day of January, 1862. Your very Good Friend, ALBERT EDWARD.