TORE THE WRONG COAT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XX, 15 May 1897, Page 623

TORE THE WRONG COAT.

Royalty dearly loves its fun, and nowhere are practical jokes more in vogue than in the palaces of Old World monarchs. No one. it is said, is fonder of practical joking than the Prince of Wales. His private secretary, Sir Francis Knollys, has, in times gone by, been called upon to endure with good humour and serenity many a trying experience. One day not long ago, Sir Francis got the laugh on the would-be joker and gave him a taste of his own medicine. Among the prince’s friends was a famous sportsman, Capt. ‘Bay ’ Middleton, whose favourite trick used to be to approach from behind some unsuspecting man and seize his coat-tails, which he would wrench apart in such a manner as to split the garment up the back. At Sandringham Sir Francis took pains to offer himself as the victim and butt for the gallant • Bay.’ When the men retired to the smoking-room after the princess and ladies were gone, he took up his place in front of the fire, bent his head, and appeared entirely lost in thought. His attitude was too inviting not to appeal to the jocular instincts of Captain Middleton, who, after asking the prince’s permission to leave the card-table for a moment, crept up softly to Sir Francis, suddenly seized hold of the tails of his dress-coat, and with a jerk, tore it apart from waist to collar. Unlike most of Bay’s victims, Sir Francis took the matter in exceeding good spirits. Indeed, he laughed, and appeared greatly to enjoy the fun. Somewhat astonished the prince and the men present inquired bow it was that Sir Francis had treated the matter with such indifference. ‘ That is very easy to explain, sir,’ was the reply. ‘ The coat is not mine. I had heard of Middleton’s fondness for this particular form of amusement, and, accordingly, when I came downstairs just now to the smokingroom, I took the precaution of going into his room and putting on one of his dress-coats, which was lying on his bed. ’ There was a hurricane of irrepressible laughter as he uttered these words, and the merriment was intensified by the disconcerted appearance of Captain Middleton, who was bitterly annoyed to havy thus destroyed one of his best evening coats.