The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-25 00:00:00

POPULARITY OF THE PRINCE OF
WALES.

The Paris Correspondent of The Times writes :
"The Prince of Wales must certainly have carried
home with him the most agreeable recollections of his
reception here and of the marks of respect lavished on
himself and the Princess during their stay. Although
his visit was simultaneous with that of the represen-
tatives of other Royal Houses, on him were concen-
trated the attention and lively interest of the public,
and on him were turned the eyes of all c, ncerned in
the progress of the Exhibition, the success of which
he has taken so much to heart. The sympathy he
expressed for France at the English exhibitors'
banquet added assuredly to his popularity, but did
not create it, for it dates from the day when he
consented to place himself at the head of the British
Commission and materially contributed to the success
of the enterprise. His affability, moreover, has
strengthened the excellent impression produced by his
co-operation as President of the Commission. There is
but one voice here on the subject, and the attachment
which the Prince has inspired is widespread. 'lt is
fortunate,' someone remarked the other day, that
there are not many Princes capable of exciting such
sympathies, for that would not be well for the Re-
public." Why not!' replied a member of the present
Cabinet; there should be many perfect Princes
and then Republics would not be necessary.'
The Republicans, indeed, have paid the Prince as
many attentions as the Monarchists, and if they
make any inward reservations, it is because the Bona-
partists affirm that they alone command his sym-
pathy. The Republicans, of course, do not pretend
that the Prince should desire the durability of the
Republic; that, they feel, would be too much to
expect; but they hope that he will not be the avowed
partisan of the opponents of the existing Go. Ivernment
who might make capital out of such sentarcents:
am simply repeating what people say, but I believe
these complaints are unfounded, and that the Prince
has been giving the Government and nation sufficient
proofs of good•will to show that his attentions to
the Prince Imperial are based merely on personal
sympathy and social propriety. It would be a mis-
conception to attribute to him a preference for any
particular party. Placed almost at the head of an
essentially political nation, and one profoundly re-
spectful of the independent wishes of other nations,
the Prince is too well aware of the bearing of all he
does and says not to take up an impartial attitude
towards Republican France ; and if I repeat here
what I have heard, it is simply to show how un-
founded these apprehensions are and how thoroughly
the Prince is imbued with the circumspection in-
cumbent on one in his position.

"But the Prince's sojourn in Paris and the great
popularity attaching to his name have their comical as
well as their serious aspect. Every one has observed
the effect produced on people's imaginations by a
popular name. Medical men have reported the most
curious phenomena on this point. Among persons di!.
posed to insanity a name much spoken of or lauded in
conversation or the newspapers produces strange effects.
During Napoleon's reign the number of insane persons
who fancied themselves Napoleon was immense.
During the Franco•Gernasen wiz., whenever a nun°

came prominently forward, there were lunatics who
thought it was their own; and a medical man has told
me that at that time he had three patients who
imagined themselves military correspondents of The
Times and drew up the most fantastic telegrams to
be sent by balloon or special train. The Prince of
Wales's popularity has, it is said, inundated him with
communications, and there must be imaginary Princes
of Wales somewhere or other presiding over ima-
ginary Commissions. Chance has brought me in
contact with three personages who form part
of this assembly of suppliants, and who have in-
formed me that they have written to the Prince,
one asking him for money to buy a vine he would
call the 'Prince of Wales's vine,' another begging him
to recommend to his innumerable English friends an
excellent cognac, and a third asking him to patronize
an apparatus for saving life by publicly making a trial
of it in the Seine. It is affirmed that the Princes
never leaves unanswered any of the letters or supplica-
tions with which he is overwhelmed. It is to be
honed they will not pursue him across the Channel
and that the Prince and Princess may now enjoy the
repose they have so amply earned by their well-spent
sojourn in Paris."