The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-20 00:00:00

THE PRINCE OF WALES AT
WIMBLEDON.

The I 'rince of %Vales was mobbed at Wimbledon between
four and six on Saturday afternoon. The vulgar curiosity
and rude persistence which runs royalty down as if it
were some strange thing let out for the amusement of the
hour—these exalted impulses were rampant. Iron railings,
policemen, and soldiers kept people back, but they clus-
tered ten deep round the one and taxed the energies of the
others. To concentrate all mental effort into a fixed stare ;
to silently but palpably tick off every movement of the Prince
as if he were a novel piece of mechanism just wound up ; to
pass whispered comments on his eyes, his hair, his mouth,
his coat, his hat, his boots ; to say audibly, " He's smiling
now," or " He's saying something to Lord Spencer," or
" It's a cigarette he's smoking, but with a cigar mouth-
piece ; why does he smoke cigarettes ?" are fair specimens
of the manners observed on Saturday. Rumours had
been afloat in early morning that the Prince was expected,
and were contradicted at noon. A telegram had been
received deferring his visit, people said, and the banner
announcing his arrival, which the skilful man-of-war's
man ran up to the flag-staff in front of Lord Spencer's
cottage about four, brought volunteers and visitors
from :all portions of the camp like flies to sugar. First
peeping and spying through the opening in the tent while
the Prince was there, in a way which reminded one of
Leech's sketch of the children peering under the circus
canvas and calling to the passers-by to " come and see the
'orses 'oofs," they set off at full speed in chase of him
directly be appeared with Lady Spencer in a pony car-
riage, making for the firing-place, at which the great
international trophy was being shot for. The scene
now was like nothing so much as a game at "hare
and hounds," at which full-grown adults of both
sexes were playing. People doubtless do similar things
elsewhere, but the situation and the costumes of Wimble-
don made the eager vulgarity more marked. On its level
plain the Indian helmets and flowing white cap cloths,
the knickerbockers and uniforms, in which men of all
ages, stations, and figures are arrayed, are seen to
great advantage when their wearers are racing pell mall
in one direction. A half-dressed population suddenly
alarmed and running for its life, and a handicap in which
the first man touching the Prince of Wales would win a
prize, were both suggested by the feverish rush. Lord
Spencer led the way on horseback for his countess's pony
~ carriae and directly its occupants had alighted, joined
them and, with Prince Tcck, the Marquis of Abercorn,
the Marquis' of Donegal), and a few, others, took up a posi-
tion within sight of the butts. the hundreds of people in
chase arrived next, panting and breathless, their numbers
increased by stragglers picked up on the road, and a com-
pact phalanx ten or a dozen .leep wasimmediately formed
round the ropes guarded by policemen and volunteers.
The " stony British stare " was again practised
without intermission up to the time of the badge
being presented to the successful competitor—a ceremony
performed very gracefully and winningly by the Prince.
The school process of " chevying " began again imme-
diately after this,. when the royal party returned, and.
Continued during itsEtay. There was not even the pre-
ldennerootalcihaiNn-eg bceroenwdw.atcp,heids
pre-
tence of respecting privacy, and had the heir to the Crown
been an itinerant. banjo-player, or a professor of legerde-
mainpclroascetliymanngahoispaenrtl,y ibi ey co
theu
only when he sat still. /To move from one part of the camp
more
to another was to be so promptly and energetically hunted
down, that one almost listened for the view halloo.—Cor-
respondent of the Daily Nclas