Smyrna times., 1869-04-07
MiSceIIU2le ID e o us.
The Prince Of Wales.

Hal is the rascallest, sweetest young |
prince. This line, Byron upon Shakespeare |
contains the sentiment of letter addressed to
Boston paper by its London correspondent on |
the character and virtues of the prince of Wales.
The correspondent insists that there is no truth
whatever III the various reports injurious to the
character Of the Prince of Wales which are cir
culated in London. He gives as his authority
Mr.. Parker, superintendent of the MetropO-
Titan Police Of London" who, Of course, must
know all about the domestic life of the Prince
Of Wales. This active and intelligent police
officer disposes of all the calumnies in thiswav:
" Instead of being a bad man and unfaithful
husband, he (the Prince is declared to be ex-
emplary i'll lite and tenderly devoted to his wife
AS her health is delicate, he hetrayes his affec-
| tlOnate consideration by exhibitions of patient
and prudent care for her health when walking
and riding, or on public occasions. lie guards
! her with shaws and watches every step, lest
she my he exposed to a sudden change. With
his children he TOmps, and is playful to the ex
treme that royal dignity can possibly tolerate.
lie does not select associates from vulgar and
abandoned men, nor is he by dissipation and
extravaganza wasting his estate His compan-
ions are nobemen, and educated, refined per
sons. lie Uses men and occasions for inform
ing and improving himself"
This is so charming picture that one is loath
to mar any of its details by limiting doubt as
to their genuineness. Still there are a few re-
marks that ought to be made. 1t is quite prob
able that the reports so common in London
preiudclal to the character of the Prince Of
w ales are grossly exaggerated. When scandal
gets hold Of stories about princes, it does not
usually moderate and prune them down. But
there are some facts about the Prince of Wales
which do not belong to the domain of mere
scandal, and would be called vulgar and coarse.
1t is fact that the theatres he most fire.
quents are those which are given up to the per
tormances of half naked women of doubtful
character. 1t is fact that he specially relishes
the entertainment afforded by the lowest class
Of what are called in London Emusic hall sing
ers. 1t is fact that he is great admircr of
Mdle. Schneider exhibitions as the GrdHdc
DuchcSSc and the Belle Helene. 1t is fact
that when there was a scandal afOat about him
and IA celebrated singer at one of the opera
houses Ia lady who we fully believe gave no Oc-
ca>ion for such asuspcion) the Prince Of Wales
always demcaned himself so as to supply an
excuse and color for the reports He was al
ways in the house when she sang, and seldom
at any other time he always left his box when
+ she left the stage; came back when she did
remained behind even when his wife and every
one of the royal family had left the box, tC
d give the last signal of applause to the lady, il
!. she happened to be called before the curtain
All this, of course, proves nothing more, per
+ haps, than want of sense and taste. But any
t. one, prince or cOmmontr, who shows such wan
/ of taste must expect scandal; and it is one O
e the duties of prince to avoid scandal. If any
:. New Yorker Of Fifth Avenue were, at a tim,
$ when his wife was lying dangerously i'll at home
Of to exhibit himself frequently of nights at Nj
n bios Garden, and to applaud oStentatiOusly tn
ii exhibition Of the Forty (undraped) Thieves
r; and the cctl-cdR, it would be hard indeed t.
ID make any of Us regard this parsonage as mod
/ el husband and pattern father. Doubtless th
g Prince of Wales companions are principally
); "nOblemen; but it does not follow that no
So blcmen are always " educated, refined persons.
iy The Duke of st. Albans, for example, was ant
of probably is a close companion of the Prince 0
ne ne Wales; and unless Mr.. Parker the police officer
nd never reads the newspapers, he will hardly sa
of that the story of the Duke of st. Adams lif
% and that of ScipiOs are Of precisely the sam
ty character. We can quite believe that the Prime
n "romps with his children" Henri Quatrt
ne ne we have read was fond of romping with hi
.; children but we are not, therefore, compclle
od ID to admit that he was model of virtue. Like
m wise we are ready to acknowledge that we hav
IN. actually seen the Prince Of Wales handing HI
lT- T- wife a shawl and we have no doubt that he
:; playful to the extreme that royal dignity Ca
IN possibly tolerate" Indeed, the impression
TTi London is that his playfuness occasionally gel
he rather beyond that extreme and that he dO(
ed ed not always choose his playfellows among chi
I'd dren or educated and refined persons. OurOw
Of impression is that the reports current in LOl
a3s ;Rs don, and which unfortunately spring up
g Paris too, whenever the Prince goes there, al
oy, often scandalous exaggerations; but that he
lin dull, heavy young man, of vulgar and sens,
E Gus tastes, addicted to amusements and con
paniOns such as no one my choose without e
MS pecting to incur reproach and scandal. III
delightful picture drawn by the Boston CORE
GUS pondent, on the faith of Mr.. Superintende
-. Parker's report, is simply absurd.