The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-01
IDI0sYNCRACIEs OF ROYALTY

While according to the law of the realm |
Kings can do no wrong, some people who |
are embryo kings do sometimes commit in. |
disoretions which would be wrong in any |
body else. The Royal family of England |
contains some examples of this George
the Third, though t. ~ery indifferent pur..l-
clan, was possessed of all the domestic vir
tues His eldest son and successor, George
the Fourth, was perhaps the most proAigate
man Of his time. Ia was succeeded by
William the Fourth, who reigned virtuously.
Then came the present Queen Victoria, and
the world has rung with eulogums on her,
and her consort Prince Albert. There has,
however, now come prominently forward her
eldest son, and the heir apparent, the Prince
of Wales, and the report comes from many
quarters that he is walking in the footsteps
of the former Prince of Wales-George the
Fourth.
Mr.. Justin Mccarthy furnishes the follow.
ing portrait of highlands future King, at
the Italian Opera, Covent Garden, supposing
Mad'lle Pauline Lucca to be principal song.
stress on the occasion:
The Prince is there, accompanied by two or
three ladies, in very, very low necked dresses
lie has large, fat face, with heavy features
Ills hair IS already thinning. There is even
suggestion Of badness about it. He is very dull
looking. People would in ordinary say he was
stupid, vulgar looking parsonage. He displays
an immense shirt front, on which, if Mad lie
Luces Is not singing, he let's fall his heavy chin
and sleeps. He is awakened by his laughing
companions, and being good humored. also
laughs If, however, the principal singer does
not appear, be 10 soon asleep again. The ladies
who accompany him are his wife and sisters and
are principally remarkable for their low dresses
The Prince, however, admirss other sin g ing be
sides hucca's, He is fond Of the comic singing
common IN London at places called "Music
Halis.' Not finding it convenient TO visit the
MUSIC Halls too frequently, he has tho principal
comic singers, described as dreary and vulgar
bufoons, brought to his residence, Marlboro
House, to delight him with their melody. lie is
said, too, to be fond of visiting the bright small
theatres, where the audiences consist more of
men than women, and the performers more Of
women, scantily attred, than men. There he
never falls asleep, and there the Princess never
goes. The Prince gets no credit for talent. Ar.
thur Helps tho author of "Friends in Court y
Is supposed to concoct his little occasional ora
ions, which he carefully gets by heort The
frince, however, eDyens them sometimes with
little touches of his own. On one occasion in ad
Vocatlns education in foreign languages, he as.
sured his audience that, trsveIing in distant
countries he derived much satisfaction from
knowing the yernacular..
me Prince has an allowance Of half million
aei'ars year from the nation. As Duke of
cornwall ne came into possession of large accu-
mutations OF Income on attaining his majority
Yet IL seems he wants money. Government
could not think Of applying to tho House of Com.
mons on the subject. The,Queen, bis mother, had
TO make him an allowance out of her income. OF
some two hundred thousand dollsss q year. II IL
said that the people Of England will rot endure
. seconk George the Fourth. We may, however,
fecolect that shAkespeare's Prince Hal was the
companion of Falstaa, and afterwards m illus
tfious ruler.