The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-11
The Prince OF NaIcs---An Interesting
Sketch by MOncure ID. Conway.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.


Now am well convinced that the Prince
has serious faults, but equally certain that
they are exaggerated in the public mind by
the gossip to which his indiscretions have
lent too much aid. Those Of us who remem-
her the blonde boy who attracted not only
the curious, but the discriminating, by his
frankness and simplicity when he visited Gin
cinnati, and who have seen him since his
manhood, might judge from his appearance
that q great change had come upon him for
tbe worse. His face has become heavy, and
there is an unnistakable resemblance to the
Georges, especially to George H., which Is
ANYTHING but agreeable to those who
study physiognornies. But not long ago
bapnened to meet the Prince at the Cos
mopolitan Club, and found that his face was
not all outside There was something genial
and kind about it, and could see<sonlething
of the frankncss of tile boy to whom had
been introduced in Pixies Opera House. lie
is not remarkable for profundity, but .hk
conversation is that of an educated man, with
some hnmor What struck me most was his
entire openness, and the entire absence OF
aflectation. He was surrounded by score
of Young men. mostly literary characters,
and. so far from his manner showing any
arrogance or demanding any recognition Of
his rank. he seemed to me to be conscious OF
# only rs q bore-a thing he would like &c
fling off and mix in with the others on equal
terms. When he rose TO go, and the gentlemen
in the club stood up-a usual form in the
presence of royalty-the Prince showed some
honest confusion, bowed to those present
with Difference, and left the room modestly
and quickly. The impression he left on my
mind was that there is much more good IL
him than is popularity supposed-morc good
nature and good sense. 1t is just possible
that his entire frankness and openness have
caused him to be lampooned when secret Eel
lows get the reputation of .blameiessness
The public generally believes that lie was
guilty of liceItious conduct in the Mordaunl
case. haveit from an intimate of the Queens
family that when his name appeared i'll that
case the Prince Immediately visited tho
Queen, and entering in her presence, said, 81
have come, my Queen and mother, to ga!
that / am entirely innocent of any mlscon
duet in the matter with which my name is
connccted.n / asked informant, "Did the
Queen believe himi" "Bclieve himw wa;
the reply, "the Queen knows the Prince
too well to believe he would come to hel
with lie in his mouth" There have beer
| many statements to the effect that the Prince
is a drunkard. 1t is quite untrue. The
| Prince smokes more than the anti-tobacco
| nists would recommend, but there is no tr7,ct
in his face or eye of excessive drinking. Al
the same TIME it must be understood TINT
am remembering here only his good traits
and saying what is due against false rumors
do not underestimate his faults because
do not choose this moment to mention
| them. One thing may be regarded as {
fault, or the reverse, according to the mine
of his critic: the Prince has shown q singular
| insensibility to the demands made upon hin
as the next representative of English royalty
| NV own opinion is that he was so boret
through all his childhood and boyhoo(
and youth by being officially guarded, pro
| tected, watchcd--the nurse delivering hin
to the doctors, the doctors to that end
less series of household officials, of Whom
Sir Charles Dixie has told us so nucl
/ lately-that when he became his own man h
fulfilled the remark of Solomon or Somobod,
else: "Train up a child and away he'll co.
He has made no secret Of his belief that h
will never sit on the throne, and it is plail
this belief has given him no sorrow. IL
J loves English sports-hunting, shooting
horse-racing-and good company, spice,
with Irritation; but have no idea that he
in any respect beneath the average Of Eu
ropean aristocracy i'll intelligence or charac
ter.-nay, I am pretty sure he is above il
The rumors that he is unkind to his Princes
were rife several years ago, but they hay
entirely passed away. The blooming, happ
face of the Princess contradicted them stead
lily until now, when, worn away until sh
has become mere ghost, her utter anguis
!, attests the love between them. After tn
Prince had been deiirious for week, hi
first interval of consciousness was shown il
the words, "This is the Princess's birth
i dor - 49, ..sS .s-@t