Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-14
UCrOERl NO 27
NO. 247.
mistellaneous.
"HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS."
The GUELPH PRINCES OE WALES.

News comes over the Atlantic that the
husband of the beautiful Mrs. Langtry,
''the Jersey Lily" is about to commence
proceedings for divorce, and that the
llustrious person whose august title
heads this article is to be the ''corre-
spondent.n | had been told that there
was a tame animal ofthe husband variety
belonging to the beautiful lionne, but like
Tom Davies, who got into good society
and lasting fame by his pretty wife, he
has no other distinction. Seemingly this
Bobby Buttercup from the Channel island
of Jersey is too late he should have kept
his lily under gless and not have brought
her to Covent Garden, where the fairest
flowers bloom but little while and then
are troddcn under foot. For my part l
doubt very much if the case is ever tried;
| prophecy that there will be settle-
ment.
Everybody who knows anything Of Lon
don is aware that the Prince of Wales Is
the leader of a very fast set; corrupt,
licentious and raffish lot of rich and noble
gentlemen and beautiful and '.gsy"
ladies'. 1t is by no means an exclusive
society. 1t is especially democratic so far
rs the ladies are concerned; wild count
esses, beautiful commoners, clever and
handsome Americans, French actresses
and professional beauties from any cOun-
try are freely admitted
Once before his royal highness has been
in court; but it was at the suit of a mem-
ber of the aristocracy and the prince was
only one of the accessories, for the fauI
pas of Lady Mordaunt was not merely y
pas de deur.
A few years ago the stuffy young man,
dull of eye and prematurely bald, who
was born Prince Of Wales, Duke Of Sax.
ony, Cornwall and Rathsay. Earl of Ches-
ter and Carrick, Boron Renfrcw and Lord
of the Isles was unpopular as any prince
could be. He was spoken of with con-
tempt. In the March number of the Gal
axy, 1870, Sustin Mccarthy had an article
entitled 1.-The Prince OF Wales" from
which it appeared that Albert Edward was
then an old-looking young man, dull and
clumsy, not we'll educated, and impa-
tient of decorous society. In every thing.
except his pleasures, he was stingy and
small in those he was coarse and extEava-
giant. He was fond of low company and
frivolous amusements, neglected his wife
and sought the society of women noted for
profligate conduct. At the opera he would
fall asleep in his box, but was IN great de-
light and wide awake at the Alhsmbra and
other vile London shows from which we
have since been supplied with the jigging
hussies called british blondes"
If British society frowned upon these
princely amusements 10 years ago, a
great change has taken place. Certainly
the prince has not reformed, He is older
and more circumspect, does not appear
as formerly at low places Of amusement,
but he is the leader OF the most reckless
and licentious society in Europe; at the
same time he has become exceedingly
popular No prince of the Hanoverian
line has ever been so much beloved and
admired as Albert Edward now is, and 1t
is somewhat remarkable that no Prince OF
Wales of this line ever succeeded in being
even tolerably reputable.
The first of the race who bore the title
was he who became George ii, q vile
youth who hated his father and was ener-
getically hated by him III return. This
dislike of his son was one of the best
traits of the old king, for it would have
been a vice to love such an incOrrigible,
graceless wretch. Thackeray has drawn
a picture of him familiar to all readers,
but the memoirs of The Viscountess
Sandon'' and Lord Hervey's Court Of
George H." with other gossip literature
of the time, give better history Of that
brutal reign. The next Prince Of Wales
was Georges son Frederick, of whom
Walpole said he was like the Black Prince
in only one particular-that he died young.
He inherited all the viciousness of his
race, though it must be said that his poor
mother was a kind, sensible woman. The
story of his rupture with his father and
his political intrigues need not be repeat
ed fortunately while playing cricket he
got such a ''hot BALI that an internal abb
scess formed; he died in the arms of Des-
noyers, IA dancing master. to the JOY OF
his father. An epitaph on him was wide-
ly circulated in which all the world acqii-
esced -
''Here lies Fred,
who was alive and is dead,
Had it been his father
had much rather;