Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17
RECOLLECTIoNs or ROYALTY.
4 Correspondents sIimpses OF King
~ PersonaSes.
Washington Republc
Washington Republic

In my very early youth | resided in
the fine old city of Bath, in Somerset
shire, famous for its hot mineral
springs, its fashionable society, and its
beautiful surroundings Accustomed
to rumble about alone-I was 10 years
old WAS surprised one day to read
on brass plate fixed on the big door
of Il big house in Pulteney street, the
inscription; 'The King OF France"
! was interrupted in my contemplation
Of the queer advertisement by the
opening of the street door, whence Il
very large old gentleman in chair
was wheeled ont Of the house on to the
sidewalk and proceeded to take his ac-
customed exercise in the same vehicle
perceived that his legs were swathed
in cloths-the concomitants of govt
and that his attendants remained I'M
covered as he spoke to them Two or
three passels-by having stopped as the
old gentleman came out, | asked one
of them who he was That" said he,
sis King Louis XVIlI."
After this often saw his majesty Ia
cat may look ut y king i'll Sydney gar
dens-a sort of La Fayette park. One
day as | was passing, while he sat read
ing, he called out to me: Little boy
tenee-come hero" approached. He
pointed to the ground and said: 'mes
hnettes" my spectacles', which he
had dropped and could not pick up
with his own hands, and his attendant
was away. 'Parle. rous F,ancdjs" he
asked. replied in the affirmative.
He questioned me about my name,
my family, my studies, tastes, etc,
and was altogether very gracious and
chatty. took courage and ventured
to inquire when he intended to return
to France. He said THAT depends
on the armies Of England, Germany,
and Russia" As | WAS going away he
called me back and handed me gold
seven-shilling piece, then current in
England. thanked him. and said
that my mother had prohibited my
taking money from any one rs II gift.
He smiled, and, speaking French,
made answer: Your mother is II
noble lady, but you must learn that it
is not etiquette to refuse the little do
nation of 4 king. So pocketed the
| tip, punched hole in the coin, and
some years aftcrward attached it to my
watch-chain, All this took place in
1871. Three years later saw the
king in his carriage rs lie left the
'ruleries for drive. There might
have been two or three thousand peO-
pie in the crowd who raised their hats
and cried W.. Ia Roi'-an exclamation
they had not been accustomed to for
twenty years-but strange to say his
majesty did not recognize me--the
youth who picked up his spoctacles!
Such is the blindness and ingratitude
of kings. Perhaps he, Louis NNlll.,
thought he had condoncd the service
with the tip.
Eighteen hundred and fourteen was
II great epoch in England. 1t was the
lcrownlng year of the triumphs Of Eu
rope over Napoleon, who was snug
for Il time-at Elba. The Emperor of
Russia, the King Of Prussia, Platof,
the hoffman of the Cossacks, and Field
Marshal Won Butcher, all went over to
England by invitation from "Fum the
Fourth, then prince regent, and were
fetcd magnliccntly saw them al.
But, excepting Alexander Of Russia,
who was las tall and as straight as
poplar tree | saw nothing in their
physique or physiognoMy to distin-
guish them from their subjects. Alex
ander's fill face resembled, from the
peculiar cut of his whiskers, that of "
cat Frederick of Prussia had more
the look Of rat. Platoff was as thin
Il wea2el, and MS yellow rs south
erner down ON his luck. Bluchcr-old
"Forvarts,' who promised to help Wei
lington init my whole army" which
he did ut Waterloo-looked better than
all the rest. He was bluff and bold,
with y clear, quick eye and thick
white mustaChe
My next experience with monarchs
WAS in 1920, and the locality st. Helena
There abode The desolator, desolate /"
4 fellow-passenger to the island was a
major in the Madras army who had
been commissioned by Lady Holland
to take packageto Napoleon As the
ex-empcror had excluded himself from
all visitors for an entire year, some
trouble was experienced in getting leave
to call upon him. Sir Hudson Lowe
threw obstacles in the way. At length
the major managed to dispatch mes
senger direct to Napoleon, and an invi-
tation to visit him was promptly sent.
| accompanied the major. Napoleon
came out of his garden wiping his brow,
for he had been digging and delving
lie was very courteous to the major,
and even spoke 10 me. can not bet
ter describe his personnel than by say
ing that il has been exactly copied in
the statuetto hy Vera i'll the Corcoran
gallery He had become very thin, his
complexion iaundccd, his head hung
down.
Seven years nov passed away, dur
ing which lived upon curry and rice,
in the tropics. Then ] went back to
England and saw George IN. can
not INCLUDE him III my acquaintance,
for we never exchanged word, but
saw him. Well, the king was going
to open parliament by making or read
inc i speech His appearance was