The Portland daily press., 1880-12-14
"reminiscences of Kings.

Is. H. Siddons in Washington Republic.l
In my very early youth resided in the fine
old city of Bath, in Somersetshire, famous for
its hot mineral springs, its fashionable society,
and its beautiful surroundings. Accustomed
to ramble about alone-I was 10 years old--I
was surprised one day to read on q brass plate
fixed on the big door Of a big house in Pulten.
ey street the inscription "The King Of France"
was interrupted in my contemplation of the
queer advertisement by the opening of the
street door, whence a very large old gentle.
man in chair was wheeled out of the house
on to the sidewalk. and proceeded to take his
accustomed exercise in the Same vehicle. 1
perceived that his legs were swathed in. cloths
tho concomitants of gout-and that his atten-
dants remained uncovered as he spoke to them.
Two or three passers by having stopped aslthe
old gentleman came out, / asked one of them
who he was. "That," said he, sis King Louis
XVIII" d - ci' ~
After this often saw his majesty IA cat NAV
| look at king) in Sydney Gardens-a sort of
Lafayette Park. One day as was passing,
while he sat reading, he called out TO me,
"Littel boy-tenez-come here." an.
preached. He pointed to the gorund and said:
"naes lunettes" tmy spectacles), which he had
dropped and could not pick up with his own
handshis attendant being away sParlez yous
Francais29" he asked. replied in the affirm
ative. He then questioned me about INV
name, my family, my studies, tastes. etc., and
was altogether very gracious and chatty. 1
took courage and ventured to inquire when he
intended to return to France. He said. ssthat
oepenos on the armies OF England, Germany
and Russia AS was going away he called
me back and handed me gold 7-shilling piece
then current in England. thanked him. and
said that my mother had prohibited my taking
money from anyone as gift. He smiled and
speaking French made answer, ''Your mother
is noble lady, but you must learn that it is
not etiquette to refuse the little donation of
king. SO pocketed the tip, punched hole
in the coin, and some years afterward at
tached it to my watch-chain.i All this took
place in ISL. Three years later L saw the
King In his carriage as he left the Tuileries for
q drive. There might have been two or three
thousand people in the crowd who raised their
hats and cried Vice ie 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 hit
spectacles! Such is the blindness and iprrat-
itude OF kings! Perhaps he, Louis Xviii,
thought he had condoned the service with the
tip. @ - -.--
1914 was great epoch in England. 1t was
e--~ "hihS yOdI VI tuo OI Europe
over over Napoleon who was snug-for time-at
Elba The Emperor of Russia, the King of
Prussia, Platoff, the Hetman of the Cossaeks,
and Field Marshal Won Bluoher, all went over
to England by invitation from "Fum the
Fourth" then Prince Regent, and were feted
magnifcently. 1 saw them all. But, except
ing Alexander of Russia who was ''as tall and
as straight as poplar tree" saw nothing in
their physique or physiognomy to distinguish
them from their subjects. Alexander's full
face resembled, from the peculiar cut Of his
whiskers, that of cat. Frederick NJ Prnssia
had more the look of a rat. Piatoff was as thin
as weasel and as yellow as q Southerner
down on his luck. Butcher old "Forvarts,"
who promised to help Wellington Unit my
whole army" which he did at Waterloo
looked better than all the rest. He was bluff
and bold, with clear, quick eye and thick
white mOustache