Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-21
ASEcDO ~-rs ALERT EDWARD.
The rrspee or wales ~ IN Amateur Fire.
1nan-Fishtins shy Of meneyed Tuft-
Hunter from America.

The xrspee or Wales ~ IN Amateur Fire.
mau-Fishtins shy OF . meneyed Tun.
Hunter from America.
Just twenty years ago, writes London
correspondent Of the san Francisco
Chronicle, was residing In the west end
Of London, and belonged to an amateur
fire trigade, having It's headquarters at
Brompton. At the time speak NJ. the
Prince. II In London, rarely missed a big
fire. Amongst his particular cronies In
those DAYS were numbered the Dukes OF
Sutherland and Newcastle, and the tirs.-
named gentleman was by all odds the most
enthusiastic amateur fireman In London.
One night--it was In November, i remem-
Der, and the snow some inches deep-Se
rot call lust after midnight TO fire In
The ncighborhood OF PallMall. When we
arrived on the ground humber OF engines
were already at work. and the fire. which
was rapidly spreading, proved quite big
affair, even for London. Everybody worked
with will, and about 3o'clock in the mora.
ing the word was passed round that the
members OF the amiteur tire brigade would
he heartily welcome at an exclusively west
end club a few hundred yards away ~
all public houses and drinking places had
been closed a couple OF hours: as the night
was cold. aud as we were all pretty well
drenched, need hardlysay that the invita-
ton was gratefully accepted. In squads OF
four we presented ourselves at the Hospital
BILE portals OF the club. Our uniforms
passed US in, and i don't know that ever
enjoyed long drink more in my life than
when found myself in the warm aud e,e-
contemporaries slnoking-room. Under
the circumstances no ntroduition was
needed, and we were soon chatting with a
dozen gentlemen in evening dress. who
were for the time being our hosts. Jus. "a
a second drink was suggested two firemen
entered. d; essed in the ordinary uniform
Of the regulars. They shook hands with
two or three gentlemen present, and
noticed that. although no intro
duction took place. the Others ali
rose, bowed. and resumed their seats. Thus
caused me TO scrutinize the newcomers.
and 10 nv surprise / recognized the Prince
Of Wales and the Duke Of Sutherland. We
four had kept our seats, but on recog-
MIXING the newcomers we rose, and. not
being members OF the club, were ab1ut TO
retire. "Be seated. gentlemen" said the
Prince, " don't let rs disturb yOu. Those
who work in company may surely drink
together" and, walking across to where
we sat, his Royal ITighness and his COM
panion took seats alongside OF us. and.
glasses being replenished, chatted pleasant
" for two or three minutes over the incl
dents Of the fire. don't know whether ii
was on account OF the man being prince.
but certainly LEFT the club tea minutes
later with the impression that | bad never
met more agreeable and unassumizg
gentleman than the Prince OF Wales.
In conradIstinction TO this familiarity
with any one and every one when occasion
is betting, let ne tell YOU Of little incl
dent that occurred few seasons ago at the
Gayety Theatre. in the Strand: The Prince
is an ardent admiTer OF the drama and q
regular visitor nj all the principal metro
poiitan theatres. and lie always has pleas
ant nod and a kind word for the pr0prie-
tors and managers OF these places % ami,c-
ment. John Holling>head. the proprietor
OF the Gayety, has a charming little room.
half Office, half smOkIng-roOm. and alto
gether cozy, adjacent to the stage. and mere
between the acts the Prince occasionally
adiOurns and pufis cigarette while he
chats with the educated man Of the world,
the manager; for be it known that John
HOllincshead was brilliant journalist lnd
perhaps the most capable drlmt.ic critic
on the London pres long before he
took TO theatrical MANAGEMENT. A. IN
time ] speak OF 4 certain New York million
aire, who, notwithstanding bis vast wealth
and influence. enjoys but small popularity
in the land Of bis birth. and perhaps Oh that
account spends three fourth, Of IN, time in
Europe. was valued patron OF the Gayety
Theatre. He, too, in common with other
friends OF Ilollngshead, had the entrec to
the managerial Sanctum. This young gem
tleman had tried good many schemes 10
ingratiate himself with the Prince. but
the heir to the throne Is notably
partial 10 the society OF Americans. there
were several social backwards registered
against the naE.e OF tins would-be man
of fashion that bad caused the Prime on
several previous occasions 10 decline TO
be introduced to him. One night the
Prince and the gentleman have referred to
were both in the house, aud at the close Of
the first act the young man from your side OF
the water saw the Prince leave his box and
90 down on to the. stage. The gentleman
who hungered so fierccly after an introduce
ton 10 royalty instantly followed suit, and
sent his card in 20 IIOllngshead, who by
this time was closeted with the Prince.
Not wishing 10 offend a valuable patron.
with IN apology TO his guest the MANAGER
left him alone for a moment and went ont
TO learn his visitors pleasure. The gentle
mans pleasure was that Mr.. llollingshcli
should take him into the room where the
Prince was, and thus bring about an iniOr-
NAL introduction. l suppose he relied
upon bis wcll-klown name and reputed
1t H.,
once got introduced. Hol!lngsheld. know
ing how good.natured the Prince is and
OF the prejudice he had
against the New Yorker. proceeded 10 do
bis patrons bidding. His first act was 10
return to the sanctum and ask the Princes
permission to trOt the gentleman out. or
rather in. 4" So-and.sO." said the Prince,
with that peculiar droop OF the LETT cycld
which Is so noticeable when he directs hi,
thoughts intenty on any particular SUBJ
iect, 4" am really very sorry, lIJllin-s-
head, but ] must ak You b excise M
meeting the gentleman. | cannot nuke
him an acquaintance under the present.
but shall be delighted - .
ncet him any time that the American
Minister thinks tit to present him." These
Two stories fairly illusu ate phase o! the
Princes character which is certainly wor-
by Of admiration. A. matter Of fact the .
nan has not particle OF pride about him;
but he is exceedingly careful, and more
specially 50 OF late years that no one shall 4
Use their acquaintanceship with him - q '
TO undeseTyed sOcih posi-.
ion.
"THE ROAD TO TIE ILTIR."