Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-14
A PRINCES PLEASURES.
The Way In Which "Tummy' Wales
Amuses Himself.

The Way In Which "Tummy" Wales
Amuses Himself.
dare say you may remember a story
which got out last year about practical
joke that was played at COwes during the
yaching week on lady named Mrs. Gust,
says a London letter to the San Francisco
ArgOndut, whose house at that time every
year is a favOrite resort of the Prince of
Wales and his followers. 1t seems that
Mrs. Gust was told that the French Cab
met Minister, M. WaddingtOn, was in
Cowes, and the Prince requested that he
be invited to dinner by her to meet His
Royal HIghness. The invitation was, of
course, given, and the dinner took place.
After dinner the gentlemen came into the
drawing-roOm, and there, i'll Mrs. Gusts
presence, an alteration soon arose
between NJ. WaddmgtOn and Lord
Charles BeresfOrd. The rudest, most
insulting epithets were applied to the
French people in general, and NJ.
WaddingtOn in particular, the war Of
words ending in NJ. WaddinetOn being
hustled out of the room into the garden,
and thrown over the wall into the road.
Shortly after he presented himself again,
covered with dust, when, at the earnest
solicitation of Mrs. Gust, who was almost
in a faint, peace was patched up.
Another row soon began, ending as before.
The Prince throughout the proceedings
was cOnvulsed with laughter. Somehow
the affair reached the ears of the French
Ambassador in London, and he wrote TO
Lord Granville about it. Then the truth
had to come out. 1t wasn't NJ. Wadding-
ton at all, but "Bull Run" Russell, who
had dressed up to represent him; the
whole thing being cOncOcted by Lord
Charles BeresfOrd for the amusement of
the Prince of Wales.
Such was last years fun, and here is
what happened this year. After dinner
when, as before, all the guests were as
sembled in the drawing-rOOm, an old wO-
man, dressed in a French costume with
very short skirts, suddenly made her APP
pearance, and, one OF the company being
requested to play some lively Opera-bouffe
airs on the piano-fOrte, she proceeded to
dance the can-can. She danced with much
spirit and vivacity, not altogether, per-
haps, as a modest old woman should, and,
as usual, the Prince of Wales was in
shouts of laughter. At last she sat down
amid a round of applause, and then
quadrille was formed, The old woman re-
questing the Prince to DE her partner. AL
though not exactly the proper thing, he
couldn't refuse. After the quadrille she
as suddenly disappeared, and people were
wondering who she was, when the door
was thrown open anu III walked O1T Harry
Keppel. 1t needed but a glance to see
that he it was who had been masquerad-
ing as the ancient French Gamsel, and
great was the merriment thereat. On the
whole, when one reflects, it was not q
very elevating sight.
Sir Harry Keppel is a man of 10, and,
Notwithstanding his age, is one of the
Princes most constant companions and
followers. There are people who accuse
him of being a great tOady, and if one
might judge by the exploit just mentioned
the charge is not very untrue. Fancy
man of his age and an Admiral of the
fleet consenting to such an exhibition of
want of dignity on his part merely for the
sake of amusing the Prince of " ales.
Mrs. Gust, the lady at whose house this
sort of tOmfoOlery occurs every year for
the delectation of "Tummy," is a woman
of over 60. She is a ScOtchwoman, and
has always been very fast, nOtwithstand-
ing the fact that she was a Miss MacdOn-
aid, daughter of the Chief of Clanranald,
and very plain in looks. She is an aunt
of the present Earl of BrOwnlOw.