St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-26
Ihe Prince II Wales aud His Friends.
lSan Francisco Arrcnautl

laH albSuhutt
dare say YOU may remember a story which
got out last year about practical joke that
was played at Cowes during the Yachting
week, on n lady named Mrs Gust, whose
house at that time every year IS a fsvorite re-
sort OF the Prince OF Wales and his follow
ers. 1t seems that Mrs. Gust was told that
the French cabinet minister, Monsieur Wad-
dingtou, was in Cowes, aud the
Prince requested that be be invited
to dinner by her TO meet his royal high
ness. The inyitation was, of course, given,
aud the dinner took place. After dinner the
gentlemen came into tue drawing room. aud
there. In Mrs. Gusts presence, an alterca-
ton sOoa arose between Monsieur Wadding-
ton aud Lord Charles B-resford Tue rudest,
most insulting epithe;s were rpplied to the
French people in general, aud Monsieur
wAddington in particular, tae war OF word :
ent!ng 10 Monsieur Waddington being
hustled out Of the room. into the garden,
aud thrown over the wall Into the road
Shortly after e presented himself
again, covered with dust when at the earnest
solicitation OF Mrs. Gust, who was al
most ia u faint, peace was patched up.
Another row soon began ending as before
The prince throughout the proceeding was
convulsed with laughter. Somehow the affair
reached the ears OF the French ambassador
in London, and he wrote to Lord Gran vile
about it. Then the truth had 10 come out.
Il wasn't Monsieur Waddington at all, but
"Bull Run" Russell, who had dressed up to
represent him; the whole thing being con
cocted by Lord Charles Beresford, for the
amusement OF the Prince OF Wales.
Such was last year fun, and here Is what
happened this year. After dinner, when as
before all the guests were assembled In the
drawing rOom, an old woman, dressed in a
French costume with very short skirts, sud
deuly made her appearance and one of the
company being requested tn play some lively
opera bOutfe air on the pianoforte, she pro-
eeeded TO dance the can-can. She danced
with much spirit aud vivacity, not alto
gether, perhaps, as a modest old wo-
man 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 a quadrille was
formed, the old woman requesting the prince
o be her partner. Although not exactly t he
fproper thing, he couldn't refuse. After the
quadrile she as suddenly disappeared, and
people were wondering who she was, when
the door was thrown open aud in walked Sir
Harry keppel. II needed but glance to see
tina. he it was who had been masquerading
as the ancient French damsel, and great was
the merriment thereat On the whole, when
one reflects, 1t was not very elevating sight.
Sir Harry Keppel is man of seventy-five,
and, Notwithstanding his age, is one of the
princes most constant companions and fol-
lowers. There are people who accuse him of
being great toady, and il one might judge
by the exploit just mentioned, the charge
is not very untrue. Fancy man of his age,
aud an admiral of the feet, conserving to
such an exhibition of want OF dignity on his
part, merely for the sake Of amusing the
prince Of Wales
Mrs. Gust, the lady at whose house this
sort Of ridiculous tomfoolery occurs every
year for the deleCtrtiOn, of ''Tummy," is a
woman OF over sixty. She is Scotch woman,
and has always been very fast, notwithstand-
ing the two facts that she was a Miss Mac
Donald, daughter OF the Chief Of Clanranald,
aud very plain in looks. She is an aunt of
the present Earl Of Brownlow.