, 1885-01-21
THE PRINCE OF WALES
THE FUTURE KING OF ENGLAND As
SOCIETY LEADER.


The prince OF Wales d az supreme in the
whole realm Of social Jurisdiction as her
majesty is politically sovereign. The ma
tionnl attachment TO the prince Of Wales
shows itself In a universal desire 10 adopt,
a. well as grntify his tastes, to
conform society to the pattern which he Is
Understood 10 approve; to mimic him In the
trivial details OF existence TIN theatre
did not attain It's present popularity and
doing a play did not become an institu
ton without the prince OF Wales taking the
stage under his patronage There was never
a regular winter season in London I'LL the
prince OF Wales discovered that the capital
had It's charms when the year was rapidly
waning. and that the country might be In
tolerably monotonouR. Cigarettes were first
introduced into England after the Crinsan
war, but it was not till somewhere about
1868, when the heir apparent CAV them his
approval, that they became formidable
rivals TO cigars, and the very diminutive
dandy thought it necessary 10 carry an
electro plate case containing them in his
pocket.
What are called lemon stnashes-a beyer-
age which seems pre-eminently adapted TO
the parched palate Of this unheroic age
had never been slipped by British lips till
Albert Edward, prince OF Wales, had pro-
nounced them to be very good. Smoking
concerts were unheard OF before the same
august and benevolent despot OF English
society suggested a combination Of the at
fractions Of music and tobacco. Sunday
dinner parties were confined 70 what may
be called the professional Glasses, till
the prince Of Wales sanctioned and
stimulated the rite. The Sunday parade At
the Geological gardens was almost the crea-
ton Of his royal highness, and since he has
ceased to visit Regents park upon the first
day OF the week the institution has entered
upon it's decadence. OF the thousands OF
tens of thousands who crowd Hyde park at
certain hours on the week days and Sundays
during the season, for no other reason than
that royalty has taught them ii Is the right
thing to DO en- evidence then and there, how
many are there who have any kind OF ac-
quaintance with their future sovereign4
Some years ago the attempt was made TO
revolutionize the evening dress Of English
gentlemen, and a few greatly daring spirits
in country houses actually presented them
selves in the dra wing-room arrayed in vel
vet knickerbockers and red silk stockings
But neither at Marlborough house nor a.
Sandringham was the innovation We've
with favor, and the only relief which royAlt
would allow to the customary suit OF solemn
black was a white wRistcoat, the idea OF
which entirely originated with the prince.
There is no need to adduce other ~illustra-
lions. The list might be made TO extend in
definitely, and we will defy any one to bring
forward a single negative instance, to men.
ton a single case In which a social fashion
or change introduced or encouraged by the
prince Of Wales has not been generally
adopted, first and Immediately by those
about him, secondly and gradually by the
general mass Of his future subjects. Thif
may argue an unworthy servfity, syoo-
phancy, or what you will, Inherent in the
British breast. But the tendancy Is as irr
sistible as the law of gravitation.
The social influence Of Marlborough house,
OF the prince and princess of Wales is as fan
reaching, as penetrating, and as subtle as the
principle OF loyalty to the sovereign. There
is every reason to suppose that as time goes
on this state Of things viii be confirmed and
emphasized rather than diminished. In pol
itics we SEQ that the more democratic we be
come the more liable we are TO be domi,
mated by a single individual. As society
grows more democratic, more unwieldy, less
coherent, more un~manageable, the disposi-
ton will increase TO look to the prince and
priiAoss OF Wales as the CENTER and doposi-
tories of social authority. Hosts and
hostesses in London, and in the multi
tude of provincial towns which ape the airs
of London, will not know how to entertain,
how TO organize their Iesuvltles, unless they
are supplied with a standard OF propriety by
Marlborough house. The prince OF Wales
was absent from London for weeks together
last summer. The consequences was that the
season was a failure. and that the entire so
cial system was dislocated. Society, In fact,
went TO pieces. Nobody knew what 10 be at
or what TO do, because the Marlborough
house ideal was not visible in their midst
The prince of Wales may sway English so
ciety with the i~ighthess of a constituticaal
king, but those who live under his SOW
ereignty insist that he shall exercise a social
despotism.