Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-11
fHE PRINCE OF WALES
fhE FU. IRE KING OF ENGLAND AS
A SOCIETY LEADER.
Universal Desire to Conform to the Pat
tern Approved BY Albert Edwnrd-
Innovations Adopted Because
Sanctioned by Royalty.


The prince of w ales Is as supreme IN ne
whole realm Of social jurisdiction as her
ma jesty is politically sovereign III ma
tional attachment TO the prIn OF Wales
shows itself in a universal desire to adopt
as well as crafty his tastes, to
conform society TO the pattern which hs Is
understood to approve; To mimic him in the
trivial details OF existence. The theatre
did not attain its present popularity and
sioing play" did not become an Institu-
uon without the prince of Wa tlkilg the
stage un Ter his patronage II vas never
angular winter season IN l.nT .oi I'll the
priI ce of Wales discovered iAd, - capital
had its charms when the year W. rapidly
waning and that the country m glt De in
tolerably monotonouS Cigarettes we're tirst
introduced into England after the Crimean
war, but it was not till somewhere about
ls5s, when the heir apparent gave them his
approval, that they became formidable
rivals TO cigers, and the very diminutive
dandy thodsh. it necessary 10 carry an
electro plate case containing them in his
pocket
What are called lemon smash, "A bever
age which seems pre-eminently .-iapted 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 to what may
be called the professional classes, TIL
the prince of Wales sanctioned AMI
stimulated the rite. The Sunday parade at
the Geological gardens was almost the cres.-
- hfyhpasS and sir ha has
ceased to visit Regents park upon the first
day of the week the institution has entered
upon its decadence. Of the thousands OF
tens of Thousands who crowd Hyde park at
certain hours on the week days ami Sundays
during the season, Cor no other reason than
that royalty has taught them it Is the right
thing TO be en- evidence then and there, how
many are there who have any kind OF &C
quaintance with their future sovereign
Some wears ago the attempt was made to
revoiutionize the evening dress of English
gentlemen, and a few greatly daring spirits
in country houses actually presented them-
selves IN the drawing groom array II in vel
Vet knickerbockers and red silk st ockings
But neither at Marlborough house nor at
Sandringham was the innovs ion viewed
with favor, and the only relief whi n royalty
would allow to the customary silt Of solemn
black was a white waistcoat. the idea OF
which entirely originated with the prince.
There is no neei TO adduce other ilustra-
tions The list might be made to extend in.
definitely. and We will defy any one TO bring
forward a single negative instance. TO men
tion Il single case In which 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 This
may argue an unworthy servllity, syco-
phancy, or what you will, inherent in the
british breast But the tendency is as IRE
sistible as the law Of gravitation
The social influence OF Marlborough house,
of the prince and princess of Wales is as far
reaching, as penetrating and as subtle as the
principle of loyalty TO the sovereign. There
is every reason to suppose that as time goes
e. -, ss taiYys will be confirmed and
tics we see that the more democratic we be
come the more liable we are TO be domi-
mated by single Individual As society
grows more democratic, more unwieldy, les-
coherent, more unmanageab.e, the disposi-
ton will increase to look to the prince and
princess of Wales as the centers and deposi-
tories of social authority. Hosts and
hostesses in London, and in the multi
tu,le of provincial towns which ape the airs
of London, will not know how 10 entertain
how TO organize their festivities, unles' they
are supplied with a standard of proprlety by
Marlborough house. The prince o. Wales
was absent from London for weeks together
last summer. The consequence was that the
season was failure. and that the entire So
cial system was dislocated. Society, in fact,
went to pieces. Nobody knew what to 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 lightness Of clnstitutional
king, but those who live under Is SOW
ereignty insist that he shall exercise q social
de,potisn