The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-18
From the Time Of Nell Gwynn to the Present
-High Life Scandals.
4 D,crsas, in Royal Prof ig,cy-fh, Present
Family Higher in Morals.
The Prince of Wales not OVerscrupuIoul
in His AmusemeL ts-His Admiration
for Pretty Women.
Written for the Sentinel.
fCoypriShted 1857

ing suburb of London, we were taken to
see the quaint old place bestowed by
Charles II. on his fsvorite of favorities,
Nell GWynn. 1t hes suffered strange muta-
tiOns since Nell's time, not the least strange
being that il now has for a mistress fair
American. the young wife of Sir Sydney
Waterlow. But Lady Waterlow does not
dwell in the halls or wander through the
grounds which once rang with the light
laughter and lighter songs OF the ex-orange-
girl, ex-actress, her royal lover, and his
registering companions. All, no! for the
house has fallen into dismal decay, while
the grounds have, through years
of neglect, become tangle and
labyrinth of shrubs and vines like
TO the magic guarded gardens of
the Sleeping Beauty. Indeed, so rank is
the growth OF INTENDED flowers, fast re-
lapsiDg into primitive barbarlsm, go inso-
lent the spread Of weeds, so still and slum-
beroRs the atmosphere of this enchanted
bit Of the past, standing at bay against the
mighty roar of the fast-advancing town,
that one could easily fancy Nell yet in
her Quaint bed-chamber, sunk in her pro.
longed beauty-sleep, but, perhaps, Just
ready to wake, take bath in her shallow
marble tub, array herself In rich stufis aHd
Colors, Just come again into fashion after
two centuries, and start out on new ca
reer of conquest. The court proper or the
proper court, would not receive her, nor
openly; but the stage would be more thaa
ever open to her. She would probably
come 10
"the west,
To dazzle when the sun is down.
And roo the world of rest"
revel in republican homage, and roll in
green backs" like to other pretty favorites
OF princes.
The Merry Monarch was very fond of
this Higbgate plsce-pleasant and cozy,
but never luxuriouE-4nd with IL is con-
nected a significant little story. One
morning, as Charles was strolling up and
down the brick-paved terrace, with his
spaniels, Mistress Eleanor Gwynn appeared
at her chamber window, holding in her
white. dimpled arms a pretty baby, who
much resembled thu King
with the selfsame eyes aud hair"
More than once the proud mother had
solicited for him q ducal title, and estates
to support it; but her liege had put her off,
fearful of establishing a precedent which
might strain the royal treasury. Now,
holding forward the child, she
cried, "a title, your Majesty, or out
gIes the brat.
The indolent King was alarmed for his
beautiful boy, and instantly exclaimed,
"Sa7e the Duke of 81. AlbansW
Some of England's noblest titles aud es-
tates have had their origin in some such
ignoble way, date directly back to honors
and rewards bestowed by prohigate kings
and princes on loW-born courtesans and
their "brats.n The blue blood of Britain
is not altogether cerulean, but has now
and then very earthly tiuge. The scan
dals which so frequently disgrace the
highest English society and shock the
world are outbreaks of the cancerous cor
ruption OF past generations. Yet the roy
atty of to-day, not only of England, but of
continental Kingdoms, is certainly more
decent and decorous than that of less than
a century ago-if it is not absolutely more
vIrtuous. In Eogiand this improvement is,
OF course, largely due to the example of the
''virtuousest, discreeteet best of queens.
Her uncle William had his palace we'll
stocked with and his civil list wellburdened
for his natural children; her uncle George
was, as all the world knows, the greatest
of royal voIuptuarIes and ibertines and
even her venerable grand papa had in his
youth his princely piccadillos. II is, per.
haps, an open question whether the royal
and ducal folk Of old times, who hand
somely provided for their mistresses aud
boldly acknowledged and ennobled their
1legit1mate children, were more immoral
than those Of our day, who conceal irregu-
lar relations and ignore their unhappy
consequences; but about the honesty and
manliness of the two courses there can be
no question. 1t may be that the growing
restiveness of that once stupid animal, the
taxpayer, has something to do with the
decrease of royal profigacy.
Seen under the white light of absolute
morality, ! cannot claim that the daily
walk and conversation of the popular
Prince of Wales presents lofty example
TO high English society, yet / do not be-
heve him the Don Giovanni or Sardana-
pslus he has been represented. He pos
sesses too genial, kindly and frank nature
and too much good sense to attempt q
And then, he is too busy with bridge
and park openings, and exhibition
insuguratings; he is. whirled from
banquet to banquet, from chair to
chair; he is waltsed through galleries,
1s called to wrestle with Albert monu-
1t seems to be the policy of the Qusen and
her advisors to keep the royal family 'to
the fore" TO have not only the Pioce oil
Wales, but all his brothers and sisters
nephevs and nieces, act up to the lch dien
motto-serving the people in all proper
ceremonial wsys-and the people work
them well. Last summer the three-year.
old Duke OF Albany actually laid the
foundation of public building, and did
bis level best with his little trowel to
prove to British taxpayers that they were
getting their moneys worth out Of the
Guelphs.
PROFESSIONALLY the English royal family
of to-day is an improvement on hat with
which the century opened. On the morals
OF the SONS and daughters of George III.
history 10 reticent, and will be during the
life of the good Queen; but l am afraid
that there was scarce q man or woman oil
the whole big family whose character
should be discussed except in camera. AL.
bert Edward is like 70 the long run OF
Princes Of Wales since Edward, born at
Carnarvon; there has probably not been g
Joseph among them; but no great scandal
has attached to the lives of the Queen,
other sons. The Duke of Edinburgh is saiC
10 be too parsimonious to be prohigate
while the Duke of Connaught Is too do
Tnestic-too like his father. Oddly enough
the only exception remember was In the
case Of the late Duke of Albany-rever
enced by loyal English people as a sain
and By his elder brothers. gay associate
pronounced "a mufi" 1t was Whispered
that be had in the sunny South ques
tionable and sad little rom ance, and tina
il had to do with his untimely and sud
den death. But 1 don't believe il. NJ
Guelph ever committed suicide.
Leaving aside the deeper question OF per
Honsl morality, the most serious lacking II
he character Of the Prince Of Wales 10 the