Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-05
OLD KING CHARLES FAvORITE.
jackson, the American, Not Spirit
ualist, But Jolly Good Fellow.

OAD hANU ChAhLES FAvOkSIIEs
jackson, the American, Not q Spirit
ualist, But Jolly Good Fellow.
From the New York Sun.
There can be little doubt that the man Jack
son, referred to is an American named Rich
ard N. Jackson, well-known to his fellow-coun-
trymen who have visited Stuttgart for any
length Of time, and gentleman whose history
is indeed remarkable. So far as known, how
ever, he is not Spiritualist, and in no way de-
serves the title Of an adventurer. The infer
ence of some of the dispatches that King
Charles was q second mad Louis of Bavaria,
and that the Americans were male Dis Debars,
seems an absurd one to the Americans who
have met Jackson and enjoyed his company.
1t is q fact, though, that Baron Won jackson, to
speak of him by the title which the king of
Wurtemberg has conferred upon him, has &C.
quired over the king marvellous influence.
The son Of poor farmer in Steubenville,
O., jackson has become noble of the German
empire, the confdant and privy councillor
of q German king, in whose palace he resides,
and from whom the American Is the constant
recipient Of favors and honors. Common rumor
in Stuttgart says, too, that the American is deep
ly in love with the Grand Duchess Vera, the
adopted daughter Of Queen Olga of Wurtemberg
and the widow Of Prince Eugene, and that his
love is warmly reciprocated.
Baron Won Jackson was born in Steubenville
about forty years ago. He came Of good fam
lily, though his parents were not rich, and the
early days of the young man were passed upon
farm. He was bright and intelligent, though
not remarkably SO, and was distinguished for
only two things-a very humorous disposition
and a decided taste for music. His talents in
the latter direction were such, in fact, that he
and his people deemed it worth his while that
he should go abroad to study with the idea Of
making music his profession. He went to
Stuttgart to cultivate his talent at the famous
conservatory there. He made good progress
in the university, and made many friends. One
Of his intimates was an Englishman VIM. jack
son, son OF the great English composer, Samuel
Jackson. To distinguish the two men one was
called the English jackson and the other the
American Jackson. The English Jackson was
much better musician than the American,
and one day of he went to Edinburgh, Scot
land, with a place as the organist of q great
church offered to him. The American was
greatly discouraged, for he knew that despite
musician, and perhaps not a livelihood In adj
dition to this, shortly afterward two misfortunes
beset him-one Of his hands became lame, and
his money ran out.
In his predicament Mr.. Jackson, who was
then about thirty years old, applied to the
MARY assistance. He had become perfectly
familiar with the German language. and Con-
sui Potter, who was then new appointee and
ignorant of German, employed him the in
or SO Jackson made himself quite indispensa-
BILE, and, at the request Of Consul Potter, he
was made vice-consul at Stuttgart.
Mr.. Jacksons elevation to this place was due
to quite other reasons than his knowledge of
German; it was due to those qualities and
characteristics which afterward lifted him
into kingly favor, almost as in a fairy tale.
He is declared by those who know him to be
one OF the most companionable men living.
His good nature and good humor, and bright
overfowing spirits are inexhaustible. He adds
to this perfect tact and perfect knowledge of
the world. An American lady, who was for
years resident of Stuttgart at the time Jack
son was vice-consul, said to Sun reporter:
''Mr. Jackson was the life of the American
colony in Stuttgart, which at that time was
funniest man I ever knew. He wasn't 80 witty,
exactly, but he had a quaint, Artemus Ward
way Of saying and doing things that was as
droll as could be imagined"
Jacksons position as vice-consul put him ND
in the scale good deal, too, SO far as German
society was concerned. He came to have many
friends among the German nobility and among
the officers of the army.
One marked popularity about Mr. Jackson
was his extremely methodical and regular
habits. The consulate at Stuttgart adjoins the
open park near the kings palace, and to 90
from the consulate to his boarding house at
meals and at other times it was Mr.. Jackson's
custom to pass through the park. He also
walked In the park for exercise at stated times
each day. Frequently in his walks Mr. Jackson
met King Charles, who was also fond of walking
In the parks. Mr.. Jackson always saluted the
king respectfully, as was the custom of all the
members of the American colony and from
their frequent meetings the king came to re-
turn MIR. Jackson's salute somewhat Familiarity
He made inquiries concerning him, learned his
name and his place, and heard a great deal,
naturally, of the Americans social graces and
accomplishments. He had Mr.. Jackson pre-
sented to him, and, after one or two meetings,
sent a messenger to the American Offering him
the place of Reader to the King"
The place OF Reader to the King" is of
course, not simply what its name implies, and
is, in fact, something of an euphemism. 1t
means, in brief, the kings companion one
whom he can meet in ordinary human inter-
course without formalities. as he cannot meet
OF course, the nobility. Yet no suspicion of the
mental attaches to the reader" 1t is a place
of high confidence and honor.
The king was then over sixty years old and
modest and retiring in disposition. His timid-
ity is largely attributed to the trials he expert
enced in his childhood. His father. the late
King William of Wurtemberg, was a good mon
arch and brave soldier, but a man of furious
and ungovernable passions. King William, for
some unknown reason, came to greatly hate his
second wife, the mother of the present King
Charles, and seemed to try to do all in his
power TO unht his son and heir for the duties
OF kingly rule. 1t has been said-though this
charge is contradicted-that one of the present
kings uncles, with the consent of King William
himself. even tried to kill the young prince by
poisoning. Whether this is true or not certain
1T Is that Charles was seemingly purposely ex-
posed to vice in its worst forms, to the vilest
tutors and associates, and was forced into some
OF the worst haunts in Europe. But he did not
become vicious or depraved, and his people
consider him to-day simple, honest, kindly
ruler.
Between King Charles and Queen Olga. at
the time when Jackson became "Reader to the
King" there was an estrangement of long
standing. The breach between the two was
not wide enough to prevent their appearance
in public together on even less than state &C.
casions, and amounted to little more than an
agreement on the part of the king and queen
to disagree-a tacit resolution that each should
be allowed to go his or her own way, and not
to NEEDLE with the other. 1t became the
browning good fortune of his leadership" to
effect reconciliation between king and queen
H., L. "