The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-01

over the duke sent in a claim TO the Brit
isb government for e, 900 to cover the cost
of the presents which he affirmed he had
made in his public capacity; and the claim
was allowed But not word was
said about the presents which he had
received, and which were worth many
times $4,000. Here is another still more
striking anecdote. When the duke paid
visit to Ceylon, the Cingalese magnates
We'd with one another in doing him honor
and loading him with presents. one man
sent him a pair of elephants tusks worth
at least $780, and beautiful box OF inlald
woods containing fine specimen OF eacn
of the precious stones found IN Ceylon.
He also invited him to grand banquet at
his house, where every luxury that the
island could furnish was provided IN the
utmost profusion. Before the duke at
table was placed complete miniature
service of pure gold, eXqulsIteiy cnased'
plates, dishes, wine vases, drinking soo-
let's. cruets, salt cellars, forks, spoons
every sort of thing that he could use TO
eat or drink with-ail OF rehned gold,
I delicately wrought, and all on an en-
broidered muslin napkin or table cloth
which itself was worth small fortune
After the feast, when the duke rose TO go,
his host gracefully drew the four corners
of the little table together over the golden
dinner service. and begged him TO accept
it. since it had been made for him and no
man ought dare to use 1t after him. Inc
duke stared. but bowed his acknowIedg-
ments and ordered his attendants 10 take
| the table cloth and its gorgeous contents
| 10 Government house. When he got there,
however, he was disguised to learn from
| the governor that the gift of the dinner
service was only form and that accord
| ing TO the etiquette OF the county,
it must be sent back privately to
the gentleman's house. The duke pro-
tested vigorously. "The fellow gave 1t 10
me for my own" he said, land mean to
keep it. Why, it's the best thing We had
given me vet" No, no, SIR" the gov
ernor replied, 'these people give presents
like that TO every guest OF exalted rank. L
have received scores OF them, but have
always sent them back an hour or two
afterwards. 1t would be thought grIev-
| Gus breach of manners not 70 do so. but
| the fellow said the things had been made
on purpose for me, and they have my arms
and monogram. believe me, sir, there's
nothing in that. The goldsmiths here
| make a service in any design that is wanted
in few hours. To tell the truth, II was
| at nv suggestion that our friend had these
made with naval emblems and your arms
and monogram" AT all events" re-
torted the duke sulkily, "he said nobody
should ever use them after me, and that
shows he meant ME TO keep them, and
keep them | shall" Very well, sir, re-
piled the governor, ''in that case | shall
Immediately have service made exactly
like this one, and send it 10 your host as
from You. | have to remain IN this
country as governor, and | cannot afford
TO lose the respect OF one of the most
prominent of the queens subjects here.
He has already given you two valuable
zrx-f~h al md ho
| lay the blame on me if l allowed you TO
accept what was never intended to be a
! gift at all. " But what is the good of the
things TO him If nobody can use them
after me?" asked the duke in rising wrath.
The governor smiled. "They were only
ordered from the goldsmith the day before
yesterday, and they will go back TO the
goldsmith this evening TO be melted up
and made into a service for somebody
else" The duke gave in at that, but with
the worst possible grace; and he and the
outspoken governor, who Is now very
| distinguished public man, have never been
| quite good friends since.
Another instance of the dukes grabbing
| propensity may have arisen from q less
despicable motive than mere avarice. AS
| has been already mentioned, ne is a genu-
| inc lover of music and a really talented
performer. Well. when he was in New
Zealand, he struck up a great friendship
| only fine musician and composer. but
| also most genial companion, the soul OF
| hospitality, and q delightful old boy all
| round. The judge had not a particle of
| humbug about him. He knew nothing
about courts or princes, and cared as lit
| tie. But he welcomed the duke TO his
| pleasant home because he was a good
musician, and made him one of the family
even 70 the extent of letting him play on
| his own Cremona, a PR ce.esS instrument
| which he cherished as the apple OF his eve,
| and which he never on any account al
lowed TO go outside of his house. Now.
| the duke used to have concerts on board
his ship, the Galatea, where he always led
| the orchestra himself; and on the last Of
these occasions before sailing for home, he
| invited the old Judge 70 come and TO bring
| the beloved Cremona for him to pIav on.
| The Judge replied that the time was past
Tor hlm TO go Junketing on board man.
ot-War, and that ne never let his Cremona
| go out OF his own possession. But the duke
| would not take no for an answer, as
| lar as the violin was concerned. He sent
| an officer 10 the judges house with an ur-
| gent note begging him 10 let the bearer
nave the Cremona, and promising TO send
| a boat ashore with il after the concert.
Ine Judge, forgetting the Psalmlst's warn
/ ing Put not your trust in princes"
| yielded, and sat up half the night waiting
| Tor his darling's return. In vain No
| violin came, and the next morning the
| Gaiatea put to sea and took the violin
| with her. The judge wrote Indignantly
| 10 the duke by the mail so as to catch him
! on his arrival in England. demanding the
! instant return of the violin; but many
| weary months passed without his hearing
/ anything OF II. The old MIN pinned away
| ana lost ali his wanted gaietv. His friends
! hardly knew him. he was so changed. At
/ length an astounding piece of news
/ aroused him from his langour. There was
/ grand exhibition OF musical instruments
/ 81 the South hensigton museum. and
/ reading the list Of exhibits in an English
! paper, the lCdge came upon his own loved
| ana Iost Cremona, praised Nd 10 the skies.
| 9qqqI-reIerred 10 as the property of H. r.
! II. the Duke of Edinburghi
| That was too much. The iudge wrote
/ s1Falsht 70 the queen and tod her the
I whole story. He never got any answer 70
/ the letter; but his dear, melodi0us. anCisnI
( tFenona came back 10 him nea-,v as
! quickly as he could have cot an answer
I LEI Us nope that its abstraction was only
>uue 10 one OF the dukes amiahIe veal
/ nesses, or which he has many. He i in
/ TACT, an enthusiastic collector. not only Of
! musical instruments, OF which he has
/ some rare specimens, but Of verv al fFa-ert
I I4!hSs. tie has the second best collection
! o. postage stamps IN the world, the only
/ better one having become the property -
/ tue nation under the viii OF a recer1-l,
! deceased member of parliament Gold
/ anu SILVER work OF a peculiar kind "a
I another OF his hobbies. Visitors 70 the
! EoEa! naval exhibition can hardly bave
/ Ia-ied 10 notice the splendid antiora
AIo1e-s OF sllpS and gaueys in gold and