The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-01-16
ENGLAND'S FUTURE KING.
Prince Georges Death Might Be the
Menarehy's Death Blow.
STORIES OF THE EARLY LIFE OF
THE NEW HEIR PRESUMPTIVE.

Tbrone-The Family of Fife Not Ac-
ceptable-Why the Sailor Prince Ii
Popular - Franks and Sayings which
Amused John Bull-George's Impudeni
| Reference to His Royal Grandmother
LONDON, January 15.-People who
like to draw ominous parallels are call
ing attention to the fatality which seems
to have attended the name of Clarence in
the royal house of Great Britain. The
only Clarence who lived out the usual
term of years granted to men, was the
one who reigned under the title of Will
liam ". The question to the succession
to the throne is giving rise to great
deal of uneasiness among those who rec
ognize the importance of having no hitch
in the line of decent, in view of the
growing feeling of indifference toward
the principle of monarchy in general,
now prevalent among the masses. 1t is
felt that while the continuance of the
present type of government is reasona-
| bly, sure, so long as no element of distur-
bance arises, yet any dispute over the
succession, OF any complete break in the
line, would be likely to furnish the occa-
sion for some radical overthrow of ex-
isting Institutions which are thought by
a large portion of the people to have out
lasted their usefulness. 1t is being Wig
orously debated, therefore, whether or
not the Duchess of Fife, formerly the
Princess Louise, eldest daughter of the
Prince of Wales, would be allowed to
succeed to the throne in case OF the
| death without issue of Prince George.
| The mere fact of her marrying man
| beneath her rank is held by some to have
removed her from the line of succession,
| but this extreme view is shared by few.
| The real question is whether the nation
would accept her as queen, with the
Duke as necessary accompaniment. In
an interview this evening, prominent
member of Parliament, who prohibited
the use of his name, said that the de-
mocracy at large were Indifferent as to
the identity of their monarch, or as to
whether any monarch at all ruled, but
| twas otherwise with the aristocracy.
| The noble families would not submit to
| a dynasty of Flies, and without the cor
dial support of the aristocracy the
crown would not be safe for day.
Doubtless the marriage of Prince
sss vii Be hear9df 9df} II h6 ht6ese uneasy NUT, mat
terings 1t has more than once been
suggested that, like the present Gar,
Prince George may marry the betrothed
| of his deceased brother. 1t is at least
known that he and the Princess May are
| fond of each other. so that with reasons
of state to urge matters on, it ought not
to be difficult to arrange such a match.
Prince George, second son of the
Prince and Princess of Wales, who,
| through tho death of the Duke of Clar-
ence, has become the heir presumptive to
the British throne, is an altogether diff
ferent young man from his elder brother.
| He is a fine oarsman, an expert sailor, a
naval officer of tried ability, a boxer, a
| famous hand at tennis, and a lover of all
that is included in high living. He is a
| good fellow, of keen wits and sunny
temperament, with fine physique and a
sound digestion. Consequently he is
popular in England. In his naval career
he has worked with the industry of a
man who gets only the honors that he
earns, and is said to have won no promo
| ton through the influence Of his high
rank. He went on board Ell. M. S. Bri-
tannia at Dartmouth, in his fourteenth
wear. The hard routine aboard ship was
as much TO his liking as it was to the
| distaste of his less robust brother, who
was with him.
Prince Georges exuberant appreciation
! of life, it's curious humors, its variety,
| its pretty women and its convivial men,
has been illustrated by many incidents in
his 27 years. About seven years ago his
allowance was reduced by his father for
some shortcoming. Prince George was
not the kind of a young man to alter his
habits to fit his lessened income, and the
result was that both ends were very far
from meeting. During this period of Pc
nury his aunt, the Princess Beatrice, who
married Prince Henry of Battenburg, be-
came a mother, and shortly the day for
christening arrived. Among the
gifts was a battered pewter mug from
Prince George. 1t bore this inscription
ssFrom Prince George of Wales to his
cousin, with the hope that when he
grows up and is called upon to make
christening presents to his little cousins
! he will have the means to make more
suitable gifts than this
A few days later the Princes allow
ance was restored.
When he took command of the Thrush,
Prince George also assumed the custom
ary duty of conducting the Sunday morn
ing services ON the ship, and startled the
whole ships company by reciting: I'VE
have done those things that we ought to
have done, and have left undone those
things that we ought not to have done.'
The most celebrated words of the pres
ent heir presumptive, however, were ad-
dressed to his elder brother at ball in
West Indian town where the brothers
had stopped on their voyage around the
world. Prince George had danced only
with the pretty girls and had left Prince
Albert Victor to swing laboriously the
old ladies. After two hours of this,
Prince Albert Victor drew his brother
aside and protested against this division
of social duties and pleasures.
'sOh, you go off into corner and sing
| God save your grandmother" was the
response of Prince George, and he re-
turned to the girls.
IN SULLEN SILENCE.
! Miners Federation Refused to Send Mes
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