The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-29
IN THE COURTS OF EUROPE.
Behind the Scenes with the Nobility
of the Old World.

Dr. Playfair, who has just been attend
ing in his medical capacity, the arrival
in the world of the little son of Crown
Prince Ferdinand of Roumania, is
brother of Lord Playfair, who is now in
this country, and is married to a Miss
Sir Robert Playfair. is British consul
general at Algiers, and as such is known
10 many American visitors to the north
coast of Africa.
The Playfairs may be described as a
FAMILY which, though of humble origin,
is of very lofty associations. their con-
nection with the royal family dating
back forty years ago, when the present
Lord Playfair first became so intimate
with the queens husband, the late prince
consort. 1t is DIR. Playfair who has
brought quite a large number of the
members of the royal family of England
into the world. Indeed, it was for him
that London Punch suggested the title of
Lord Deliverus."
1t is his brother, Lord Playfair, who
has acted as instructor and, to "a great
extent, supervised the education Of the
prince of Wales, the duke of Edinburgh
and their respective children, while Sir
Robert Playfair looked after the royal
family in particular, and the British
aristocracy in general, when they have
sought health and recreation in Algeria,
which possesses one of the most delight
full climates in the world-that is, in the
winter.
DR.. Playfair's duties as physician ac-
cOucheur to the royal family-that is his
official title under which he figures as a
member of the royal households no
bed Of roses. In the first place, the royal
house of England is of such a prolific
character that he is kept pretty busy
either attending to cOnfinements of child
rem of grandchildren of the queen, and
secondly, the office is one of great re-
sponsibility, so much SO, indeed, that the
presence of a cabinet minister at the
birth is required by statute.
The least thing that goes wrong leads,
Of course to blame, being thrown upon
the doctor. Sir Richard Croft, the ply
stefan accoucheur of Princess Charlotte
of Great Britain, the only daughter of
King George ", committed suicide be-
fore he was held accountable for the
death in childbirth of the Princess Char
lotte-a death that resulted in placing of
Queen Victoria upon the throne.
And it is to the German accoucheurS
who attended the first confinement of
the now widowed Empress Frederick of
Germany, that Emperor William Is in
debted for his withered left arm. This
was why, much TO the disgust of the
German medicos. Emperor Frederick
and his wife always insisted on the pres
ence of English accoucheurs at the birth
of their subsequent children.
Lord Abergavenny's grief at the loss
of his wife, scarcely a year ago, appears
to have been as shOrt-liVed as it was
excessive and extravagant. For l hear
of his impending marriage to Lady Fill
mer, a very frisky old lady, nearly of
his own age, and one of whose daugh-
tiers is the wife of young Jack Wilson,
of Tanby Croft and baccarat trial fame.
The marquis of Abergavenny may be
described as one of the chief bosses of
the Tory party and. like most bosses.
has succeeded in making politics pay.
Lord Beaconsfield promoted him TO the
rank of marquis in 1876 Lord Salisbury
got for him the order of the garter ten
years later, while a year ago he was ap-
pointed lord lieutenant of the county Of
Sussex which added a considerable
amount of patronage to that which he
already possessed, since he has been
known to have had voice in almost
every appointment made by the tories.
Irreverently nicknamed .'Old Rhubarb'
by his future king, the prince of Wales,
he spends that portion of his time not
absorbed by the affairs OF his party, and
Of the ridiculous Primrose league, in do
ing what he calls routing out the rad
zeal varmint" ana in batting the ritual
lists, whom he abhors nearly as much as
he does long sermons. His bride to be,
Lady Filmer is the widow of the late
Sir Edward Filmer, and a daughter Of
the second Lord Sandys, and as such
an aunt of the exceedingly lively sprig
of the English nobility who was known
in this country by the name Of Earth
quake Sandys."
1t is not only as a yachtsman that the
earl of Dunraven has achieved fame,
and American papers seem to lose sight
of the fact that he has cut prominent
figure on the turf. 1t was in 1887 that
he first took up racing, and started
stable in partnership with Lord Ran
dolph Churchill, having Sherwood as
trainer.
The horses of the stable were fairly
successful the Abbess de JOuarre win
ming the Cakes in 1889. Strange to say,
on the day the mare won, Lord RAN
dolph was in Norway, and the earl of
Dunraven was sailing in his five-rater
at Calshot castle. After four years of
racing partnership, Lord Dunraven
bought Lord Randolph's share of the
stable which he now runs on his own
account. MARQUIS DE FONTENOY.
Clark.