The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-28

Of his sons ride well, and the same may
be said Of all the members of the royal
house Of Denmark save old King Chris
tian, who ia, however, now too old to
ride and contents himself with driving
fOur-in-hand- Prince Ferdinand Of Bull
Raria, although at the time Of his cleo
tioE 20 the throne which he 7ow occu-
pies he held commission in an Austrian
regiment OF hussars, is a miserable
horseman, 10 much 80 that he Is forced
to review his troops, as a rule, from
carriage and is unable to remain mount
ed for more than half an hour at time
a The obesity and incidence Of the
young king Of Portugal render him avvk-
ward on horseback, and an easy seat in
the carriage is far more to his taste
than q saddle. In this he differs from
his consort, who. as daughter Of the
Comtesse de Paris, is, like her mother
and her sister, Princess Helene of Or
leans, devoted to horsefesh. King
George Of Greece prefers walking to
either riding or driving and is more
often seen riding in the tramways at
Athens than on horseback, his predilec-
ton in this respect being shared by the
members of his family.
other Regal Riders.
Another royal parsonage who can't
ride and who simply abominates horses
is the ex-king of Naples, who is never
seen otherwise than on foot, while his
wife Is as passionately fond of the
equine race as is her sister, the empress
of Austria She races, I may add, on
the French turf under the psuedonym
of Count Isola.
Prince Victor Napoleon. the recognized
head Of the house of Bonaparte, is de-
plorable rider and has had no end Of igno-
minious falls, on the last occasion COM
ing to grief in such an awkward man.
ner that he brought Count Serge Morny,
with whom he was riding, to the
ground, smashing the counts ankle
and disIOcating his shoulder Indeed
his mishaps in this particular are a con-
slant theme of ridicule to the republic
and Orleanist press of Paris.
King Leopold of Belgium, strange to
say, sits on his horse far more like an
Englishman than either the Prince Of
Wales or the Duke of Connaught. Every
day he may be seen riding to the Bots
de la Cambre in the neatest Of English
CATERS, brooches and jacket, presenting
quite as well groomed and trim an ap-
pearance as his nag. The equestrienne
feats of his consort, Queen Henriette,
who is an Austrian archduchess by
birth, rival in every respect those of
EN- press Elizabeth and of ATchduchess
Marie 4hereS0, who stands on record as
having made the longest and quickest
ride ever attempted by a woman. Queen
Henri site has personally trained num-
Der Of her horses, especially beautiful
mare of the name of Charme, to per
form all sorts Of circus tricks, and from
time to time she gives amateur circus
entertainments in the royal riding
school at Brussels in behalf of one or
another of the local charities. Little
King Alfonso, like the young Queen
Wilhelmina of Holland, is now learn
ing to ride and is making rapid prog
reSs.
Fine Equestrians.
The equestrienne par excellence of the
royal house Of Spain is the little kings
aunt and gOdmother, Princess Isabella,
widow of that epileptic brother of the ex-
king of Naples who committed suicide
in her presence by cutting his throat.
She is passionately fond of hunting and
never looks to such advantage as when
arrayed in the scarlet jacket and black
habit of the Madrid Hunt club.
Emperor William of Germany is a
bold and excellent horseman, although
he does not hunt. His skill in this re-
spect is all tho more creditable by rea-
son of the fact that one of his arms is
crippled and almost useless. He spends
a great deal Of his time in the saddle,