The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-19
ROYAL TEMPERS.
Most Of European Monarchs are
Touchy and Some Swear.

1t was Bad Temper that Precipitated the
Franco-G German Wharf.-The Prince who
Threw an Ink-stand at His Prime Min
ister's Head-The Prince of Wales
Doesn't swear Much But His Brother
is an Adept at the Business
Although monarchs and princes have
been shorn of much of the despotie pow
er which they possessed in days of yore,
yet they have retained sufficient infu-
ence, social. political, and administra-
tive, to render the condition of their
temper a matter of considerable i'm
portance, not only to their own people,
but also to the world at large. All Eu-
rope was involved in war by an outburst
OF passion on the part of the first Napo-
leon during d ball at the Tuilleries; the
sanguinary conflict between France and
Germany in 1870, twas pfecipitated by the
manifestation of i'll humor by old En-
peror William, in his memorable inter-
view with the Ambassador Renedetti at
Ems, while the irritability of the czar
has kept all the great powers of the Old
World on the qui viys throughout the
major portion of his reign. More than
one sovereign owes the loss of his throne
to the shortness of his temper, while
the growing frequency of the young
German kaiser's extraordinary manifes-
tations of petulance go far to account
for the political and economic uncertain
ty and uneasiness that prevail at present
in his dominions. AS potent factor in
the shaping Of the destinies OF the world
the temper Of royalty is therefore worthy
of study and examination.
For the most paEt royal tempers are
short. Their pOssessors are easily put
out and angered when anything happens
to run contrary to their wishes. Sur
rounded from their ealierst infancy by
people whose sole object is to protect
Them from all su bjects of annoyance,
and accustomed to have everybody defer
to their whins and everything give way
to their desires, theyiare quick TO show
signs of impatience and resentment
when any hitch occurs, and those who
know the Prince Of Wales best will be
ready to believe the stories told of his
manifestation of displeasure when, by
losing her centerboard, the Vigilant was
forced to withdraw from a race with the
Britannia for which the ordinarily good
humored heir-apparent had remained be-
yond his time at CoWes, abandoning for
the purpose most agreeable visit upon
the payment OF which he had set his
heart. The prince although he bears
the reputation Of being the most genial
and Misunderstanding scion of royalty in
Europe, can become very ugly tempered
at times, and that too, on small PROVO
cation. A breach of manners, etiquette
or breeding.0r one Of those pieces OF tact
lessness which Englishmen are SO prone
to commit, will have the effect of irritat-
ing him TO an absolutely inconceivable
degree and | have known him TO trea5
distinguished military officer with
great cOutumely because the latter had
ventured 10 appear in a sack coat and
derby in lieu OF fTook coat and tail hat
at some daylight function at which his
royal highness was present. When an
gered he is not particularly choice in his
language, and does not hesitate to follow
the example of his grandfather and grand
uncle, whose explosives were nf the most
picturesque character But he bias never
been guilty OF the use OF profanity or Of
coarse expressions in the presence of
women, an 0iTense viii Gin l am sorry to
say mas been laid not few times at the
door of bis brother, Duke Afr of SAKE
CcburL, GoJha, and also Mt that of his
nephew, the young Emperor OF Germany.
The latter in particular does not hest
tate 10 express himself in the most I'M
vanished and violent eXpletives when
ANYTHING goes wrong, says the New
York Tribune. Neither Frederick the
Noble nor yet old Emperor William