Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-06-04
SOME JOKES OF ROYALTY
The Peculiar Franks Played
in Palaces.
A POOR CONCEPTION OF WIT
An inclination to Downright
CoarSeneSS.
How Kaiser william Injured a uand-The
Trick Practiced by the Prince of Wales
Private secretary--A Hoax That the Ein-
press Eugene Never EorGave


where are practical jokes 80 much in
vogue as in the palaces of old-word
moparchs, says the New York journal
Curiously enough, their idea OF Joking,
like their conception OF wit, is inclined
TO roughness, and even to downright
coarseness, as well as vulgarity, rather
than to delicacy, and many practical
Joke has been perpetrated in palace
that would never have been tolerated in
private house.
One of the most peculiar practical
Jokes was that organized in the coun-
Gil chamber of the late King Alphonso
OF Spain, by his intimate friend and
favorite companion, the Duke of Ia
names, who accompanied the lnfanta
Eulalia to this country in 1888
1t was during carnival time, and the
king had complained to the duke that
it was very dreary affair and entreated
thehobleman to do something to liven
things up bit The following morn
ing, when the king entered his council
chamber, he was almost pitched over
by most extraordinary apnarition. 1t
appeared to be a bag such as milers
use for flour, and it was terminated by
pair of bow legs that were prancing
about in every direction. The archi-
lecture of these legs at once revealed
to the King the identity Of the human
-four bag. 1t was no other than the
little minister of agriculture, who with
the assistance of the Duke of Tamanes
and the apparently grave and austere
minister of foreign affairs, had dressed
himself in this odd rig. The King
Joined so heartily in the laughter pro
voked by the extravagant antics of his
cabinet officer that tears streamed
down his face, nor was his mirrh di-
unfinished when the minister, after
having finally extricated himself from
the Tag, showed himself with his hair.
his beard and his uniform literally
covered with flour.
Another monarch who is very fond
of practical joking is Emperor William
of Germany. On one occasion about a
year after he assembled the throne his
right hand was seriously injured during
the rough horse play that takes place
every st. Sylvester or New Years
eve in the streets of Berlin, On that
night no citizen ventures to appear
upon any public thoroughfare wearing
tall hat or even derby. The
students have from time immemorial
had sort of unwritten right to bonnet
any civilian thus arrayed by smashing
his hat with sharp blow of the fist
upon its crown.
The Kaiser, who mad always joined
in this form of sport before mis- success
sion to the crown, on the first New
Years eve that followed the death of
his lamented father walked out with
the collar of his coat well turned up
and fur cap drawn down over his
eyes, 50 as to conceal his identity. He
guun had several badly wrecked hats to
his credit. He then encountered an
elderly citizen OF portly figure and be.
nevolent demeanoT, whose looks, how
ever, bGlied his character. lie had
been bonneted in previous years and
was resolved to teach his tormentors Il
lesson. So he made sort of leather
skull cap, thick in texture and studied
with long. sharp nails.
So when the EIGperur brought down
his fist with all his might On the in
offensive looking tail bat his hand was
pierced III many places 10y the nails.
and covered with blood, the injuries at
one time threatening lockjaw. The
citizen was arrested and imprisoned
pending decision as To whether ne
should be prosecuted on chatso Of
lese maieste. He was, however, re.
leased, as his otiense vas entirely an
innocent one.
No one is more fond Of practical
jokes than the Prince Of Wales. In
times gone by his favurlte butt used to
TO his private secretary, Sir Francis
knolys, and tho number of ample pir
beds, BOBBY traps and hoaxeE which hi
has been called upon to endure with
good humor and equanimity would fill
volume to describe.
One day Sir Francis got the laugh
on the Prince, and that, too, in al tx.
ceedingly clover manner Among the
Prince'a friends WAS famous sports
man, Capt. Bay Middleton. whose
favorite trick used TO be tn upuruarh
from behind some unauspeuting man
and sjize his coat tails which he
would wrench apart in such a manner
Us to split the garment up Tho back.
At Sandringham Sir Francis took mains
to offer himaelf as tho victim and butt
for the gallant Bay When the men
retired to the smoklngroum after the
Princess and ladies' were gone, he took
up his place in front Of the fire, bent
his head toward the mantepiccG, and
appeared entirely lost in Thought. His
attitude was TOO inviting not to appeal
TO the iocular instincts Of Can't Mid.
dleton, who, after asking tho Prince 3
permission to leave tho card table for
a moment, crcpt up softly to Sir Fran.
cls, suddenly seized hold Of tie tails Of
MS dress coat, and, with sudden Jerk,
tore il apart from waist to collar.
Unlike most Of Bays victima Sir
ru - a.. IL . !.