Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-06-18

right cOarSeneSS, as we'll as Vulgarity,
rather than to delicacy, and many a
practical joke has been perpetrated in
palace that would never have been toll
Grated in private house.
One of the most peculiar practical
jokes was that organized in the council
chamber of the late King Alphonsu of
Spain, by his intimate friend and favor
lite companion, the duke of Tamanes,
who accompanied the Infanta Eulalia
to this country in 1898.
1t was during carnival time and the
king had complained to the duke that it
was very dreary affair and entrea;ed
the noblemen to do something to iiven
things up bit. The following morn
ing when the king entered his council
chamber, he was almost pitched over by
most extraordinary apparition. 1t
appeared to be bag such as millers use
for flour, and it was terminated by a
pair of bow legs that were prancing
about in every direction. The architect
ure of these legs at once revealed to the
king the identy 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 appar-
emily grave and austere minister of for
eign affairs. had dressed himself in this
odd rig. The king joined so heartily
in the laughter provoked by the extrav-
agant antics of his cabinet officer that
tears streamed down his face, nor was
his mirth diminished when the minis
ter, finally eXtricated himself with his
hair, his beard and his uniform covered
with -four.
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 dur
ing 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 up
on any public thoroughfare wearing a
tall hat or even derby" The stu
dents 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 had always joined in
this form Of sport before his succession
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 we'll turned up and a fur cap drawn
down over his eyes, SO as to conceal his
identity. He soon had several badly
| wrecked hats to his credit. He then
encountered an elderly citizen of portly
| figure and benevolent demeanor, whose
looks, however, belied his character.
He had been bonneted in previous years
and was resolved to teach his torment
ors a lesson. So he made a sort of
leather skull cap, thick in texture and
studded with long. sharp nails.
So when the emperor brought down
his fist with all his might on the inof-
| fens:ve-looking tall hat his hand was
pierced in many places by the nails,
and covered with blood. the injuries at
one time threatening lockjaw. The
citizen was arrested and imprisoned
pending a decision as to whether he
Should be prosecuted on a charge of
"lese majestic" He was. however. re-
leased, as his offense was entirely an
innocent one.
No one is more fond of practical jokes
than the prince of Wales. In times
gone by his favorite butt used to be his
private secretary, Sir Francis Knollys
and the number Of appiepie beds
BOBBY traps and hoaxes which he has
been called upon to endure with good
hur.or and equanimity would fill vol
ume to describe.
One day Sir Francis got the laugh
On the prince, and that. too, in an ex-
ceedingly clever manner. Among the
princes friends was a famous sports
man. Capt. Bay" Middleton, whose ia
vorite trick used to be to approach from
behind some unsuspecting man and
seize his coat-tails. which he would
wrench apart in such manner as tt
split the garment up the back Al
Sandringham Sir Francis took pains t.
offer himself as the victim and butt fol
the gallant Bay. When the men retired
to the smoking-roOm after the princes!
and ladies were gone, he took up hi.
place in front of the fire, bent his heat
toward the mantelpiece. and appeared
entirely lost in thought. His attitude
was too inviting not to appeal to thu
jocular instincts of Capt. Middleton
who, after asking the princes permits
sion to leave the card table for mo
ment. crept up softly to st. Francis
suddenly seized hold of the tails OF hi
dress coat, and with sudden jerk
tore it apart from waist to collar.
Unlike most Of Bays victims, ST
Francis took the matter in exceeding
good spirits. Indeed. he laughed, ant
appeared to greatly enjoy the fun
Somewhat astonished and disappointed
by the result of the little trick. thu
prince and the men present inquired
how it was that Sir Francis had treated
the matter with such indifference.
That is very easy TO explain. sir.