Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-21
PRINCE AS A SPORTSMAN.
Wales Bids Fair 10 Become King OF
the Turf

. 1t is no secret that the Prince Of
! Wales is sportsman. Old King
, George ". never loved the element OF
chance more than this scion OF royal
ty. So it is that this outline Of the
princes favorite out-of-door recre-
time to American eyes, will interest.
There are few, bearing in mind the
modest commencement Of the Prince
of Wales racing stud, who would have
thought it probable that within
comparatively short period his royal
to secure the highest honors Of the
turf. That the Prince of Wales should
have captured the prize and the COW
eted Leger at the first attempt was
delightful in the extreme, but in some
respects the Ascot cup victory of
Persimmon a month ago, and on the
eve of the Diamond jubilee celebra-
lions, became even more pleasant to
look back upon.
The Prince of Wales has been more
or less identified with the turf for
three-and-thirty years, although his
first visits to the race course were
much earlier than that.
A writer, describing the princes
first day in the Midlands, during his
visit to Earl Spencer, at Althorp, said:
"One good hour did they run, during
which his royal highness was certain
~ not like a candle under a bushel.
Everybody who had not. too much to
care for in himself paid marked at
tention to his performance, and it is
not too much to say that, if ever a
man acquitted himself to the salts
faction of his examiners, the Prince
of Wales did so on that eventful
morning.
Il do not transgress confidence in
quoting the expressions of a very
good judge: There are few good
squires, bred and born in a hunting
country, who could hold their own
with his royal highness.' 1t was
in respect of this days sport that
Lord Spencer asked Charles Payne,
the huntsman Of the Pytchley, what
he thought of the Prince of Wales.
Make a capital king, my lord said
Payne. I'm glad you say so-and
why?" asked Lord Spencer, Sure to
sure to do that-he sits SO WE'LL re-
sponded the huntsman. During his
visits to various country seats the
prince has often been out with the
hounds Of the district, but for some
time after his fathers death he kept
en- the barriers at Cumberland Lodge.
His interest in hunting and hunting
men has never tagged.
Some interesting stories are told
of that famous hunting parson, the
late "Jack" Russell, in relation to
visit ne paid to Mr.. Harry Villebois
at Markham Hall, when the Prince of
were the guests The veteran sports
man had an opportunity of enjoying
himself with the West Norfolk pack,
and his royal highness did him the
honor Of inviting him to Sandring-
all concerned that the West Country
sportsman was asked again in the
Christmas week, and plumed himself
nightly upon having danced the
old year out and the new in with
the Prince of Wales at the tenants
balE-a nimble accomplishment for a
man seventy-eight years of age.
He amused the royal party consider
ably one day at dinner by sending
his plate UP for fish the second time,
when" as he remarked, "I remember
that's the very thing my wife charged
me, On leaving home, not to do"
London correspondence Washington
Post.