The record-union., 1898-01-24
SOME INSIDE HISTORY.
OFFICIAL. AND PRIVATE LIFE
OF BRITISH ROYALTY.
The First Complete Biography OF
the Prince of Wales to be
Published.

LONDON. Jan. 15.-(special Corre-
spondence Of the Associated Press. -
The desire of the English people 70
know all the details OF the official and
private life of their royal family VIII
oe partially appeased by the publica-
ton in London this week Of the first
complete biography of the Prince Of
Wales. Singularly enough no COM
plete record OF the remarkably active
and diversified career of the heir 10 the
! throne has been given the world before.
Attempts in this direction have been
discouraged by the subject himself, and
the present book furnishes international
evidences that ii was not completed un-
der the royal sanction, for while it
breathes the spirit of the courtier ra-
ther than the critic, It records such epi-
sodes as the famous baccarat trial.
which the Prince would probably oe
willing for the public 10 forget. Con-
cerning the Prince. the writer says:
He is familiar with an almost bewi-
dering variety of subjects and pos
sesses a wonderful faculty for almost
instructive knowledge of any matter un-
der discussion
An estimate Of the Duke of Clarence
in connection with his career at Trinity
College. Cambridge illustrates how
qualities which would commonly pass
current as weaknesses assume the
shape of virtues viewed through friend
ly spectacles
lie has not it is said of the Duke,
nor was it desired that he should have
the specialized intellect which wins Uni
versity prizes and scholarships. but he
displayed in q marked degree that fac
ulty for almost instinctively grasping
the important features and the really
essential points of any matter under
discussion"
The authorship of the new book is
concealed from the public, but the As
sociated Press learns that it is the work
of journalist we'll known in London.
Mary Belloc (Mrs. Lowndes, formerly
of Mr.. Steads paper. 1t viii be issued
in the United States next month. In
pictorial embellishments it is particu-
larly rich. containing no less than
eighteen portraits of the Prince or
Wales alone. and many other likenesseS
of him in company with other members
of the royal family. The Prince is il
Illustrated from infancy to the present
day. There is the Prince in shooting
clothes as sportsman. as an Admiral.
in fancy costume for the Devonshire
ball. in knicSerbockers with the garter
on his leg, on horseback in his capacity
as Colonel of the Tenth Hussars. and
in various other uniforms and ordinary
clothes. Most of the historical chap
ters of the book deal with matters al
ready published. In describing the tour
of the Prince through America in his
youth, it reveals the interesting fact
that before he was launched upon his
journey his father, the Prince Consort,
supplied him with memoranda to ba
used in replying to the addresses winch
would be made to him during his prog
ress. It says: The best proof Of the
Prince Consort's wisdom is to be found
in the fact that every one Of those notes
afterward turned out to be simply IN.
valuable, owing to the peculiar aptnes5
with which they had been framed 10
suit the circumstance of each locality
where an address was likely to be re-
ceived"
An incident is related of a hunting
trip which the hunting PARTY made to
Dwight, Ill. When the Prince and his
retinue approached a farmhouse the
farmer, who was q Briton, invited
:
Newcastle.
Not you. Newcastle" he shouted
Il have been a tenant Of yours. and YOU
shall never set foot on my land" so the
Prince passed on. The Southern slave
holders attempted to lure the Prince into
the South to exhibit to him the better
side of slavery, but, the biographer
AYERS, he was not impressed by the.
slave cities, and refused TO leave his
carriage to visit the negro quarters at
Haxhall's plantation.
A great part of the work describes ira
detail the oneTous public formalitles
which have constituted the life of the.
heir-apparent, the cornerstone lay.
iHgs, monument dwellings, the dedlca-
tions and tours to India and Egypt, TO
ireland and other parts Of the kingdom.
The royal progress through India in
1875, it appears, cost the Government
about 100000, but, then, by way of
compensation presents were received by
the Prince from Indian potentates.
which aggregated in value ST. go, 600
For one trip on the Nile the boat which,
carried the Princes suite was stocked
with, among other commodities. 5000
bottles of champagne, 1000 of soda,
1000 of claret and ample supplies OF
other drinkables.
It is pointed out as an evidence OF
the great personal popularity of the
Prince that all the politicians VINO ad-
vised the people to ignore his presence
in Ireland in 1885 insisted unon alb
stinence from any display of personal
hostility.
The married life of the Prince and
Princess of Wales is pictured as ideal
Their surroundings at Szndringham and
Marlborough are described with minute
details which will delight persons VINO
have an appetite for this sort of small
beer. The Princes private library at
the former residence is filled with the
furnishings from the cabin Of the Sera-
pis, in which he sailed to India. All
the finishings are in dark blue or green
leather, stamped with the Princes mon
ogran. His literary tastes, judging by
his books, tend toward English <~story.
Many shelves are devoted to docu-
ments on India, in which he is greatly
interested, with great array of vol
umes about the mutiny, as well as a
complete collection of literature on the
Crirnean war and Of Colonial histories.
The Emperor of Austria and the Gar
Of Russia send each Christmas a box
of cigars.