The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-27
PLEASURES OF A PRINCE.
How an American Changed His Mind
About the Prince Of Wales.

A few years ago writer on social
questions publicly arraigned the Prince
of Wales for not sacrificing few rae
ing and theatrical enjoyments I'm order
TO supply the leisure for a study of the
conditions under which the poor live.
In America Che said the tone of So
ciety is hostile TO idle lives and to those
who spangle a trivial existence with a
network of amusement. In England
the drift Of public opinion is not so dis
tinctly opposed to life of apparent
amusement. The head OF society is the
Prince Of Wales: where he leads others
follow. Day by day, when in London,
some of his doings are chronicled by
the Court Newsman. and form, there
fore. a legitimate subject for respectful
comment. /. I have before me a list
OF the Prince of Wales's occupations as
reported in the papers from the lst of
January to the S0th Of September, 1890.
II is for the most part list OF the en-
gagements of a man of pleasure. Every
one unites I'm laudng the Prince of
Walse for the admirable manner in
which he fills his position. He is de-
servedy popular with the racing COM
munity. Twenty-eight race meetings
Were. honored with His Royal High
ness's presence. Thirty times he went
TO the theatre. Forty three times he
went to dinner parties. banquets. balls,
garden parties and concerts. Eleven at
tendances' at the House of Lords; and
the official and charitable engagements.
together amounting to,fortyyhve occa--'
sions. practically complete the record of
the public, life of the Prince of Wales
while in London during the year 1890.
Facts came to the writer's knowledge
hichconvinced him that injustice had
been done the Prince; that the latter
not only knows great deal more of
how the poorer classes live than many
of those who cry him down, but that
His Royal Highness Is deeply and sim
cerely penetrated with earnest desire to
help them. and is constantly engaged
in doing So Upon this the writer pub
1icly withdrew what he had written,
and wrote TO the Princes secretary TO
say what he had done. ] cannot think
that an indiscretion Will be committed
II venture 10 record one passage from
the letter received In reply:
He (the Prince of Wales) cannot help
feeling that you are little hard and
unjust upon him I'm your book; he says
unjust, because you evidently wrote
about him without knowing his real
character, There are many things which
ne is Obliged to do. which the outside
world would call Pleasures and amuse-
ments. They are. however, often any
thing but a source of amusement To
him. though his position demands that
he should every year go through n GER
tain round OF social duties which con-
stantly bore him 10 death. But while
duly recording those social pleasures"
you pass over very lightly ali the more
serious occupations OF his life. and /
may mention. as proof of what he
does. that during the last week OF -
he opened or laid the first stone OF three
-. ] much doubt whether many OF
the Social Republicans wbo are so fond
of crying him dbwn wo8d much care
TO do this---From IF the Queen had
Abdicated," I'm Harper's Magazine for
August.