Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-21
MAGNIFICENT FLOATING Palaces.
Yachting is an Expensive Pastime for
- MOnarchs.

Monarchs.
From Tit-Bits.
Yachting has rightly been described as the
most fascinating Of hobbies, while 1t is
equally true that 1t Is the most expensive.
Many we1l-known millionaires can boast Of
their palatial steam yachts costing thou
sands of pounds. But the yachts owned by
royalty are undoubtedly the most costly
ships af1Oat for their size and tonnage.
True, an up-to-date ocean liner could not
be purchased for less than three-quarters
Of million sterling, but such a vessel
would comfortably carry an army Of 1000
passengers and a crew of 500 hands, and
have displacement of 5000 tons, whereas
some of the royal yachts with only few
thousand tons displacement could not be
bought for that figure.
Indeed, the famous steam yacht Polar STAR
formerly used by the car. cost Fl, OO0 900
sterling. Undoubtedly 1t was the most ex-
pensive private steam yacht ever built Her
furnishing was marvel Of luxurious splen-
dor. She had red, black and white mosaic
marble deck, in the middle of which was
beautiful ornate marble fountain. The
baths, saloon, cabins and other apartments
were fitted with rare woods and stones. and
the draperies and decorations were of the
most gorgeous description.
Altogether the car has five yachts at his
disposal The one most used by him now
is the STANDARD, of 4.S34 tons. She was
originally intended for first-class troop
ship, but was subsequently ordered to be
converted into royal yacht with instruc
lions that the furnishings were to be as
plain as possible. The ordinary mortal
would wonder at the meaning of this latter
injunction If he inspected the yacht, for
she is undoubtedly magnif1cently fitted
vessel, and represents a cost of Just over
fsteD nDO The immortal inp116a
two charming nurseries, and the vessel Is
lighted throughout by electricity, there be-
ing twenty miles Of electric wires on board.
By the empress special wish many pre-
clous woods were used in the construction
of the private apartments.
AS most people know, the kaiser Is fine
sailor. and any royal yachtsman might well
be proud of such a fine steam craft as the
the kaiser. and. indeed. was designed in
part by him. She is about 300 feet In
length and Of 3,773 tonnage. She cost over
four million marks to build. She has one
of the largest and most beautifully fur
nished dining rooms to be found any
private vessel af1oat
The most expensive royal yacht afloat is
the Maha- Chaku which, translated means
'The Most Beautiful Craft owned by the
King of Siam. She has been refurnished
20 constantly and in such an extravagant
manner that considerably over Fl, OO0, 900 has
been spent upon her. She resembles a
jecting rainbow and two military masts
while on each side, in barbette towers, are
Armstrong breech-loading guns. Her state
apartments are marvel of oriental SPLEEN
dor.
Perhaps King George Of Greece spends
more time on his yacht than any other Eu-
ropean ruler. But he Is sailor by profess
sion, and commander Of the Amphitrite. He
is not. however. the only royal sailor who
travels on the magnificent steam yacht
Amphitr1ts when she Is in commission, for
Queen Olga Is an admiral In the Russian
navy, and the only woman in the world
who holds such q rank. This magnificent
boat was built on the Clyde, and Is very
fast
Another famous royal yacht is the AL
berta, belonging to King Leopold Of Bel
GUM. She Is a beautiful boat. over 300
feet in length. About half million ster-
ling has been spent upon her. The dining
room boasts of magnificent dome Of
stained glass. The royal bed room extends
the entire width Of the vessel and Is a
gorgeously furnished apartment It is pure
ly Venetian in style. decorated IN white
and blue, and Is also remarkable for Its
great height Although the khedive is a
bad sailor he nevertheless possesses one Of
| the largest pleasure vessels in the world.
She is called the Mahroua, and is Of 1850
tons.
The queens yacht Victoria and Albert, al
though a magnificent vessel cannot be
compared in its furnishing to many of the
yachts owned by other rulers. At the same
time 1t is very roomy and beautifully fitted
out. 1t is built of wood, and has dis
placement Of 2.47O tons. There Is royal
nursery on board. The Prince of Wales
yacht. the Osborne, Is $50 feet in length
and very comfortably and luxuriously fur
nished.
The up-keep Of these floating palaces Is
| naturally a most expensive item. To keep
3,0O0-ton yacht in full commission for
twelve months would exhaust banking ac-
count of nearly $4,000. Mr.. w. X. Van
derbilt recently declared that he spent f23,-
600 in the course of eight months on his
steam yacht Valiant. Royal yachts. of
course. are a great deal more costly to
maintain than private ones. It Is estimated
that when the car goes on a yachting
cruise it costs him about f1,OOO a day. Even
emperors and kings acknowledge that yacht
ing is an expensive pastime.