Arizona republican., 1900-08-12
FOREIGN NOTES
 AND COMMENT

In spite of the popularity which the navy enjoys among the English people "a popularity which extends to all men belonging to the naval profession Queen Victorias naval son, Alfred, Dukeof Edinburg and Coours. accord ing to popular reports suicide, was the least liked of all the m mbers of the British royal family. His obitu- aries have mentioned the principal in cidents of his career. but few of them have explained the reasons why h. was so unpopular, alike at home and abroad, for he was as little loved in Germany as in England, while in Russia, in the Levant. and even in fa--of Augtria, all sorts of stories and anecdotes wera told about him which were calculated to show him. not in an evil. but in an unlovable light.
 True his domestic life was frec from scandal and there is no truth whatever in the fantastic tales which hay been printed with profuse illustrations, im- plying that he was a crowned Don Juan. the authors of these stori1s man ifestly confusing him with his prOfli- gate uncle and predecessor on the throne cf Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. But for all that he was n-ither loved nor respected. There were two reasons for this. The one was his phenoml nal Closeness in money matters, the other bis almost incredible lack of tact cou- pied with mania for always saying the wrong thing and ruffiing uselessly the tenderest and most sensitive feel 1ngs of the very people whom one would have believed he would have vii tn tot nI N1a
 Thus he excelled as but The "but"-who must not be confounded with a "butt''-who, whenever you show him one Of your treasures in stantly exclaims. ''but have som5 thing far better than that" who decries your possessions. both living and mani mate. and who probably on the day of judgmt mt will be found before the throne of glory pointing out to the re- cording angel how infinitely superior his conduct on earth has been to your own.
 Time and again have I heard the late duke at dinner parties given in his hon. or at London. and at which his host had put all sails to the wind. regard lrss of expense. with the object of af- fording him pleasure. exclaim. while
 
 thereto were the brands in his cellars at Clarence House. Then if any musi- cal entertainment had been organized for his delectation nnd celebrated ar lists engaged at great cost to perform before him he would dlsconcert his hostess and disgruntIe his host by ex- plaining to them that the singing and playing were all very well in their way. hut if they wanted something really 1irst-class they ought to have en- gagged other virtuosi.
 
 Talking of the latter. there are a very large number now living who owe their professional rise and success to the late duke. whose enthusiasm in behalf of music was far in excess of his rather mediocre talent as a violinist and a composer. Among those who should mourn the duke the most deeply were not their sentiments of gratitude Ob- Scured by vanity and q superlative ad- miration of their own genius. are Sir Arthur Sullivan and Eugene d'Albert The former was organist of a London suburban church in a gentesl but not gentle, district. when the duke became his patron and his friend. first of all securing his services as accompanist, and subsequently, intrusting him with the editing and supervision of his nus ical composition.
 Sullivan. justly proud of this species of professional association with royalty and anxious that all the world should know 1t. considered it necessary tu af- 1lX his signature to every page of the "Galatea Waltz" composed by the duke when the later submitted it to him for revision. The first edition of the waltz issued to the public was printed. adorn- ed with these initials, and it was not until some kind friends had drawn at tention to the fact that the initial let ters If Arthur Samuel Sullivan spelt ass that hc edition was withdrawn and q :r7sa one isued. minus the objec- Itnnablo token Of Sir Arthur's approval an revision
 Eugene d'Albert may be said to have made his debut as fourteen-year-old musical prodigy, in the dukes salons at Clarence House. and at EastwelI Park. in Kent. and it was the patron age thus given by Prince Alfred to the lad which first interested the music