Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-21

trousers, square -fronted collar. with a
white-spotted black bow tie and patent
leather shoes. and in his fingers he held
I the inevitable cigar. His greeting was
kind in the extreme 1t was merely like
an elderly business man smiling q kindly
welcome to some young and daring In
/ truder.
Prince IN Matter-of-Fnct.
We'll. what do you want me to say
was his royal highness query as soon as
the preliminary greeting was over.
| The correspondent launched forth his
questions, beginning with inquiries about
the numerous public dinners which the
prince attended. and alluded TO the pub
lished statement that the prince held the
record for obtaining the largest sum OF
money ever collected at one banquet.
Yes; that's quite correct. certainly
hold the record in that respect" said the
prince. And presiding at dinners, etc,
for the benefit Of charities. especially Ma
sonic ones. is almost a pleasure to me.
The only part which I do not like about
the proceedings is. II the dinner drags itself
out to considerable length. That do
not like, and when dining in private at
home the meal seldom lasts more than an
hour"
~ have read many times in reports Of
dinners, etc. at which your royal hiRhness
has been present" said the correspondent,
that you were continually smiling during
| the proceedings and seemed to be enjoying
yourself very much?"
| Yes, replied the prince. a shade OF
weariness creeping into his eyes that
is where | act. II only you know how ter
| ribly bored am by the inordnate length
OF some OF these dinners and the speeches
and how am all the time longing to get
away, you would be really sorry for me.
But. there, ! must not say too much on
that subject"
with regard to horse racing and bet
ting your royal higness?"
81 think racing is the finest sport in the
world, and | only regret that Il should be
harmed by the amount OF betting which
goes on. Personally, | am strongly ad-
verse TO the practice and always use what
influence ] possess to discount enance It
| amongst my personal friends, especially
when It is made regular practice of and
the stakes are large"
There are many people who think that
your royal highness has very easy life
OF IT, and that the hardest duties which you
have to perform are attending state func.
tions."
In Really "a Busy Man.
Now here Is some information for you,
said the prince. do you know that
myself see every letter which is addressed
to me and in the majority OF instances
dictate the reply? When the mail arrives
in the morning It is opened by my secre
tary's stan and sorted into three groups
letters from personal friends and relatives
those bearing ON state affairs, and thirdly
begging letters and petitions--and | make
1t my business to make myself aware OF
the contents OF each. This OF itself is nc
light task, when you take into considora-
ton the fact that each mornings mail con
ssts OF some hundredes OF letters. so that
those who Say mine is an idle life maligr
me-
Asked his opinion on South African af-
fairs he smilingly shook his head and re.
fused to be drawn out, but he said that he
should always remember with the deepest
affection and regard the heroic conduct o
the troops in the campaign
lone more question" said the CORE
spondent?"
what is your royal highness' favortt
rec-eat!on?"
Shooting" he replied unhesitatingly
there is nothing I like better than a gooC
days hunt. II seems the only thing which
takes me out OF myself and makes me for
, get the cares and responsibilities Of m,
position
There was one more remark that the
prince made which will he OF interest a,
It bears on the Americas cup. for. al
though his royal highness has not taker
so much interest in yacht racing since the
Britannia, he openly confesses there arr
few things | would like to see better thar
the Americas cup come home again.
To Prevent the Grip