Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-06
POPULARITY OF A KING.
The Ruler of Grcnt Britain Is Par.
ticular About Dccorntions--
Some Instnnccs

: Like all the rest oil us the King has
, his peculiarities, writes a candid Eng
lishman to London VI. A. P. One of the
most marked of these is that he is par
ticular to the verge of severity on the
subject of decorations that should be
worn. How they should be worn, when
they should be worn are matters to
which he has always given the closest
attention. OF this idiosyncrasy many
stories are told. Here are few:
The first relates to that most pop
ular henchman of the king. Sir Digh-
ton Probyn. He has the right to wear
many decorations, including the COW
eted Victoria cross. Among his hon
ors is cross of leading Danish or
der of which he is knight, and q Sec
ond Danish distinction of less en-
inence. One evening at Sandringham
year or two ago large party had
assembled at the bidding of the prince
and princess of Wales for dinner. In
deed, so many were the guests that Sir
Dighton and one or two others found
places at small table, a sort of
overflow" dining-table In the corner
of the room.
/ ~ 81 dPUtHtu llldt l0P uHIf waS me
birthday of the king of Denmark, al
though the dinner was not specially
in honor of that event. Sir Dighton,
ever courtier, had remembered the
anniversary, and, in dressing for din
ner. had affixed to his coat the small
star of the chief Danish order, but
either did not look for or could not
find the insignia of the lesser in i'm
portance. Dinner was announced and
Sir Dighton was deep in the discussion
of an excellent menu. when footman
brought him message from his royal
master to the following effect: "H. r.
III. is surprised to see that Sir Dighton
Probyn is not wearing the order"
Sir Dighton had there and then to
fetch the order. and reappeared with
1t displayed in the correct position. In
telling the story he said that he was
amazed that his involuntary omission
should have been noticed by the prince,
who was sitting at the corner of the
main dining table furthest from him
self.
friend of mine was staying as fell
low guest with the king some time
back at country house for week
end. The king had, as prince. the Gus
tom of sending his equerry or servant
to the guests (this was entirely male
party) informing them what his wish
was as to wearing decorations. On
this evening my friend had received the
message: III. II. ii. desires gentlemen
TO wear the ribbons and buttons only
of their orders" He is n carelessman,
and he stuck two English orders and
one foreign decoration on the lapel of
his dress coat. and never needed the
exact positions. A few minutes to the
dinner hour he came out into the pass
age and was making his way to the
stairs, when he met the prince, who
was also about to ascend. He stood
aside, but the prince motioned him to
join him, and they went down to-
gether.
AS they reached the first landing the
prince, who had been looking atten-
lively at my friends coat, stopped,
and, much to the latter's confusion,
said, taking hold of the lapel: "These
ribbons should not be placed so. That
one" pointing to n foreign one, has
no place there at all on the present
OCCASION; and of these two" pointing
to the English ribbons, 1.-The order
should be reversed" My friend muir
INJURED his apologies, and the prince
said: "I know it is not always easy
to understand, but I like care to be
given to such matters"
My third story has to do with a
| wall -lnou-,, md ,,Onulo,. IT,, ,,t ~
who, in play in which he appeared
with great success, acted the part of
Russian general. The prince was
present one evening, and noticed that
across his uniform coat the actor wore
n row of six or seven crosses and stars.
When the curtain fell on the first act
the prince sent an inquiry to ask the
actor to visit the royal box. Much
gratified, Mr.. - hurried to obey, but
upon entrance, iT-tead of the con-
gratulations he expected, the prince,
after cool greeting, pointed to the
row of gew-gaws on the military coat,
J saying with some severity: "May ask
what they are supposed to represent?"
Now the truth was that they were
imitation jewels and crosses, supplied
by costumer, such as any actor would
naturally wear. Mr.. - very feeebly
answered that they were to repre-
sent such Russian military and civic
orders as general of the oars army
would probably possess. Really"
I said the prince, ironically, 'and you
, call yourself an artist. i am surprised
that you have not taken more trouble
to be exact. / think your uniform
would become you better if you dis
pense in the next act with those ludi-
crous ornaments And the actor did.
But perhaps the most severe reproof
which the king ever gave a subject in
the matter of decorations was that
administered to n very pretty young
girl in ballrooIa. The prince had in
vited her to dance, and she, much
I gratified, had taken a turn or two
t when the prince noticed upon her