The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-25
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
story of the Private Life of King
Edward VII.

Royalty is always a subject Of interest.
People like to know something about the
traits and characteristics of men and wom-
en- who, by mere accident of birth, rule
millions of subjects. The fierce light that
beats on the throne does not reveal every
thing. even in these days of cables and
enterprising newspapers. Good deeds are
often overlooked, but when a king or
a prince does anything wrong it is soon
known far and near. That seems to be the
main purpose of the fierce light No tri-
fling contretemps, faux pas or peccadillo es-
capes observation. No amatory glance
towards beauty misses the light, and If the
king or prince be seen with that beauty a
few times the tongue Of scandal wags so in
sinuatingly and assiduously that the world
is led 10 believe there is something morally
wrong. This is especially true of the pres
ent King of Great Britain. While Prince
OF Wales, in his wild oats days, his charac-
ter was at the mercy of scandal-mongers.
Columns of stuff consisting mainly of thinly
yelled illusions TO alleged e~scapades were
printed about him in trashy newspapers,
and a few literary harpies even went so far
as to publish books containing so-called
peeps into his private life, in which all his
misdeedS were exploited and colored in
yellow manner to tickle the fancy of the
prurlent minded. No doubt the prince was
not a saint, but ii is improbable that he
was half as bad as painted. He got full
credit for everything that savored of evil,
while of the good side of his character
but little was said. "A member of the royal
household" has, however, more than bal
anced the account in his Private Life of
Edward VII" written before he ascended
the throne. The book is devoted wholly TO
Albert Edward as a prince. 1t is an APP
preciative work and bears evidence of hav-
ing been written by one who had ample OPP
portunity to observe the private conduct
OF not only the future king, but of other
members of the royal household. In fact,
1t is such a book as might have been writ
ten by an intelligent secretary or valet. In
MS PREDATORY note the author says:
THE purpose of the book is to present
a true picture of the personality of the
English gentleman who has been known to
the world as the Prince of Wales for so
many years that the general public will
be slow to substitute the title of King Ed
ward VII. . . Doubtless the younger
years of the Prince of Wales were not de-
void of the frailties of youth, and these
may have held the popular imagination
sometimes Unjustly in later years. That the
atmosphere of Marlborough House was not
that which enveloped the Queen is hardly
a matter for surprise, but an exaggerated
conception of the former has led TO some
erroneous estimates. The tact, discretion,
excellent judgment and wide knowledge of
the prince are qualities which nave eXer-
cised a silent, but potent, influence in Euro
pean politics, unless the hints of unwritten
history are TO be disregarded. These hints
and his constant friendship for America
invest the book with more than a passing
interest"
The author speaks in detail of the princes
domestic life at Sandringham, at Marl-
borough House and in the country; of his
sympathy for the people, as shown by his
participation in many popular events and
tunctions; of the prince at play. as a stu
dent, as a c~hurchman, as a Freemason,
as a good fellow and as a patron. The
prince in society and the princes set are
also described. Besides. there are chapters
on his Clothes, on what he ate and drank,
on his career on the course and on 1.-The love
of his life" which is shooting. An Eng
lishman's idea of sport is not that of the
American sportsman. In this country the
English custom of killing hundreds of
pheasants and rabbits in a few hours would
be called slaughter, and the participant in
a battue would be dubbed game hog" or
butcher by Coquina, an authority on
such matters. The prince, however. in his
younger days killed larger game than bun
MES and pheasants. During his trips to
Germany, India and Egypt he bagged many
boars, tigers, elephants, bears. wild pigs
and crOcodiles. He is still known as one
of the best shots in his kingdom, and his
Devastating expeditions never fail TO
yield from one to a half dozen royal stays.
In the chapter on THE Prince and His
Clothes" the reader is informed that Ed
ward patronizes home tailors and glove
makers. The size of his hat is 7s and ne
wears a No. s BOOT. When travelling both
Edward and Alexandra wear the plainest
clothes possible, and when in Scotland the
prince always donned a kilt. AS prince,
Edward had little spare time. His plans
were mapped out each day and almost ev-
erything he did was according to pro-
gramme. He was methodical and business
like, and it is expected he will pursue the
same plan while on the throne. The author,
in eulogizing him as a speechmaker, says
he shows a wonderful knowledge of almost
every subject, from art and literature to
breeding stock and directing a navy. He Is
a liberal patron of the play, a skillful
yachtsman and a good Judge of horsenesh.
Kindness 10 his servants is also said to be
one of his characteristics. While prince
he disliked ostentation and was inclined to
be democratic. There is much interesting
information in the book and IL cannot fail
to please admirers of his Majesty. New
York: ID. Appleton & Co.