The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-09
the EDWARDS

Edward VII. comes to the throne a
the age OF 50 His predecessors OF thai
name. the boy king OF i5i7, was only
years old when he became king and his
reign H. an unimportant interval between
the reins of HenrN VIII. and Bloody
Queen Mary.
The NTH Edward was only a child, and
one OF piteous memory. since his name Is
irretrerably linked, with that of Richard
III. The reign lasted only from April s
TO June 25, and was disturbed in Cts
sarlier days by party inirigues TO gain
possession OF the little king. and later by
the barefsced scheming of Richard Ill
to secure the throne. and in the end the
child. unable 10 protect himself. and with
no friends powerful enough 10 defend
him, met an obscure death in the towner
with his little brother Clarence.
Still further back comes Edward ".
and Warwick. the king maker. .whoss
power made Edwards lot uncertain and
even avsiled TO restore 10 the throne for
time the bsnshed Henry VI.
And 80 the romantic story goes back,
tale by tale and century by century. In
1927 came the soidierly Edward Ill. al
ways TO he remembered. as the father OF
one OF the most romantic figures In Eng
lands history. Edward the Black Prince.
And with him and his brilliant son we
come over the names OF Crecy and Poic-
tiers, ssuys and Caiais--names that TO
this day make part OF the glory OF Eng
land
Edwards father was a weakling and a
triher between warlikc sire and war
like son. II was he who lost Banonck-
burn and all his fathers conduests in
scotland. and IL was he who had as his
friend and comrade the pcrfumed and
curled Piers Galveston. whom he Kept
near him until another Warwick. called
by the favorite I'm his merry wit the
Black Dog OF Arden ended his useless
life I'm that terrible dungeon by the Avon.
This King Edward was the first prince OF
Wales
The FIRST Edward has been thus far the
most illustrious Of the name. he was
strong man. an able general, powerfui
king. IL was he who made the first ma
terial encroachments upon the territory
OF Wales, and IL was ne who harrassed
Scotland SO fearfully and almost reduced
that hardy nation to subsection. He was
an inveterate castle builder and the most
splendid fortresses I'm the kingdom. Car
nsrvon and Conway I'm Wales. stand UNI
ruined after 600 years, lasting monuments
to the mighty will Of the master that
built them. IL rs pleasant TO connect THIS
stern and rugged soul with little that
IL gentle and human. which We may cas-
ily do If We credit the stories OF his love
for Eleanor. his queen, and OF their happy
life at CarnarVon Castle.
Last and earliest OF all IL the confess
sor Edward the old Danish devotee to
W HON We owe n continuance of church
which H. now the most glorious IN Eng
land-the church TO which every English
foot t,sri1s sooner or later in pride and
Westminster Abbey.
Conuueror. warrior and defrauded child.
and little precocious kinR-it is a strange
pa thetic and fascinating hne--these men
" the ris me which England's present
king Is 10 carry on His assumption OF
Il brings them from the shadows where
they have kept so long 10 be thought OF
and pitied and wondered at a little longer
py the hurrying people OF the world
Mildred l. McNeal in March Ledger