The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-12
PecnGarides Of aHmg

MS peculiar tiles, writes a candid L,no
hshman. One of the most marked of
THESE IS that he is particular to the
verge of severity on the subject of
decorations that should be worn. How
they should be Worn, when they should
De worn are matters to which he has al
ways given the closest attention OF this
1diosyncrasy many stories are told.
Here are a few:
The first relates to that most popular
henchman of the king, Sir Dighton
Probyn,. He has the right to wear many
decorations, including the coveted Vic
toria cross. Among his honors is a cross
or leading Danish order of which he is
Knight, and a second Danish distinc-
ZION OF less emiHence. One evening at
Sandringham year or two ago a large
party had assembled at the bidding of
the Prince and Princess of Wales for
dinner. Indeed, so many were the guests
that Sir Dighton and one two others
found places at a small table, a sort of
overflow" dining table in the corner of
the room
1t so, happened that the date was the
birthday of the king of Denmark, al
though the dinner was not specially in
honor of that event. Sir Dighton ever
a. courtier, had remembered the ami
versary, and, in dressing for dinner, had
affixed to his coat ---e small star of the
chief Danish order, but either did not
look for or could not find the insignia of
the lesser in Importance. Dinner was
announced, and Sir Dighton was deep
in the discussion of an excellent menu.
when footman brought him a message
from his royal master to the following
effect: H Ri is surprised to see that
Sir Dighton Probyn is not wearing the
Order of -" Sir Dighton had there
and then to fetch the order. and reap
peared with it 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
A friend of mine was staying as fell
low guest with the king some time back
at a country house for a weekend. The
king had, as prince, the custom OF send
Ing 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
and received the message, "H R. H. de-
sires gentlemen to wear the ribbons and
buttons only Of their orders" He is a
careless man, 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
passage and was making his way to the
stairs, when he met the prince who was
also about to descend. He stood aside,
but the prince motioned him to Join him
and they went down together.
AS they reached the first landing the
prince, who had been looking attentively
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
foreign one, ''has no place there at all
on the present occasion; and of those
two, pointing to the English ribbons
the order should be reversed" My
friend murmured his apologies, and the
prince said: II know it is not always
easy to understand, but like care to be
given to such matters
My third story has to do with a well
known and popular English actor who
III play in which he appeared with
great success, acted the part of a Rus
sian general. The prince Was present
enc evening, and noticed that across his
uniform coat the actor wore 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 gratihed, Mr.. --
hurried to obey, but upon entrance, in
stead of the congrat ulations he expected
the prince, after a cool greeting, point ed
TO the Tow OF GeW-SdWS on the military
coat, saying with some severity: MAY
l ask what they are supposed to repre-
sent?"
Now the truth was that they were i'm
itation jewels and crosses, supplied by a
Costumer, such as any actor would nat
urally wear Mr.. very feebly an
swered that they were to represent such
Russian military and civil orders as a
general of the cars army would proba-
bly, possess. Really" said the prince
ironically, land you call yourself an
artist. l am surprised that you have not
taken more trouble to be exact. think
your uniform would become you better
If you dispense in the next act with
those ludicrous 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 ad-
nfinistered to a very pretty young girl
in a ballroom. The prince had invited
her to dance, and she, much gratiGed
had taken a turn or two, when the prince
noticed upon her breast the small dia-
mond star of a we'll known English or
der MAY I ask you where you got that
from?" he said, indicating the little
jewel The girl, blushing a great deal
answered that her fiance Ca young Off
Ger of great Distinction had lent it to
her to wear Indeed" said his royal
bighness coldly, please unpin it and re-
turn it to Lieut.. Col. Sir -. and in
form him that such jewels are not in
tended for the adornment of beauty. how
ever great" And he led his partner to
o1,r