The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-19
SAW KING EDWARD vi.
CT. PAUL NEWSPAPER MAN TAKES
HIKE THROUGH ENGLAND
AND FRANCE
SAW LONDON AND PARIS
Victor II. SmnIIey Returns to City
After SOjOurn of Several
Months Across Big
Pond

Six months tour of the continent have
wrought no changes in Victor II. Small
ley, the young St Paul newspaperman,
who returned to this city yesterday
morning His Sojourn in England has
rot broadened his as, and no Van
Dyke beard adorns his chin, as is the
case with many Americans who have
gone across the big pord to hob-nob with
dukes and duekesses."
IT'S certainly a great country" said
Mr.. Smalley to q Glob reporter last
night; "a great country, but they have
only got America beat on one thing, and
that is ancient history. This is their Ions
suit, as the wit remarked. when referring
TO his Prince Albert coat.
"Of course everyone who has been to
London has lots to say about the fog. 1
always wondered why it was that Amer
leans when referring to the English ME-
tropolis always speak of the fog first;
that is, wondered until l struck the city
then l wondered no more. Londoncrs
eat fog drink fog smell fog, and dream
fog! It's no wonder that their brains ac-
cumulate big portion of the atmospheric
density. London struck me as town
Of high hats, cabs, omnibusses and po-
liccmen-" bobies,' they call them over
there. The high hats predominant, if
anything and the average Eng!ishman
Ccation and usually On no provocation
Whatsoever. You see the silk hat on
bicycles, on horseback, and 1t cuts very
little ice with the wearer whether the
rest of his apparel is in harmony
with his head gear. Our Summit avenue
boys, who are much more Interested IN
their summer vests than the future of
their glorious country would suffer
many severe pangs to witness the sights
have. Imagine, if you can, the aver
age Londoner who wears shining silk
hat a short coat, ordinary vest and tan
shoes.
SAW THE KING.
"Oh yes, 1 saw the king, and he saw
me. Although l did not shake hands
with the hero of baccarat and bloodless
social wars, he did me the honor to place
the ends of two gloVed fingers TO his hat
and gave me a gracious, kingly smile.
il was at the Waterloo station, and the
king was about TO board his special train,
which looked like q string of big dry
goods boxes. / was one of several thous-
and enthusiastic spectators, and happily
had a place in the front line of squeezed
humanity In my pocket was a small
silk American flag, which can be used
either as an ornament or for the more
material purpose allotted to the hand
kerchief. AS the king approached
drew the flag frcm its hiding place and
slung it across my shoulder, at the same
time raising my hat This seemed 70
tickle his kingship, who gave me the
above mentioned salute, and called the
attention of several members of his party
to my action
"Of course it would make a better
story if l could tell you how he stopped
and shook hands with me SO vigorously
that he bursted his glove at the seams,
and told me how he loved Americans in
general and not in particular at the same
time inviting me to join his party. HOW
SoeVer the seventh Edward overlooked
this little act of hospitality and content
ed himself with warming me with his
sovereign smile And it's something to
be smiled at by King Edward, y'Glow
''Londoncrs evidently belong 10 that
class OF civilization who cry: God help
the rich, the poor can take care of them
selves For England is the worst poor
mans land on the face of Mother Earth
and London the worst city. Beggars-
] never knew so many existed before.
Every street corner is occupied by some
battle-Scarred or battle scared veteran,
who for the trifiing sum of a penny Will
tell you how he saved the day on some
bloody battlefield. The salaries paid in
London are anything but munilcent Po-
licemen get from Sc to So a week-a ma
jorlty of them get Sc. And these men a~e
expected to support wives and children
Think of paying a soldier-the famous
Tommy Atkns-the sum of rs cents a
day. And yet England wonders why she
has such trouble in keeping her ranks
filled.
Il walked up Shaftesbury avenue late
one night and in front of a bakery Win
dow saw a small, typical London street
urchin gazing in wrapt admiration at
heap of SuSared buns and tarts. His
wan, pinched face looked pathetically
hungry, and l said:
Could you eat one of those buns,
kid?'
Eat one, governor, was his reply,
damn it, could eat twenty!'
IN PARIS LATIN QUARTER.
81 spent some time in Paris and lived
IN the heart OF the Latin quarter, where
George Du Marier was in his youth.
went to trip the light fantastic with the
gay Srisette and sip absinthe in the cor
ner cafes And yet, either times have
severely changed since the quarter days
of the famous English artiSt-author, or
he must have written his story in a
laundry. Reading 'Trlby' leads one TO
static continuous show of wine, women
and song. l found the wine very thin,
the women slovenly and the song that
of pay, pay. pay The French like the
American as long as his pockets are well
filled. Mr.. Frenchman is very polite
when it costs him nothing. He will give
you light from his cigarette with much
bowing and lifting of hat; ask him for
match-that's different.
81 must tell you of the Paris fire &C.
partment IN the language of the leu
ton--it is to laugh A fire broke out one
evening near my lodgings and l watched
the department. respond. After the dinky,
little wagonettes had drawn up to the
scene Of the conflagration, the different
captains drew their men up in line and
called the roll! If any man was miss.
Ing a search was instituted before any,