The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-07
A HAPPY MONARCH.
PEACEFUL AND METHODdCAL LIFE
OFF KING GEORGE OF GREECE.

OFF KING GEORGE OF GREECE.
HIS Household Conducted by Rote
Is Only Small Figure In the
World of Politics, He Is Large
One In the World of Finance-Rail-
why's, Merchant Fleets, Olive and
Date Groves, and Diaries Pay Hin,
an Enormous Revenue, and He Is n
Heavy Holder of British and
American Securities-ReRds Every
thing I'm Print About HimseIf-His
Weakness for Puns-sOur Georgy"
Is His Unofficial Title Among His
Loving Subjects.
Copyright. 1901, by Stephen Austin.)
New York, April 5-No other nation in
Europe is so little known to the globe
trotter as Greece. On account of the diff
ficulty of the language, travellers remain
almost entirely ignorant Of the personal
ways OF the Greek in his own land. Nor
does this apply to the common or street
variety of Greek alone. The Court of
Athens and its King have been hardly
better known to the outside world than
was the mysterious Mikados court before
Japan was thrown open to civilization
This present attempt to throw light upon
the Greek King and his people grows
out of an extended experience on the part
Of the writer, both in the huts and noun
tain villages of the Greek peasant ana
in the salons of Athens.
From this experience one fact STANDS
out pre-eminently concerning King George
and the royal family. The Greeks ADORE
their present ruler. The over-howing 10y
altv and affection that existed before the
Turkish war were too deeply rooted to
wane more than temporarily as the result
of that dismal affair. our Georgy ~
York; mas'O is looked upon as father
and friend by all his people. They &c
light in telling stories of his simplicity
kindness and easy going paternal ways
In this estimate they are at once right
and wrong. "Our Georgy' is as simple
in his habits as any domesticated pater-
families in the world. but like great
many bourgeois, though very anectionate'
he is the sternest of martinets.
The King was Sc years old in January.
If we, may judge the whole course OF ms
life from what we know of him since ne
landed in Greece to take the throne the
for fifty-six years Cor let us say ntty
wears to make allowance for early child
hood he has never got up in the morn
ing as much as five minutes before or tive
minutes after Z o'clock. That is not early
for Greece whose streets, nine months IN
the year, are full of people at O'CLOCK
But II is the Kings honor and he is uh-
failingly faithful to it. He takes an ice
cold bath Immediately after rising and
dresses himself in the frock coat suit,
which he will wear all day long, with the
star of the "Grand Cross of Greece
cleaning on the lapel. At half-past seven
| he masses into his study and reads the
morning papers. which must be laid OUT
unfolded, in a certain order, on MS desk
He is familiar with Danish ms netiVe
tongue). German, French and English, as
well as Greek; and among the papers On
his desk there are always several foreign
sheets chosen by the syngraphefs, or prl-
waite secretary, for some particular article
which he thinks will interest His MaJes-
Nv. The King has given orders that
every word concerning himself be brought
to his notice. 1t is not improbable tnat
he may even read this article; for both
the French and the Greek papers print
a great deal of miscellaneous matter
translated from the American newspapers
After he has spent a half an hour or
so over the news of the day, political
and social, not neglecting the society
notes" of the Athenian Acropolis, Whlcn
give elaborate retails of the doings OF
the local notabilities; all of whom will be
Familiarity known to the King of small
country his frock-coated, star-decorated
Majesty proceeds to a strangely unroyal
performance He makes his own coffee.
tiny silver spirit-lamp is on table
of inlaid wood in the corner of the graph
eion or study; next 1t is the briki or lit
tie ndless Turkish coffee pot filled with
water; and a silver jar decorated in
enamel with the royal arms, holds just
two table spoonsful of finely powdered
mocha The King does not like to see
any one I'm the morning till he has smok-
ed a cople of Egyptian cigarettes over his
inhinit es!mal cup of very strong Turkish
coffee with the grounds forming an inch
thick deposit at the bottom of the cup).
This desire of unbroken matutinal soil
tude causes him to make his morning
brew himself.
With his coffee and cigarettes he pores
over the Journals till 10. Precisely at
that hour he mounts to the Queens pri-
vate salon on the second story OF the roy
al palace Here the whole royal family
Is required TO be present without fail.
Every one, even the Queen, rises when
he enters: and here is chorus Of "Kale-
mera, patera." Good morning. father
from all the princes and Processes. For
by the way, "Our Georgy" insists on the
use OF the Greek tongue In the home life
OF the court, though he is q Dane and
the Queen Russian. In the Queens sa-
lon the King INDUCES In light family
talk while Her Majesty and the young
folk take the proyeoma or "hrst break
fast" The meal, amply SUFFICIENT IN that
climate. consists Of tea served In the Eng
lish fashion with ciotted cream and tar
tines ~ bread ard butter with some
sweet biscuits. The King makes fun %
hts family over this harmless repast. de-
clannK them Eluttons. for he himself
never eats anything tiii the heavy MD.
day lunch. AsiFoli in tho palace follows she
breakfast the whole fafnilY trottinG cut 90