St. Tammany farmer., 1901-08-31
POPULARITY OF A KING.
The Ruler of Great Britain Is Par
ticular About Decorations
Some Instances.

I -"
his peculiarities, writes candid Eng
iishman to London NJ. A. P. One of thu
most marked of these is that he is par
ticular to the verge of severity on tn
subject of decorations that should b'
worn. How they should be worn, whe1
they should be worn are matters t.
which he has always given the closes
attention. OF this idiosyncrasy many
stories are told. Here are a few:
The first relates to that most pop
ular henchman of the king, Sir Digh
| ton Probyn. He has the right to wear
many decorations, including the COW
eted Victoria cross. Among his hon
ors is cross of leading Danish or
| der of which he is knight, and sec.
ond Danish distinction of less en-
inence.- One evening at Sandringham
year or two ago large party had
assembled at the bidding of the prince
and princess of Wales for dinner. In
deed, so many were the guests that Sir
Dighton and one or two others found
places at a small table, 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 courtier, had remembered the
anniversary, and, in dressing for din
ner, had affixed to his coat the small
star of the chief Danish order, but
either did not look for or could not
find the insignia of the lesser in i'm
portance. Dinner was announced and
Sir Dighton was deep in the discussion
OF an excellent menu, when footman
brought him message from his royal
master to the following effect: "H. r.
II. is surprised to see that Sir Dighton
Probyn is not wearing the order"
Sir Dighton had there and then to
fetch the order, and reappeared 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 fe;-
low guest with the king some time
back at country house for week
end. The king had, as prince, the Gus
tom of sending his equerry or servant
to the guests (this was entirely male
partly informing them what his wish
was as to wearing decorations. On
this evening my friend had received the
message: III. r. H. desires gentlemen
to wear the ribbons and buttons only
of their orders" He is carelessman
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 pass
age and was making his way to the
stairs, when he met the prince, who
was also about to ascend. He stood
aside, but the prince motioned him to
Join him, and they went down to-
yether.
AS they reached the first landing the
prince, who had been looking atten-
lively at my friends coat, stopped,
Ind, much to the latter's confusion,
said, taking hold of the lapel: "These
'ibbons should not be placed so. That |
'ne," pointing to foreign one, 'has
10. place there at all on the present
occasion; and of these two,' pointing
o the English ribbons, s'the order
hould be reversed" Ny friend mur-
nured his apologies, and the prince
aid: II know it is not always easy
0 understand, but like care to be
'iven to such matters"
Ny third story has to do with a
and popular English actor
vho, in a play in which he appeared
nth great success. acted the part of
Russian general. The prince was
resent one evening, and noticed that
cross his uniform coat the actor wore
row of six or seven crosses and stars.
Vhcn the curtain fell on the first act
he prince sent an inquiry to ask the
ctor to visit the royal box. Much
ratified, Mr.. - hurried to obey, but
pom entrance, instead of the con-
ratulations he expected, the prince, II
fter cool greeting, pointed to the
ow of gew-gaws on the military coat,
aging with some severity: MAY ask
hat they are supposed to orepresent?"
Now the truth was that they were !
jewels and crosses, supplied
= costumer, such as any actor would
aturally wear. Mr.. .- very feeebly |
nswered that they were to repre-
mt such Russian military and civic
'ders as general of the czar's army +,
ould probably possess. Really" /
lid the prince, ironically, "and YOU
I'll yourself an artist. lam surprised q
lat you have not taken more trouble {
be exact. think your uniform
ould become you better If you dis. I
,nse i'll the next act with those ludi- q
Gus ornaments" And the actor did. /
But perhaps the most severe reproof
hich the king ever gave a subject in $
le matter of decorations was that |
lministered to very pretty young t
RI in a ballroom. The prince had in a
ted her to dance, and she, much h
atlfied, had taken a turn or two b