The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-25

of giant and which has not lost the
gracefulness OF youth; hand which
seems ready to crush and yet has not
always the force to squeeze: a step that
Is sonorous and yet certainly does not
shake the earth: a small ear, but one
acutely open to the thousand sounds from
the four corners of the globe; blue eye,
very gentle and smiling. which behind
watchful brows. seems always searching
in the distance beyond the visible hori-
zon, but stops always on the nearest OBJ
jects; a good indulgent smile on lips
rather bitterly set.
Morally 1t is as physically; this i'm
provident man is the most or5erly in the
United Kingdom. Were he not born TO the
throne he would have made an incompar
able business man. His punctuality is
proverblal throughout England: he never
arrives late and he never forgets social
engagement. The smallest details of cere-
mony interest him. He never leaves a
letter forty eight hours without reply. or
twenty-four hours without acknowledging
its receipt. All correspondence addressed
to him passes under his eyes and all sent
in his name passes through his hands.
The letters he writes and the letters he
dictates are distinguished by their clear
ness, their sobriety of style, and that
absolute absence of affectation which
charaeterizes his words.
He views his own weaknesses with in
diligence, but he is not severe on those of
others. His hand is open for his own ca
prices. but never closed against suffering.
L believe he said once, If l had more
money, l would do more foolish things,
but l believe, too, that l would do more
good He Is confident to the point Of
being naif. having made many friends
with many smiles he believes that each
man who smiles on him is his friend.
AT the funeral of Alexander III he
came back alone in a special train with
the young Emperor on whose frail shoul-
ders the destinies of the greatest Of en-
pires were to rest. Their conversation
was most cordial and affectiouate. The
uncle returned to London, believing he
had a brother in his nephew and imagin-
ing gigantic projects of joint accord. Some
months later events came with rush in
the extreme East; a triple alliance was
concluded between France, Germany, and
Russia the Treaty of Shimonoseh was
signed and the corpse of the yellow man
was harpooned by fishermen not one OF
whom wore a British uniform. Edward
VII felt child's vexation over this. not
at the stake lost, but because he believed
he had assured a union.
France, he said once. is the country
where l would like best and least to live.
The ease of getting liked is only equaled
by the ease of getting jeered at In that
you have the whole man; he likes popu-
larity, sympathy, confidence. as one loves
the sun, flowers, and blue sky. He has
an unspeakable horror of attack. OF yio-
lence. of insults, as one shuns all evil
things. He is not of those who feel
bitter enjoyment in treading hatred under
foot, and who feel their stature increase
with every attack launched on them. IL
there is one thing he hates it is hatred.
1t is more odious for him to think that he
has one enemy than 1t is sweet to recall
that he has dozen friends.
During his half century in the most
arduous role of heir to the throne he has
not let slip word that could make him
an adversary. He has even abstained from
showing his prejudices or indicating his
predictions and. even at this hour. those
who knew him best cannot say whether
his tendencies are liberal or his tastes
whether he is Wing or Tory.
It is not apathy, or timidity. or calcula-
ton, or self-control; it is the instructive
desire to seek everything that binds to-
gether, so as to suffer nothing that brings
division and discord."