The Washington times., 1902-06-29


dangerously near the princes SHINING
hat, With : period OF eloquence III,
venerable peer concluded his address
Down came his arms in gesture deliv
cred with all the vigor he could com
mand plump on the crown of the prince!
high hat, driving it down over the roya
ears.
! The earls argument ended right there
and turned into profuse apologies to til
prince. The latter interrupted with ;
smile of good humor.
mo harm said Edward. laughing
but I'll just move out of the danger
zone"
Edward VII, like his mother, was font
of children. Some years ago there was
a feast in Whitechapel prepared by tht
lord mayor of London for number oi
crippled children. The future King. ac-
I companied by his wife. number OF
princesses. and Prince Charles of Den
mark, went to see the spread.
There was q long program OF talks
ard recitations and musical numbers
The King looked on in silence for 6
time, seeing the eager. hungry faces OF
the little cripples. and reading there the
impatient anticipation OF the feast 10
come. Still the talks and recitations
and music kept up.
Finally Edward lost patience, cut the
program" short with few words, and
then said to the little guests:
'Now. then, children, begin, Just
pitch in,'
And pitch in the little ones did, not
awaiting any second invitation, the
royal visitor showing his delight with
smiles and laughter. The heir apparent
even entered into the spirit of the occa-
sion so heartily that he thought it nee
essary to taste the gingerette which
was served TO the children.
1T was a wry face the King made" "
said one Of the spectators. recalling the
event after the prince had assumed the
throne, but he insisted on being one OF
the children for the time
He played with the royal children just
as heartily. Incidents were often told
of days at Copenhagen when the late
Emperor of Russia and the present
King of England were staying at the
Danish court. These stories related
how the autocrat CT all the Russias and
Edward played hide and seek with the
little Russian and Danish princeIings,
jolly, largehearted and even trottiug
about on all fours to amuse the chill
dren.
On one occasion, when riding with ais
father along a country road. the young
Prince of Wales neglected TO return the
salute of laboring man
My son." said the prince consort, go
back at once and acknowledge the poor
mans civility."
The prince. rather crestfallen had 10
turn his pony's head, follow the wav-
farer and make his bow. In this way
he was taught that all of his future sub
jects were entitled to his polite consid-
Grafton
As prince, Edward was a mischiev-
Gus youth. and often received his Just
deserts. While walking along the shore
at Osborne one day, he sDied a boy
gathering shell fish. Waiting until his
back was turned the, prince upset the
basket. The owner turned. and seeing
his work undone. seized upon the culprit
and struck him.
The prince returned the blow with
vigor and fight ensued One of the Os-
borne gardeners separated them. and
the prince was lee to his father in
battered condition.
The father had viewed the scene from
a distances and at once saw to It that
his son had an additional spanking.
IS youth Kim. Edward showed 4
keen interest in matters of science. at
tending the lectures OF Prof. Faraday. in
London and DR.. Lyon Playfair's chemis-
try classes in Edinburgh University. O,
one occasion DR.. PIayfalr desired to IN
press upon his pupils mind the harm
less action OF certain stage of heat
and told him that he might safely thrust
his hand into a boiling cauldron of lead
IF you tell me to do j I Will" said
The prince.
Your royal highness may do it with
safety said DR.. Playfair.
Thereupon the prince barring his arm
to the elbow boldly thrust it deep into
the white hot mass and triumphantly
withdrew it unschathed. He had i'm
plicit confidence in the word of his I'M
structor, and did not fear to carry ou:
bis instructions to the letter
For many years the King, ardent
sportsman though he was. had been un
.ble to win a Derby Suddenly his for
une changed. For the four years end
ng in 1895 his winnings amounted to
about $40. 900. but in the succeeding four
'ears they went up to S2GOOO0 The luck
turned when Persimmon fought the race
nch by inch in 1896 and won the "blue
-ibbon" for the prince. Popular as he
las always been in England. he never
eceiVed such n greeting as he did after
winning the Derby.
AS traveller the King visited nearly
III parts of the world. not only through
ut Europe and America. but through
'ut the East. In Constantinople he was
avishly entertained by the sultan
Wherever the prince and the princessI ]
ient they were attended by a thousand