Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-22
ROYAL GUESTS.
Retrospection Suggested by
Recent Trip of Prince Henry.
Some of Those Welcomed and Enter
tanned by Our People.
Not So Many in the Past as There Will
be in the Future.


last few years will De more frequent
visits from royal representatives. of
the Old World powers Each occasion
of this kind heretofore has necessitated
the looking up of precedents in which
the entire nation has taken a helping
hand, Offering suggestions both serious
and humorous. which have contributed
somewhat to the beWilderment of our
guests.
There are two American institutions
that pass quite beyond the under
standing of the average foreigner-the
national sense of humor and the free
dom OF the press. When this ~cOmbi-
nation inVades the same Sanctity of
royalty, says the Washington Post, the
situation becomes serious, and in view
Of the fact that the reputation of our
good manners is. not clearly established
in all quarte& of the globe we have
been officially asked how, under given
circumstances, we meant to conduct
ourselves.
Prince Henry of Prussia, to begin
with, gratifes our national pride by
coming in his royal character. While
this entails a rather more arduous
study of the etiquette peculiar to the
situation upon those who arctic come
actually in contact with him as his en-
tertainers, to the mass of the people,
who see only the effect, it presents
more imposing spectacle.
OF our previous royal guests two
were heirs to the throne OF their cOun
try. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
who visited us in 1860, and Albert of
Belgium. who was here at the time of
the Spanish-American war, at the out
break of which his uncle, King Leo
pold, cabled him to come home. AS
we were not threatened with an imme-
date invasion, however, he tarrled,
and from the course events were taxi
ing il was decided that he might sat
isfactorily finish his tour of the United
States.
Both of the Princes came incognito,
the Prince of Wales, who had pre-
yiously visited Canada, coming to us
simply as Baron Renfrew and Albert
of Belgium concealing his real charac-
ter under the title of Count de Rethy.
This simplified their reception, and
made possible their entertainment in
private life.
While the Prince of Wales, our first
roval guest. called forth immense en-
thusiasm and throngs of people turned
out to see him, and the mayors of diff
ferent cities through which he passed
welcomed him and feted him. his en-
tree in to the capital was attended by
no official magnificence.
Albert of Belgium, coming not IN
war vessel of his nation, but in an or
binary passenger steamer, endeavored
to preserve his incognito, actually as
well as officially. But the all-seeing
eye Of the American press had discoV-
cred him and was so intently bent up
on him, even before he landed, that
Count Lichtervelde, the Belgian Min
lister. who had gone to New York to
meet him. cabed his government for
instructions to meet the emergency,
and even for another name. When the
official phase of his visit had passed.
however. the Prince was not unduly
pursued by newspaper representatives.
Uron his arrival in Washington he
was quietly conducted &c the Airing
ton Hotel where a suite of rooms had
been prepared for him, and where he
was entertained as the guest of the
United States government. The morn
ing after his arrival he called upon
President Mckinley, who, at the con-
clusion of the presentation ceremony,
took him for a short drive about the
city. and returned with him to the
hotei.
The young Prince conceived warm
friendship and admiration for the
President, and when he became en-
rapad to the Ravarian Princess Eliza
beth. to whom he was married at
Munich on the I'd of October 1900, he
was not satisfied to have the happy
fact formally announced to the Presi-
dent of the United States, but related
it himself in a personal letter. Though
royal it was also love match, and
the Prince had seen enough of Mr.. Nc
Kinley to know it would interest him.
In the Grand Duke Alexis, who visit
cd us in 1871. and the Infanta Eula.ia
who came in 1898, as the representative
of the Spanish government at the cele-
bration of the discovery of America
we had royal guests whose relationship
to the crowned heads of their countries
is similar to that borne by Prince
Henry to the Kaiser. Eulalia is sister
TO the late King Alfonso XII. of Spain
and therefore aunt of the young King
who is soon to be crowned, while the
Grand Duke Alexis, younger son OF
Alexander II. of Russia, is uncle to the
present Car.
Eussia's manifestations of friendship
for us date back to the days when we
were involuntarily filling the role OF
hobbledehoy in the family of nations.
The conclusion of commercial treaty
with us, when commercial treaties were
not part of Russias policy and wher
there were other nations suing for the
same advantage, confirmed the thor.
ougbly good feeling existing between
the two countries and the visit of a
Prince of the royal family was hailed
with enthusiasm. The position OF
Alexis with regard to the naval affairs
of Russia was analogous, though at
that time less exalted. to that now held
by Prince Henry in reference to those
OF Germany, and was recognized in the
program prepared for his entertain
ment.
The Russian war vessels which
brought Alexis to America were met by
detachment of our navy and arrived
off New York on the night of Novem-
Der Is. being received by representa-
tives of both the national and NUM-