Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-12

| advanced toward the goal OF his ambi-
ton until he was made rear admiral
by his royal father last year.
He was not advanced without regard
10 merit, as some or his predecessors
had been. but learned the ropes" as he
went along. Georges uncle, Prince Al
fred also took TO the sea, as well as
Queen Victoria's Immediate predecessor
William ~, who was Engand's last
"sailor king" But neither the Duke Of
Edinburgh nor William w. was popu-
lar In his day. chiefly because II was
not in them to be so, To be perfectly
popular one must have some special at
tribute bestowed By the Almighty, and
these two seem 10 have been neglected
in that respect. Not so George, how
ever, who though now a serious man OF
affairs and family man at that, not
long since was full OF spirits and re-
joiclng In his strength.
George, in fact, was not educated
with View TO his becoming king, being
as a youngster three removes from the
throne. SO he received what the gods
gave him and bore himself after the
fashion OF one who felt the world owed
him a good time. There have been ru-
mors plentye-and rumors pretty well
confirmed -that he formed an attach
ment for a fair commoner, whom, In
fact, he married morganatlcaly (after
the manner Of his relative, the Duke Of
Cambridge and by whom he had sew
eral children, who are yet alive There
was nothing wrong In this. as the court
regarded It. so long as George was only
the second son OF prince; but when,
through the lamented death Of Prince
Albert Victor in January, 1892, he be-
came heir presumptive to the throne
everything was changed.
The voyage on the Bacchante was
merely factor in the princes educa-
ton. for their studies were rlgidly con-
tinued, and in the matter Of discipline
the long trip was invaluable. After It
was over the brothers separated, each
TO take his course, the one TO be placed
IN training for his kingshlp, the other to
become a sailor In fact as well as In
name. Prince George was always at
tentive 10 his duties and asked no IA
vors from those who were technically
his superiors on board ship. He was
promoted to the rank Of lieutenant In
1886, was made naval ald-de-camp to
the queen In 1887, commander In 1891.
captain In 1898 and rear admiral
last year. He has had several separate
commands during his naval career and
In 1898 hoisted his pennant on the Cres-
cent, q first class cruiser Of 1900 tons
and thirteen guns, then stationed In the
Mediterranean.
A favorte with all the officers and
crews he ever sailed with, Prince
George grew 10 be more popular with
the common people than any other
member OF the royal family, not even
excepting his father the once jovial
and reckless Prince OF Wales. Victoria, |
his grandmother. had popularity OF a |
different sort, but II was not healthy |
sentiment mainly due more to what |
she had refralned from doing than to |
anything Of consequence she had ever |
done. But Prince George soon became |
the living embodiment OF what the |
Brtishers wished TO see in a king.
He is not overwelghted with brains
and is not learned man, despite the
many collegiate and university honors |
that have been showered upon him dur
Ing the year or 80 past He would not |
attract attention anywhere in crowd |
were II not known that he bore the IT,
ties appended to his name, for he Is not
a striking personality. But he has that
quality of absolute mediocrity which |
was conspicuous In his grandmother, |
Victoria, and which takes with the
British commonalty. He has tact sufi-
cient to keep his mouth shut when he Is
praised for his wisdom and is wise |