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 q rear admiral
by his royal father last year.
He was not advanced without regard
10 merit, as some OF 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 Yictora's Immediate predecessor,
William ~, who was England's last
"snil0r 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 a view 20 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 plenty.-and rumors pretty well
confirmed that he formed an attach
ment for fair commoner, whom, In
fact, he married morganatcally (after
the manner Of his relative, the Duke OF
Cambridge and by whom he had sew
al ~ Ia oil
was nothing wrong In this, as the court
regarded It, so long as George was only
the second son OF a prince; but when,
through the lamented death Of Prince
Albert Victor in January 1899, 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 II
was over the brothers separated, each
10 take his course, the one to be placed
IN training for his kingship, the other to
become a sailor In fact as well as in
name. Prince George was always at
tentlve 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
1885, 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 holsted his pennant on the Cres-
cent. a first class cruiser of 1900 tons
and thirteen guns. then stationed In the
Mediterranean.
A favorlte 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 q 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
Brtlshers wished to see in a king.
He is not overwelghted with brains
and is not a 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 a 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 sufll-
Client to keep his mouth shut when he Is
nrnised for his wisdom and Is wise