The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-31
THE KING AND HIS HEIRS
CHARACTERISTICS OF EDWARD VII
AND THE PRINCES.
How They Are Generally Regarded
by the British People-The
King Il Well Liked.
London Letter in New York Mail and E1-

IS regarded by the multitude may best be
gathered from the phrase which the man
IN the street is nearly sure TO employ. THE
Kings a good fellow" he will say.
He does not credit him with remarkable
gifts Of mind or person, or with char
acter exemplary at every point. His skep-
ticism as 70 the divine right OF kings is
probably even more pronounced than the
American But to him the reigning SOW
ereign is likable person, of good abilities
and more than common tact not unworthy
of the part he has to play under the British
Constitution
A story is going the rounds which is
characteristic alike OF the man and his
office Not long ago the King paid an un-
expected visit to a boys school on the
south coast. and. after the manner of
school visitors. monarchicaI or republican,
began to question the youngsters. He
asked them to name some of the great
kings Of England, and the boys eagerly
suggested Alfred the Great. William the
Conqueror. Richard I, Edward I, Henry
VII and so on. One Of the smallest lads,
10 whom the master had privately whis-
PfFe@ Effs@ something volunteered Edward
The King beamed "Ah. my boy" he
said. and what great thing has Edward
VII done?'
The little fellow hung his head and said
he did not know.
Don't let that distress you," said the
King. II don't know either"
Whether the incident actually happened
or not IT has ideal truth in that il illus
trates at once the limitations Of monarchy
under under the British system and the Kings
Edward VII has done nothing great But
In his state functions he has done nothing
badly. His long nOvitiate as Prince OF
rnQ
made him a thorough man of the world
lie came into contact with all sorts of
people, and while all of the company he
Kept was not edifying, his experience with
men and affairs left him better judge OF
human nature than many a monarch who
mas made large mark in his time.
His tact is distinctly finer than was
Queen VictOria's The latter was some
times the offensive partisan" She could
not free hersef from the pretudices OF her
class, and when her young son, the Duke
or Connaught, was married her aversion
70 Mr. Gladstone took the extreme form
the ceremony. although he had been prime
minister. Such a course would be impos-
sible to Edward VII
THEY LIKE THE KING.
There have been times in his life when
the King has been hooted on the streets
and in the theaters. The resentment that
prompted these manifestations has been
dead for the better part of a generation
Englishmen have come to like the King
not only because of his not unkingly en-
dowment of capacities but because of his
hearty qualities. 1t has helped him de-
spite nonconformist protests that he has
been devoted patron OF sports particular
ly of the national sport OF horse racing
IL has helped him that he has given unmis-
taxable evidences Of a warm heart.
In his genuine desire to put those about
him a their ease and minister to their
pleasure, much as in his knowledge of
the world, his unfailing tact is grounded
AS father and as son his affectionate ma
ture has frequently declared itself appeal
ingly. While Queen Alexandra restrained
herself with well-nigh Spartan calmness
ago, the King gave way to almost uncon-
trollable grief. Those who saw him last
year. the morning after the death of Queen
Victoria, saw one in whom the King had
disappeared in the man
Quite oblivious to curious but not un-
sympathetic eyes, he leaned for support
on his brother and wept unroyal tears
The spectacle of the two grief-strfcken
brothers, leaving Buckingham Palace arm
In arm TO attend the Privy Council, gave
the monarchical institution that touch of
humanity needed to make its knship felt
by all men, at any rate by all English
men.
Those who know the King gave him
credit for an ardent desire to be all that
an English King should be. When he as
sumed the throne he was almost over
Wnelmed at the thought of the WOrld-em-
bracing responsibilities formal though they
had become, which descended to him. His
conception OF the ceremony he had expected
TO submit TO this week has been full of
solemnity. There is a deeply reverentiaI
quality in his nature, cOeXistinR though
IL does, with qualities that have had con-
Trajectory manifestations. He has not
worn his responsibilities lightly but he
has borne them. as he is fighting his bat
Tie against death now, with that CHEEKY
such service TO the present Gar of Russia
when that monarch was almost prostrated
on his own coronation time
PRINCE OF WALES UNPOPULAR.
Amid the dire possibilities OF the time.
sympathy is given freely to the Prince of
Wales. His position is not an easy one
His personality is not really known to his
countrymen. nor has he anywhere near the
present popularity Of his father, or even
OF his own little son. Before Edward VII
came to the throne he was known, at least.
as man or the world. thorough sports
man, and an individuality with certain
marked traits The Prince of Wales has
not yet impressed himself upon the imagin-
alton OF his subjects; he has not vet de-
veioped his royal fathers instinct for popu-
larity. Certainly he has not his knowledre
OF the world, and, of course. his youth
precludes that ripe equipment of experience
tasks ~ MS
Popular opinion may be mistaken. but II
credits the heir apparent with only negative
Is superior 10 his elder brother, the Duke
or Clarence whose demise left him a bride
and the prospect of a throne But men
tally he Is not forceful and he is not physi-
cally strong. SO lar as he is known he is
considered an inOffensive young man of
quiet tastes and correct life lust the kind
or sovereign for a thOrOugh-going democ-
racy- Where the EnElishman would saw of
Edward, he 5 a good fellow" he does not
IN the case OF his son go beyond the auaIi-
ned commendauon, hes not a bad sort
The prince has rather sad face. and there
are those who represent him as eager TO
trustful.
Such an endowment is not the kind IN at
tract the multitude. But the present prince
Is handicapped by a circumstance that Is
rather unfairly held against him. The
women OF England have not yet included
him within the circle of their benevolence
Except when prodigy sits on the throne
the prestige OF the crown depends aInost
entirely on the women OF the land. The or
oinary man does not come into contact with
royalty at sufficient points 70 interest him
one way or the other. The monarchy means
as much or as little 10 him as the spirit
world He may believe in kings and ne
may believe In ghosts but in his evervdaI,
life the one influence figures as vagueiv as
the other. The women OF the land how
ever. are brought closer 10 the institution
or monarchy by the fact that they are
themselves wives and mothers They have
that point IN common with the Queen
II tile queen Is woman whom they like
the kLs VIII be popular. There must he
something in the domestic relations OF thei-
kings and princes that gives a chance for
the free play OF sentiment. Every royal