The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-10
RN(E george. THE SAILOR HEIR TO BRTANS THRONE

advanced toward the goal OF his ambi-
ton until he was made a 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 Victorias immediate predecessor.
William w.. who was England's last
"sailor king" But neither the Duke OF
lar I'm his day. chiefly because IL was
not i'm them TO be so. To be perfectly
popular one must have some special al
tribute bestowed by the Almighty, and
these two seem TO have been neglected
in that respect. Not so George. how
ever who. though now serious man OF
affairs and a family man at that. not
long since was full OF spirits and re-
joicing 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-
confirmed-that he formed an attach
ment for n fair commoner, whom, i'm
fact. he married morganatically lafter
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 IL. 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 a factor i'm the princes educa-
tion. for their studies were rigidly con-
tinued, and In the matter OF discipline
the long trip was invaluable. After II
was over the brothers separated. each
to take his course, the one 10 be placed
in training for his kingship. the other TO
become sailor in fact as well as in
name. Prince George was always at
tentive TO 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
1855. was made naval aid -de-camp TO
the queen in 1887 a commander i'm 1891,
captain in 1898 and a rear admiral
last year. He has had several separate
commands during his naval career and
IN 1898 hoisted his pennant on the Cres-
cent, n first class cruiser OF 200 tons
and thirteen guns. then stationed in the
Mediterranean.
a favorite 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 a popularity 90 a
different sort, but ii was not a healthy
sentiment. mainly due more TO what
she had refrained from doing than TO
anything of consequence she had ever
done. But Prince George soon became
the living embodiment of what the
Britishers wished to see i'm king.
He is not overweighted 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 so past. lie would not
attract attention anywhere i'm a crowd
were il not known that he bore the III
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 suffi-
cient to keep his mouth shut when he is
praised for his wisdom and is wise