The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-28
DRINCE OF WALES is POOR ON
i Half a Million a Year.

Special Correspondence Of The Sunday Republic
London, June 15.-Even II he doesn't go
over to attend the St. Louis Exhibition. the
Prince of Wales. as chairman OF the Royal
Commission for that exhibition. has merited
a good deal of attention from the United
States for the faithful interest he has taken
in the arrangements for making good
British showing at the Fair.
He has been particularly prominent Of
late, anyway. and the indications are that
henceforth he will do a great deal more Of
the work Of the throne than the present
King used to be permitted to do when his
august mother reigned.
Since he moved over into Marlborough
House a few weeks ago he has been al
most continually In the public eye.
London wonders what sort of an addition
to its reputation the famous royal mansion
will acquire in the tenancy Of its new mas
ter.
present Prince Of Wales. Although he IS
the prospective head Of British society, he
has not yet shown any Of that taste for
social generalsbip which distinguishes his
urbane father.
Although his position already requires
enormous expenditure, especially now that
he has to run Marlborough House. he is not
at all wealthy and has heavy debts out
standing.
BILE, but not shrewd-which makes him an
easy mark at bridge. for which he has late
ly developed great liking.
Although the fact has not been published
before, there Is excellent authority for say
ing that H. r. H lost 100000 in single
week at a great country house recently and
that his losses on one night were $500.
The Princes income from all sources Is
estimated at about $425,000 a year, which
looks big enough until one considers that
nearly all OF II has to go in maintaining an
official dignity for which he has no particu-
lar relish, and which leaves him precious
little to spend on having a good time.
Members OF Parliament who are in tho
know say that the King will soon ask Par
Lament to give the Prince of Wales an
other 100000 q year. guaranteeing that
when the time comes the Prince will not
ask for an allowance for any Of his chill
dren.
KING TO RESCUE.
Many radical members and others VINO
are opposed to these huge grants to royal
ty agree that the bargain which the King
Is inclined to make would not be a bad one
for the nation, considering how rapidly the
Heir Apparent. fIn:ly is increasing.
OF course. the Prince could easily cult
vate acquaintance that would relieve him
from any embarrassment, but he seems dis
inclined to get into the clutches OF rich
folk who want to buy their way into So
ciety.
In consequence Of this the King Is said
to be coming 10 the rescue.
One result is that retrenchment with a
vengeance is the o.uer both at buckingham
Palace and Marlborough House.
A few weeks ago leavings from the royal
table, which had hitherto formed part of
the servants perquisites were put up TO
the highest bidder by the Deputy Comp
troller.
There appears, however. to be no great
demand. as prices have suddenly dropped
from sixpence per pound to twopence IN or
der to get purchasers.
What is exciting the greatest comment.
however. Is the number OF old servants
who are being discharged-about I'D from
Buckingham. Windsor. Osborne and Bal
moral since Queen Nictorias death-and
fourteen servants at Windsor and fourteen
at Buckingham Palace have been notified
by the Lord Chamberlains department that
they must leave by the end of the financial
year. Only a few of them will receive either
pensions or gratuties
The Prince of Wales gets a salary of $780,
900 year from his prospective loving sub
jects for laying corner stones. opening ba-
zaars and presiding at other public func-
tons of the sort which overflow from the
Kings engagement book. His wifi gets a
salary of $4,000 year from the Govern
ment for being Princess. But these sums,
of course. provide only the pin mone:'. The
mainstay of the royal family IS the s600ec0
a year provided by the scattered sections
of real estate and queer perquisites grouped
under the general title Of the Duchies of
Lancaster and Cornwall. the latter of
which goes exclusively to the Prince of
Wales. These estates were created by Ed
ward III. as a source of income for his
eldest son. and with the single exception
of William ". who handed them over to
the Government. they have since remained
the property OF the respective sovereigns
aud heirs to the throne.