The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18

LONDON, Dec. 17.-All because Sir
Thomas Upton, rich. good-natured
and generous though he is, lacks some
of the qualities that go to make up
a perfect courtier, there is good rea-
son for believing that he no longer
stands in as he used to with King
Edward VII. Those who are in a po-
sition to know declare that the aspir-
ant for the Americas cup has been
cut out of the position which he held
for a while of confidential adviser to
Edward VII.
If Sir Thomas had taken his friends
advice he would have lost no time,
once he was in favor in court. IN
marrying some woman of title, who,
with his immense fortune at her back,
would have been able to entertain and
go through the other social PAGES for
him in the proper style. however,
Sir Thomas failed to do this, and SO
it was. say the court gossips, that
some one else got the chance to slip
in and oust him from his enviable
position.
CALLS HIM EDWARD"
The man who is credited with hav-
ing ousted Sir Thomas in this way
visited the United States recently In
the spick and span person or Sir Ern-
est Cassel. OF course it is known In
a way that this self-made German
banker of 81 Old Broad street and 4S
Grosvenor square is one Of King Ed
wards intimates as well as being
great sporting man and worth some
thing like $7O,000,000.
Sir Ernest Cassel knows more about
King Edwards business affairs than
any man in England. He is one of
the few persons outside of the royal
family who is privileged to address
both the sovereign and the Prince of
Wales by their Christian names. He
has practically presented Edward VII
with $2,000,000, and every one at
court knows that the cause of the
Kings quarrel with the late Lord
Salisbury was the Premier's refusal to
make Sir Ernest a Privy Councillor as
well as Knight in return for his
generosity. AS soon as possible after
the late Prcmier's retirement the
King gave Sir Ernest this much COW
eted distinction in the face of strong
opposition in high quarters, and the
financier recently received another
proof of the royal favor when the
King stood godfather to his daugh-
ter's baby.
ENTERTAINS HIS MAJESTY.
The public here, however has no
idea how intimate are the relations
between the King and his subject. 1t
is only now and then that the news
papers announce that Sir Ernest Cas-
sci had the honor of entertaining his
Majesty to dinner last evening in
Grosvenor square," but that doesn't
prevent the King from being frequent
ly the millionaire's guest when the
fact is not publicly mentioned.
Since his accession Edward VII has
practically abandoned his clubs, but
this doesn't mean that he has given
UP his old cronies. He meets them
at a few private houses and one of
the chief scenes of such meetings is
the big house in Grosvenor square,
just at the corner of Carlos place,
where Sir Ernest Cassel lives in style
such as few men in the United King
dom can afford
Like every other rich racing man in
this country, Sir Ernest also has a
luxurious establishment at Newman
ket. His place there is called Moul-
ton Paddocks. and there the King is
almost invariably the millionaire's
guest while the Newmarket season is
on.
HIS PURSE KEPT OPEN.
Though little attempt is made at
ostentation when the King is Sir Ern-
est's guest In private way. the din
ners which the financier gives publicly
In the Kings honor are absolutely re-
gal, and entertaining his Majesty costs
Sir Ernest something like 100000 a
year.
1t is as his confidential financial ad-
wiser, however, that Sir Ernest comes
into closer touch with the sovereign
than probably any other private indi-