The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-06-22
PETS OF KINGS AND QUEENS
monkeys, Dogs, Parrots, Etc, Owned ,
Noted SOvereIrns

Noted Sovereigns.
The stories Of the young king Of
spain and his pet monkeys, which
have been going the round of the press
lately, remind one that Alfonso XIII
mas had many kingly predecessors who
have exalted the ape into a court favor
ite
Peter the Great had marked weak
ness for monkeys, which were privi
legged to take the strangest liberties
with him, to the extent of running
away with his hat and pulling the i'm
perial nose. While the royal ship
wright was staying in England Will
lam III. paid "a visit to his lodgings
IN York Buildings, in which an odd in.
eident happened. The Car had his
monkey, which sat upon the back OF
his chair" Lord Dartmouth wrote
and as soon as the King sat down the
monkey jumped upon him in some
wrath, which discomposed the whole
ceremonial, and most of the time was
spent afterwards in apologies for the
monkeys behavior" SO disconsolate
was Peter when this particular sinfan
favorite died that he was inconsolable
for weeks, and refused to speak to any.
one.
Before Frederick the Great came to
his throne, and even for a short time
after his accession, he was devoted to
his band of monkeys, which he used to
dress in the most grotesque costumes
and style his courtiers. They squatted
on his shoulders, shared his meals and
followed him like so many dogs. Henry
Ill. of France, too, included monkeys
in that motley mena gerie of his which
accompanied him in wagon drawn by
half a dozen mules, on many of his
royal journeys.
''The litter" Dumas wrote, "con-
tanned Henry, his physician, his chap
lain, the jester, four of the Kings
minions, a couple of huge hounds and
a basketful of puppies, which rested
on the Kings knees, but which was
upheld from his neck by gold chain.
From the roof hung a gilded cage, in
which there were white turtle doves,
the plumage Of their necks marked
by sable circlet of feathers. Oc-
casionally two or three apes were to be
seen in this 'Noah's Ark as it was
called"
Among the many pets of Queen Marie
Louise Of Spain were two parrots
which talked French with singular
fuency, much to the annoyance Of GER
tain Of her court ladies, who were
sworn enemies Of all things French.
One day one of these ladies, the Ouch
ess of Terra Neuva, took advantage Of
her royal mistress absence to wiring
the parrots necks. When the Queen,
on her return, learned the fate Of her
beloved parrots, her rage was terrible
10 witness" An opportunity for re-
Venge, however, soon presented itself,
for when the guilty Duchess shortly
presented herself to kiss the Queens
hand, her majesty gave her several
resounding smacks on the face, in the
presence Of the whole court-a fem1-
nine retaliation which, probably, to a
certain extent, compensated her for the
loss of her favoriues.
Queen Mary iof England, in spite Of
her reputation for cruelty, was very
devoted lover of birds and animals,
and was never happier than when sur
rounded by her pets. Chief among her
favorites was white lark, for which
she paid threepence to the woodman
Of Hampton Court, and which would
perch on one of his mistress fingers
and ''pour out his little soul in song"
But the lark had dangerous rivals in
the royal affection, the most formid-
able Of which was an alligator, which
his mistress fed daily from her own
hand.
James I. had a wide range of animal
tavorites, which included an elephant,
i've camels, fawn, white gyrfalcon,
and birds and dogs innumerable.
Queen Elizabeth's affection was divid-
I'd between her dogs, singing birds and
monkeys; and the merry monarch was
such bird lover that he lined the road
On the south side of st. James Park,
since known as the Birdcage Walk,
with aviaries for his feathered pets,
which he fed daily, while he was all
most equally devoted to the tame ducks
in the park, which afforded him infinite
muSement.-Tit-BitS.