The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-28
KING S EMPLOY
DOUBLES
As a Device to Cheat Anarchists and
Would-Be Assassins.
Baltimore SUM-


blence between the two men was so
striking that it was practically impos-
sible at a little distance to distinguish
the one from the other.
For the Sultan this was very con-
venient. since whenever he did not
particularly wish from any cause to
show himself in public he was able to
call upon Ismet Bey to take his place.
This, as a matter of fact, he frequent
ly did, especially as regards the Fri
day Selamik, when custom DEGREES
that the Turkish Sultan shall drive in
state from palace to mosque through
the streets of Constantinople, for pur-
poses of prayer, and in order that he
may be seen Of the populace.
This ancient ceremony has always
been a bore to Abdul Hamid, besides
being a source of no little danger,
since, Notwithstanding all precautions,
there is the ever-present risk of some
| fanatic throwing a bomb, or, in some
other way, attempting the life of His
Majesty. As result, no one could
ever be certin, when rendering obei-
sance to the Imperial equipage on
these occasions, whether their saluta-
tions were being acknowledged by the
Sultan in person or by his foster broth
er, Ismet Bey.
OF course, this doubt exists no long
er, although, it is whispered at Yild-
IL Kiosk that His Majesty is even now
looking round for another understudy.
Very likely the whisper voices the
truth, for most monarchs find it con-
venient to have double upon occa-
sions. Even Queen Victoria unless
rumor lied most outrageously, made
use of one now and again DUNG the
latter years of her reign; and the old
German Emperor we know-thanks to
the revelations Of the late Prince Bis
marck-employed one to show himself
regularly to the people at a certain I
window of the royal palace at Berlin /
precisely at the stroke of noon on I
each week day.
This was a safe and easy enough |
job, but as rule understudies run
considerable risk. Thus Sergius Kom
aroff the double of Car Nicholas's
father, after two very narrow escapes,
was eventually assassinated at Mos
COW by Nihilist who was under the
impression that he was removing
the Emperor himself. One of the late
King Humbert's two doubles, again,
fell beneath the anarchists knife, long
before Bresci succeeded in picking out
the real ruler of Italy, on July 49,
1900, and there and then foully staying
him.
King Alfonso has had a series of
doubles since he was baby, the in
and wearisome court cere-
monies of Madrid rendering this spe-
cies of harmless deceit almost imper-
alive, for Alfonso was up till recent
Iy delicate, not to say sickly, young
ster. Probably it was the knowledge
that the Spanish King could not very
we'll get married by proxy that prompt
ed Moral to throw his bouquet bomb
n the Gale Mayor while the wedding
procession was passing. For similar /,
'easons the Servian regicides elected
A1aUonlar NJ n,,nAw1
Oraga in their bedchamber, knowing !,
hat they were not infrequently repre- /,
;ented by understudies on the few oc-
;asions when they were popularity .
to show themselves in pub
ic in the streets of Belgrade. Indeed,
would almost seem as if the censpir-
ltors were not absolutely convinced
hat these same understudies did not
lpon occasion occupy the royal sleep
ng apartments in the palace itself,
eeing that they took with them Col
mel Maschim, the Queens brother-in-
aw, to identify their proposed victims.
King Edward has never made use
f double. Neither has the Kaiser, 0
the contrary has been con- =
family stated. king Carlos, of Portu- 5
al, too, does without this particular
oval convenience; but he is Obliged d
0 his corpulence, combined with his u
facial appearance, for U
endering abortive any attempt by d
nybody to impersonate him, no mat 81
er how deliberately they may make u
p" for the part. u
The Gear, on the other hand, finds u
easy enough to procure any num- q
er of understudies, his type of build
nd feature being not only common in
1emselves, but eacy of imitation. AS
verybody is aware, he and the Prince to
{ Wales are as alike as two peas, so a
nat the latter, when IN st. Peters p'