Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-28

British sentiment in the French capital,
handed down since the days of the first
Napoleon, was one of extreme bitterness.
Today, and almost wholly because of Ed
wards tact, the feeling in Paris toward the
English, and particularly toward him, is
enthusiastically friendly.
AS a host Edward Is perfection. He has
no end of dusky potentates from Asia to
entertain from time to time-such as the
Amer of Afghanistan. all sorts of Hindoo
rajahs and Siamese royalties-besides the
numerous continental European dignitaries
who belong to the great Guelph group, to
say nothing of such royalties as Alfonso of
SPAIN betrothed to Princess ,Eina,,i the jolly
Kins~of Portugal, and so on He always
entertains them in way that tends to in
crease England's prestige, though always
without much splurge.
King Edward has now been engaged at
the game of playing guest and host for
about fifty years. One of his first tasks in
that line was to be a guest sin the United
States while yet he was little more than a
lad. He won the universal Yankee nation
then as he has lately won France and
through all his career as heir apparent and
reigning king he has shown supreme abii-
ity in the arts of making himself liked and
saying the right things in the right places,
at the right time and IN the right way.
Few Reigning Guests Here.
Because the journey hither from any
European land takes days of marine travel,
during which a king or an emperor would
be cut off from any communication, save
by wireless" with home very few reign
ing royalties have ever visited this country
So far as the writer can recall, In fact
the good Dom Pedro of Brazil deposed
some years ago, was the only king or en-
peror ever to step foot on United States
soil while actually ruling. Messengers from
kings and emperors, like Prince Henry of
Prussia, Prince Louis of Battenburg king
Edwards representative and others. have
MADE mighty spectacular visits here and
nave been received with much ceremony
by whoever CHANGED to be President
Whether the ceremonies got up for them
would be acceptable to royalties actually
relgning we shall never know till reignfng
royalties begin to come here. When that
happens we shall undoubtedly be able to
treat them satisfactorily, and the fact that
their receptions will differ from the con-
probably from any visiting royalty's an
probation of it.
Prince Henry noted the difference and
was charmed by 1t, mostly though it is
dent Roosevelt Jared him a few, once
in a while. Prince Louis of Battenbere
got on very well with all the Americans
he met. save one greedy New York dentist,
who charged him about a hundred fold
the proper price for plugging a princely
tooth.
Because Paris is relatively near every
other European capital. the president of
France has often to entertain royal and
imperial guests. The trepidation of some
newly elected French presidents when en-
tertaining a king or an emperor for the
first time has been described in print re-
peatedly, yet, probably If the truth were
known, the feeling of embarrassment has
not always been wholly on the president s
side. AS the representative of self-gov-
ernfng people he must always suggest the
possibility of an overturn to the reign
ing ruler who accepts his hospitality.
Leopold Of Belgium, Alfonso of Spain
and Carlos Of Portugal are model guests
In many ways. The first may be too gay
in his private life: the second may yet
have to prove his serious manhood, and
the last may be too fat; but Leopold has
never stirred UP international strife. AL
fonso won the admiration of Paris by his
nerve when bomb throwers got after him.
Carlos always receives compliments for
his marksmanship. and all three are pop
ular with the people as with the rulers of
the lands they visit.
The first visit to this country of a rul-
ing European monarch. more than possible
after wireless telegraphy shall be adj
vanced little further, will be real nov
city, both to us as people and to what
ever real royalty happens to come first.