The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-11
SOVEREIGNS As TESTERS.
Shah Put Diknined On1cisls on skates kinx
Who Liked q Rough House,

" ~
Although the Kaiser has beer known
to allow one American millionaire TO slap
him heartily on the shoulder. and another
to tell him THAT he is "a jolly good fellow"
without showing a trace OF offended dig
nifty, says the London Th-BHs, he is said
never to permit the least familiarity from
even the most exalted Of his subjects.
And yet no monarch better enjoys a
joke at the expense OF his officials, az
was recently proved by a remarkable
photograph presented by him to an Ad-
miral who usually accompanied him on
his yachting expeditions. On a recent
trip this Admiral was not present, and
his Majesty, in order to show him what
he had missed, had a wonderful photograph
faxed representing a gigantic and fear
some sea serpent gliding through the
water within pistol shot OF the imperial
yacht.
A more frolicsome monarch is the
Shah OF Persia, of whom the following
story is told. During his last visit TO
Paris the Shah, just as he was leaving
his hotel, summoned the two police in
spectors who always accompany him on
their bicycles and begged the loan Of
their machines, as his court marshal and
chief chamberlain we're anxious TO try
them. These dignifed officials had never
been on a bicycle in their lives, and great
was their CONSERVATION when their royal
master commanded them to mount the
unstable steeds and ride away.
There was, however, no escape, So
summoning up their courage the two
dignitaries tucked up their frock coats.
got somehow astride Of their respective
wheels and began to wabble down the
Champs Elysees. They had scarcely gone
half a dozen yards, however, before crash
went one machine. and then the other,
and the gallant riders we're sprawling
on the ground, while the Shah laughed
30 consumedly at III ludicrous spectacle
that he was obliged to dry his eyes with
his handkerchief. A you wan IL a little
practice, he gasped between his paroxysms
OF laughter, as the fallen heroes picked
themselves up and began ruefully to brush
the dust of their garments.
On another occasion his Majesty put
several OF his most adipose and grave
courtiers on roller skates. and was 10 con-
vulsed by their antics that he had to COM
mand them to desist.
But perhaps no living sovereign relishes
a Joke OF this kind more heartily than the
irrepressible King OF Spain, who is never
40 happy rs when he is shocking his grave
and decorous courtiers. Only the other
day. II is said. he interrupted an interview
with one OF his Ministers TO show him how
cleverly he could turn a somersault. IN
acrobatlc feat which he also performed
vi tuc Dtucrt OF queen Alexandra n enOTL
time ago in one OF the corridors OF Bucking-
ham Palace.
Francis /: practised some cruel jokes on
jacob Paul Won Gundling, an eminent
scientist. on one occasion dressing up a
monkey In clothes similar to those worn
by the professor and making the latter
embrace him in public and acknowledge
MIN as his " son. and on GundlingA
death the King had his body dressed in
state uniform and buried In a wine cask
Charles iii. loved to 60 abroad in dis
guise. assailing his SUBJECTS in the coarses'
terms. He would enter the shops OF ven
ders OF breakable materials. and taking up
a mirror or drinking glass would let L fal!
TO the ground, laughing unrestrainedly at
the damage that he had done and at the
abuse that was showered on him. Ana,
70 give but one more example, Peter the
Great loved At Christmas time TO take part
IN the annual sledge PROCESSION in which
the clergy. gorgeously sttirsd. stopped az
certain houses. oag'atcasol cpd Jeoqsys0
'cosrcnni"7omeutSgesasoh s'stEs sGr