New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
AGILE SOVEREIGNS.
Instances in Which Royalty I'm
bends for the Occasion.

A monarch who. like Alfonso OF Spain. leaps
gates like a schoolboy turns somersaults out OF
sheer light heartedness chases his hat along
crowded Cowes street and revels IN playing
practical Jokes on his grandees has no difficulty
in making good his claim TO be tho most frolic-
some sovereign in Europe. although there are
several kings, old enough TO be his grandfather
who would be glad to be able to emulate his
agility and high spirits
But there are few sovereigns who do not love
at times to forget their rank and TO indulge IN
FRANKS when the mood seizes them. although
these royal vagaries are not always as innocent
as those OF the youthful King OF Spain. Very
different were the pranks played by another AL
fonso. King OF Portugal, who found his chief
pleasure in roaming the streets OF his capital at
night with low companions "ssseuting passen-
gers. firing into the coaches OF the mobiles. and
routing religious professions at the point Of the
sword" Ivan ". Emperor OF Russia. took de-
light I'm letting loose wild bears in the streets
shrieking with laughter at seeing his subjects
fly for their lives, and setting children to kill
enc another; and II one survived. the amiable
monarch. II he was not too weary. would STAY
him himself. and would laugh at this conclusion
70 so excellent joke"
Our Edward II once went picknicking on
the Thames in faggot barge with some boon
companions, and with his hands prepared
the soup from cabbages which he bought from
a gardener on the river bank. Henry V saw the
inside of two prisons, one In London and the
other In Coventry. for riotous conduct when the
], when hunting one day set a laundress on
horse and wagered forty shillings with her that
she would not be In at the death OF the stag-a
bet which the lady won handsomely
Peter III of Russia had such a craze for war
that he used to give orders for a hundred cannon
to be fired simultaneously that he might enjoy
the sensations Of battle. Christina, Queen OF
Sweden. used TO dress In male attire and make
love TO her own subjects incognita. shocking
q 10 hue H hold Hs-v NfvNev
and on one occasion she rode into Hamburg
habited as knight and wearing a red scarf in
Spanish fashion.
Marie Casmire Queen Of Poland. found a
curious pleasure in putting her most gor-
geOus apparel and allowing herself 10 be
drenched to the skin; Henry III OF France loved
to masquerade as a woman. with painted cheeks
and frills and furbelows: Charles TX was ideally
happy when he introduced ten young thieves to
the Louvre and watched them rob his guests
Of their jewellery and swords; while Charles III
OF Spain curious contrast TO his successor OF
to-day, found morbid pleasure In going down
into the vaults of the Pantheon and having the
collins OF his royal predecessors opened that
he might look on their faces
Charles VI of France was great lover OF
adventures and practical jokes on one occa-
sion. we learn, when the Queen was making a
public entrance into Paris. ne himself went
to see the procession i'm disguise, mounted be-
hind one of his servitors. his eagerness to en-
JOY the spectacle bringing upon his back many n
blow from the sergeants who cleared the way
for the pageant. The King boosted OF having re-
ceived these blows n good Joke"
Peter the Great once attended a masked hall
In London disguised as a butcher and thor
oughly enjoyed the novel experience. while on
another occasion he joined a party OF carol sing
ers and pOcketed the contributions OF his subjects
with much satisfaction. Charles III used 10
wander about the country IN the dirtiest OF dis
guises, accompanied by a retinue os equally ill
clad DULLES. He would "assaiI all he met In the
coarsest terms and when some person assaulted
more impatient than others, fell upon him ir
return with tongue or cudgei he would laugh tili
he was sore, and then his escort came 10 the
rescue
When Joseph II. Emperor of Germany WIS.,
tied Moscow 1t was avant-courier to his own
royal carriage. In order To avoid the pomp and
ceremony which he hated: and when In Paris
he used to frequent the most obscure cafes play
Ing chess and hobnobbIng with their humble
habitues.
or Charles V. another unconventional mon
arch. II Is told that when in Brussels once he
took his own shoes to cobbler to be mended
II was st. Crspin's Day. and the cobbler was
making merry with his friends. WAS II Charlie.
himself. was his greeting to the stranger 1T
would not do n stitch for him now, but II you'u
come in and drink to ST. Crispin, do and well
come; we are as merry as the Emperor can be-
Charles accepted the Invitation, and spent a
right Jovial evening with the hospitable cobbler
ana his humble gussts-Ttt-Bit&