Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-04
SoVEREIGNS AS TESTERS.
Shah Put Dignified Officials on Skates.
kinq Liked Trough House."

Although the kaiser has been known
TO allow one American millionaire TO
slap him heartily on the shoulder, ana
another to tell him that ne Is JoiiS
good fellow" without showing a trace
Of offended dignity. he is said never to
permit the least familiarity from even
the most exalted of his SUBJECTS.
AMI vet no monarch better enjoys
Joke at the expense OF ms OFFICIALS DIS
was recently proved by a reiilarkdple
photograph presented by MN 10 an az
miral who usually accompanied MN
on his Watching expeditions. On re-
cent trip this admiral was not present
and his majesty, in order to snow MN
What he had missed. had wonderful
nhctosraph faxed representing 81
oantic and fearsome sea serpent gid
ing 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
the hotel, summoned the two police
INSPECTORS WING always accompany him
on their bicycles and begged the loan
of their machines. as his court mar
shall ana chief chamberlain were anX-
ious to try them. These dignitied DILL
Gals had never been on bicycle IN
their lives, and great was their con-
stcrnation when their royal master
commanded them to mount the I'M
stable seeds and ride away.
There was. however, no escape. so
summoning up their courage the two
dignitarics tucked up their frock coats.
got somehow astride of their respective
wheels and began to wabble down the
Champs Elysoes. They had scarcely
gone half 4 dozen yards. however. be
fore crash, went one machine and then
the other. and the gallant riders were
sprawlng on the ground, while the
shah laughed SO conSuncdly at the
ludcrolls spectacle that he was obliged
to dry his eyes with his handkerchief.
"All You want is a little more prac-
tice." he gaSpcd between his paroXysmS
Of laughter. as the fallen heroes picked
themselves up and began rucfully to
brush the dust off their garments.
ON another occasion his majesty put
several of his most adipose and grave
courticrs on roller skates, and was 50
cnnvulSpd by their antics that he had
to command them to desist.
But perhaps no living sovereign rel
iehe.s 4 joke of this kind more heartily
than the irrepressible King of Spain.
who IS never so happy as when he is
shocking his grave and decorous cour-
tiers. Only the other day. it is said. ne
INTERRUPTED an interview with one OF
his ministers to show him how cleVcrly
l.. n SnyncrS1llt aero
battle feat which he also performed for
the benefit of Queen Alexandra a short
time ago in one of the corridors of
buckingham Palace.
Francis 7. practiccd some cruel jokes
on Jacob Poul Won GundlinG. IN emil
rent scientist, on one occasion dressing
I'd q monkey in clothes similar to those
worn by the profession and making the
latter embrace him in public and ac-
knowledge him as his own son. and on
C.un.lling's death the king had his body
dressed in state uniform and buried IN
wine caSk.
Charles III. loved to go abroad in
disguise. assailing his subjects in the
cOarscst terms. He would enter the
shops of vendors of brcakable mate
rails. and taking up mirror or drink
ing glass would let it fall to the ground,
laughing unrestraincdly Mt the damage
that he had done and ut the abuse that
was Showcred on him. And. to give
but one more example, Peter the Great
loved at Christmas time to take part
in the annual Slcdgc procession In
which the clergy. elorious'y attlr"d.
stopped ut certain houses sang carol,
and received charitable offerings
| onlon Tit Bits.