Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-03
sovEREIGNs AS TESTERS.
Shah Put Disnified Officials on Skates
-Kinu Who Liked "Roush House."

Shah Put Dienifed Officials on Skates
King Who Liked "Roush House."
Although the kaiser has been 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 dignity, says the London
Tit Bits, he is said never to permit the
least familiarity from even the most
exalted of his subjects.
And yet no monarch better enjoys
Joke at the expense Of his officials, as
was recently proved by a remarkable
photograph presented by him to an ad-
miral who usually accompanied him
on his catching expeditions. On a re-
cent 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 gi-
gantic and fearsome sea serpent glid-
ing through the water within pistol
shot Of the imperial yacht.
A more frolicsome monarch was the
late shah Of Persia, Of whom the fol-
lowing story Is told During his last
visit to Paris the shah, just as he was
leaving his hotel, summoned the two
police inspectors who always accom-
pany him on their bicycles and begged
the loan Of their machines, as his court
marshal and chief chamberlain were
anxious to try them. These dignified
officials had never been on a bicycle
in their lives, and great was their con-
sternation when their royal master
commanded them to mount the unsta-
BILE 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 respect
i've wheels and began to wabble down
the Champs Elysees. They had scarce
ly gone half a dozen yards. however.
before crash! went one machine, and
then the other and the gallant riders
were sprawling on the ground, while
the shah laughed so consumedly at the
ludicrous spectacle that he was oblig-
ed to dry his eyes with his handker-
chief "All you want Is little prac-
tice," he gasped between his paroxysms
Of laughter, as the fallen heroes picked
themselves up and began ruefully to
brush the dust off their garments.
On another occasion his master put
several of his most adipose and grave
courtiers on roller skates, and was SO
convulsed by their antics that he had
to command them to desist.
But perhaps no living sovereign rel
ishes a 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 court
iers. Only the other day, 1t Is said, ne
interrupted an interview with one OF
his ministers to show him how cleverly
he could turn a somersault, an aero
batic feat which he also performed for
the benefit of Queen Alexandra a short
time ago in one Of the corridors OF
Buckingham palace.
Francis I. practiced some cruel jokes
on Jacob Paul Won Gundling, an emf
nent scientist, on one occasion dress
ing up a monkey in clothes similar to
those worn by the professor and MAX
ing the latter embrace him in public
and acknowledge him as his own SON
and on Gundling's death the king had
his body dressed in state uniform and
buried In a wine cask.
| Charles III. loved to go abroad In dis
guise, assailing his subjects in the
coarsest terms. He would enter the
shops of venders of breakable mate
rails, and taking up mirror or drink
ing glass would let 1t fall to the
ground. laughing unrestrainedly at the
damage he had done and at the abuse
that was showered on him. And, tc
give but one more example, Peter the
Great loved at Christmas time to take
part in the annual sledge procession ir
which the clergy, gorgeously attired
stopped at certain houses, sang a caro-
land received charitable offerings.