The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-20
KING EDWARD is DEBT FREE
AND THAT rs WHYHE rs HAPPY,
A FRENCH WRITER SAYS.

The Burden OF Debt That Queen yIetoria's
Economy Piled IN His shoulders al
Prince OF Wales and the Men Who
Helped Him to Garry It-All Paid Now
PARIS. Sept. Skiing Edwards good
spirits, says a French writer. are not to
be explained merely by the diplomatic
SUCCESSES he he's won. II he travels
about Europe with a juvenile ardor
which Is the envy Of other men of his
age. and II he has never before shown
such amiable. philosophical equanimity
there Is a very good reason for it. The
King Of England had become a rich man,
he has paid his debts.
King Edward was reared in a school
Of strict economy. His father. Prince
Albert, sprung from q family Of petty
German sovereigns which was compelled
to handle It's money with care, trained
his house to thrift. Queen Victoria adopted
her husbands principles.
Instead of saving the revenues Of the
Duchy Of Cornwall TO form q capital for
her eldest son when he came Of age she
hoped to prevent him from squandering
this money by investing it in land. So
she bought the property Of Sandringham,
to-dny one Of the Kings favorite resi-
dences. but one that has absorbed inn
menss sums Of money.
II may be taken as n Of the direct
results Of the entente eordiale that we
find this French writer asoribing the
indebtedness Of the Prince Of Wales
solely to the part he had to play as the
representative OF the Crown while the
Queen lived q retired life. While she
enjoyed an income OF So. 900. 900. the Prince
with only $4O0. 900 had to rival the style
Of living OF men like the Dukes Of Devon
shire. Bedford. Westminster and Derby,
who were far richer than he. : He had
also to receive foreign monarchs on their
visits, entertain the officials Of State
and organize all court functions.
For some ten years things went on
smoothly enough externally while the
Prince got deeper and deeper into debt.
At length the day came when the Roth
sohilds would nc longer provide money
for him. An appeal for assistance made
to Queen Victoria met with a refusal;
her sons extravagance. she said. ought
not to be encouraged.
1t was only when the Prince threatened
to throw himself on the generosity Of
Parliament, a procedure most distasteful
to Queen Victoria. because she had to
resort to IL 30 often for her numerous
family. tina: she was moved On two o.
casions to provide some assistance. Then
arose a series OF private ~benefactos who
either from personal devotion or worldly
ambition devoted their wealth to restor-
ing the Princes financial position.
The frat Of these was Sir James Mac
kenzie, q man who had begun life as @
working hat maker. He vent Il India
in the days when the India Company's
officials. military and civil. wore wonder
full headgear which the native princes
sought to copy. Coming into contact
with these princes to supply their wants
In headdresses. Mackenzie made a great
fortune. Dting the Indian Mutiny many
princes entrusted their priceless stores Of
jewels to his safe keeping until peace and
quiet returned once more.
One Of Sir James Mack enzie's acts Of
generosity was TO buy in the name Of the
Prince one Of the finest estates near
Ascot to enable him to keep up royal