The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-10-28
SOME CURIOUS COLLECTIONS.
Royal hobbies Go from Door knobs
to .Teck-ties and whips,

Royal hobbies Go from Door Knobs
to :Teck-ties and whips.
The news that the King of Italy
who is an ardent n~umismatist, has com
piled a scientific work dealing with
Italian coins, recalls the fact that
nearly every crowned head of Europe
is fond Of collecting something or other.
Prominent among royal collectors lie
King Edward, who collects many
things, including autographs and first
editions Of the English classics, says a
writer. His majesty is also very proud
Of his collection Of walking-sticks, Of
which he has several hundreds. One
OF the most treasured of these is a
stick made from one of the piles of old
London bridge, and another, equally
valuable, was cut rom a branch of the
famous Boscobel oak.
One Of the most curious of royal col
lections Is that made by the King of
Greece. 1t is nothing more nor less
than a collection Of ~door-handles. and
he has a whole room full Of them Of
every conceivable shape and size.
Then the Kaiser, who is, Of course,
nothing, If not original, collects ties
and scarfs Of all ages, patterns and
countries. These range from the most
costly silk cravats to the humblest cot
ton bows, and are sufficient in number
to stock a good sized shop.
Many royalties are fond Of collecting
whips, among whom must be men,
toned the Princess Of Wales but the
finest assortment of riding and driving
whips Is not owned by a royal person
age, but by that prince of sportsmen,
the Earl of Lonsdl lie.
The Queen-mother Of Spain makes q
speciality Of playing cards, and she has
some very rare specimens from all
parts Of the world. The Czarina goes
In for caricatures cut from various
magazines and papers, and her collec.
ton also contains a number Of original
cartoons which were executed by her
self. She is said to be especially fond
of c~aricaturing the Features of her au.
SNSS huobuhu1 IL SAdIs
The Queen Of Roumania's favorite
hobby is the collecting Of rare books,
and this is only natural, considering
her great literary abilities. Royal phi
latelists are, Of course, numerous one
OF the finest collections in the world
being possessed by the Prince of
Wales, whose enthusiasm for the craze
has been caught by Prince Eddie. In
addition to her collection Of whips,
mentioned above, the Princess Of
Wales also goes in for quaint and rare
fans, and at the time Of the picture
post card boom she filed a number Of
albums with cards Of all kinds.
Queen Alexandra's love Of photog-
raphy is well known, and the recently
published book of views taken by her
self has been enormously popular. She
keeps at least n copy Of every scene
she photographs, and her collection OF
Epictures Is said to number many thou
sands.
King Alfonso, of Spain, collects
sporting trophies; but his most curious
hobby IL his collection of the things
which have from time t. time endan-
eered his life. Thus, he keeps a large
stone upon which he once fell and
struck his head. and also the skin of
one Of the horses which was killed on
his wedding day-that memorable oc-
casion when he and his young bride SO
narrowly escaped from the plot Of the
Anarchists