Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-09-03
Jokes ON MONARCHS.
Some Daring Franks Played
Upon Royal Personages.
A FLOWER FOR THE KAISER.
Decorations That Made His Majesty
Explode With Wrath-A Medical Di-
ploma For Prince of Wales-The
Duke and the Stoekbroksrs.


ploma For Prince of WaIes-The
Duke and the Stockholders.
Some years ago paragraph appear
ed in a Berlin daily stating that Prince
Henry. who had just returned from
his visit 10 the United States. had
brought home as a present to his
brother II number of plants OF n new
variety OF crimson carnation. "As
every Que knows" the paragraph con-
cluded, the red carnation Is his im-
periai nlajesty's favorite flower"
On the day after the publication of
this news the kaiser was due at Ak
la-Chapelle. \ member of the town
the town wear buttonhole OF the
kaiser's favorite flower.
The suggestion was at once acted
on. The frock coated members of the
deputation which waited next morning
on the platform each wore proudly a
buttonhole of the deepest crimson.
The poor fellows could not conceive
why the kaiser's demeanor was so
freezing. He dismissed them with
few words. got into his carriage and
drove of.
At the town hall was another deputa-
ton. similarly decorated. Then his
majesty's wrath exploded. What is
the meaning OF this insult?" he de-
manded. Some one explained. and
then one of the kaiser's attendants took
the mayor aside. MY dear SIR" he
said. surely you know that the red
carnation is the emblem OF the Social
Democrats and of all flowers the one
which his majesty chiefly detestsv'
Many years ago King Edward VII.
then Prince of Wales, was the sub
ject of stupid hoax. He received a
letter informing him OF his unanimous
election as honorary member OF the
princeton medical faculty and signed
by three students. With his inyariable
courtesy the recipient requested his
private secretary TO acknowledge Il.
The reply said. His royal hlghness
will remember with pride and salts
faction the mark OF distinction re-
ceived at the hands OF the Princeton
medical faculty"
AS matter OF fact. there is not and
never was such an organization.
AS impudent hoax as ever was
heard OF was perpetrated In 1904 upon
Belgian paper. 4 letter purporting
to be In the handwriting and above
the signature of Princess Louise of
Coburg was received by the editor,
who very foolishly published IL with
out first assuring himself as TO It's gen.
uincness
This letter gave u long catalogue Of
the wrongs OF Princess Louise and of
her sisters and constituted most
brutal attack upon her father, the king
OF the Bclgians.
The letter was at once copied by n
number of other papers, including
more than one In England. Naturally
1t gave great pain to the princess her.
self. and the only wonder is that a
prosecution for libel was not the I'm
mediate result.
Some years ago a young American
woman who was staying I'm Copen-
hagen made bet with n friend that
she would propose To the king OF Den
mark.
On one of the kings public reception
days the American lady found her way
~ tut NONui TeSlUencc.
What can l do for you. MADAME
asked the king.
Your majesty. I desired to ask you
II you would like to marry me?" was
the reply.
The king merely smiled.
II am afraid | am little too old"
ne said. and at the same moment he
beckoned TO one Of the officials to con-
Duct the lady to the door. He had
put her down as a harmless lunatic.
A joke OF rather rough order was
played upon the first cousin or the en-
peror OF Austria. the Archduke Sal
Vator, once when he was In Paris. He
was passing the bourse-the Partisan !
equivalent OF the Stock Exchange
when his companion. lanky young
French count, suggested that he
might look inside
III you walk straight In" he said. /
mo one will notice you. They will
take you for n stockbroker."
The duke took him at his word. but
or course he was no sooner inside !
than he was recognized as a sightseer. )
His SILK hat was instantly spirited
away. and he was at once surrounded
by mob OF dealers with notebooks
shouting fabulous offers to buy or sell /,
stock.
The duke had desperate struggle !
to reach the front lobby. and when at
last he got there. hatless and breath
less, he found that some genial soul
had pinned long price list to the !
tails OF his coat.
1t Is not likely that any reigning
sovereign ever got a more unpleasant |
scare than did Ferdinand Of Bulgaria
some i've years ago. His private Sec
rotary. young baron. was away In
Austria on vacation when letter
arrived for his royal master announc-
Ing that he did not propose to return
and that he would be glad for the sum
or 10000: otherwise. he wrote. he
would be compelled to sell a number
OF secret documents which he had
taken away with him.
Instantly Prince Ferdinand dis
patched a couple OF secret service en-
voys In chase OF his missing secretary.
whom they ran to ground peacefully
shooting on his own estate. Further
investigation proved the missive to b
nothing but hoax.-Lon6on Answers